Emergency Management Associates Degree

Earning an emergency management associates degree online teaches how to prepare for and respond to disasters. These skills and knowledge can have a direct impact on the lives of your neighbors. Plus, you may learn how to organize responses and tasks before, during, and after emergencies. This can help protect local and national resources.

Did You Know?

More than half of Americans have not prepared copies of important documents.

What Is Emergency Management?

Emergency management is the act of creating plans in case of a disaster. This helps organizations to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from an emergency. Creating plans help businesses and communities in these regards. This includes running drills and testing equipment. This also includes directing activities between first responders.

Emergency Management Associates Degree Online: Basics

Most emergency management associates degree online programs teach the vital theories. This includes how to develop through planning and preparation.

Most programs ask that you have earned a high school diploma, GED, or equal diploma. Some schools may have stricter admissions rules than others. That's why it’s important to check with specific schools to make sure that you meet their guidelines.

Typically, full-time students can earn their associates degree in two years. However, every program is different. Therefore, the specific amount of time it takes to earn your degree may depend on a number of factors. One of these factors is course availability. To earn your associates degree you need to pass a number of courses. Normally, this includes both gen ed and core courses. 

Different Emergency Management Associates Degree Names

There are many different online associates in emergency management degree names. All have the similar goal of teaching how to organize resources. They also examine how to mitigate the loss of life. This is by studying the four phases of emergency management. However, each degree option may have a distinct overall focus.

Some of the degree names include those mentioned here.

  • Emergency Management
  • Emergency Services Administration
  • Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
  • Emergency Preparedness Technology
  • Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • Emergency Management and Planning
  • Emergency Preparedness Technology and Business Continuity
  • Emergency and Disaster Management
  • Emergency Management and Business Continuity
  • Emergency Management and Disasters Recovery

Though there may be many things alike, every school is distinct. Find a perfect one for you by having a clear grasp of your own goals. Then, research each program. That may help you find a school that matches your goals.

Online Associates Degree in Emergency Management: What You’ll Learn

While earning an online associates in emergency management degree, courses focus on the basics of responding to disasters. This includes creating plans, running drills, and testing equipment. But this also includes organizing tools, tasks, and personnel during and after emergencies. These skills are critical to the safety of citizens.

Therefore, courses are focused on providing the skills and knowledge through the four phases of emergency management.

What Are the Four Phases of Emergency Management?

The four phases of emergency management include those listed here.

  1. Mitigation
  2. Preparedness
  3. Response
  4. Recovery

These steps help create plans in the event of a disaster.

Common Online Emergency Management Courses

While pursing your emergency management associates degree online, courses teach how to prepare for and respond to disasters. These steps can include creating plans and drills.

Check out the list below for some of the courses you may take while earning your emergency management associates degree online.

  • Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness
  • Disaster Recovery and Response
  • Natural Disaster Planning for Communities
  • Emergency Response to Terrorism
  • Principles of Emergency Management
  • Emergency Exercise Project Management
  • Advance Incident Command System
  • National Response Framework
  • Disaster Response Operations
  • Emergency Planning

Every school has its own structure. Therefore, courses may vary. Plus, some of these courses may not be offered at every school. Check with specific schools to find a perfect match for your goals.

What Is Business Continuity?

Business continuity is the act of creating and applying plans to protect a business in the event of a disaster. This protects a company’s products, services, employees, and assets. This includes defining risks and testing processes to ensure success. Typically, this includes the four-step process listed here.

  1. Conduct a business impact analysis.
  2. Identify, document, and put in place a plan to recover essential business functions.
  3. Organize a business continuity team and create a business continuity plan.
  4. Conduct training through drills and tests.

Did You Know?

According to an ASPCA survey, more than 67% said they’d refuse to evacuate without their pets.

Possible Careers in Emergency Management

After earning your online associates degree in emergency management, there are a number of careers that you may pursue. Typically, these are as first responders, or similar roles. Most of these positions don’t require an associates degree for entry-level positions. [i]

Some of these careers, and their 2015 median annual salary, include those listed here.

  • Firefighters: $46,870 [ii]
  • Private Detectives and Investigators: $5,610 [iii]
  • Police and Detectives: $60,270 [iv]
  • EMTs and Paramedics: $31,980 [v]
  • Corrections Officers and Bailiffs: $40,580 [vi]

Most of these positions don’t require an associates degree. Some do ask that candidates to take earn certifications or licenses. These include CPR certification or emergency medical training. [vii] Every state has their own rules, so check with your state.

Take the Next Step!

Do you want to help your community prepare for disasters? Do you want to help them mitigate losses? Then take the next step to earn your emergency management associates degree online. Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page to learn about each school. There, you’ll find goals, courses, and admissions rules. You can even contact schools directly to request more info.


[i] bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm#tab-4 [ii] bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/firefighters.htm#tab-5 [iii] bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm#tab-5 [iv] bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm#tab-5 [v] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm#tab-5 [vi] bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/correctional-officers.htm#tab-5 [vii] bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm#tab-4