Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Online

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

About this program

From government and healthcare to non-profit and faith-based organizations, emergency management professionals keep us safe. At Penn College, you’ll explore what it takes to serve and protect in critical times. Whether it’s developing an action plan or facilitating a coordinated response, this flexible online program cultivates the practical real-world skills that tomorrow needs most.

Flexible Online Program

In-State Tuition for All Students

275

Hours of Field Experience

Careers

Emergency management coordinator & specialist
Emergency planner
Public health preparedness worker
Healthcare preparedness worker
Private sector consultant

Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

Introduction to Emergency Management Operations (BEM101)
The History and Evolution of Emergency Management (BEM103)
Incident Command System Operations (BEM201)
Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes (BEM202)
Disaster Preparation and Planning (BEM210)
Crisis Communication (BEM221)
Disaster Recovery (BEM230)
Spatial Analysis in Emergency Management (BEM250)
Social/Psychological Foundations of Emergency Management (BEM265)
Technological Elements of Emergency Management (BEM311)
Directed Emergency Management Elective (BEM)
Emergency Management Internship (BEM450)
Emergency Management Capstone (BEM495)

Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

First Year Experience (FYE101)
Introduction to Sociology (SOC111)
Math Elective (MTH151 or Higher) (MMM)
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANT113)
General Psychology (PSY111)
Introduction to Physical Geology (GEL105)
Open Elective (OEA)
State and Local Government (PSC141)
Criminology (SOC242)
American Government - National (PSC131)
Principles of Public Administration (PSC251)
International Relations (PSC261)
U.S. Constitutional and Legal History (HIS335)
Terrorism, Civil War and Genocide (PSC402)
Criminal Justice (HSJ263)
Science Elective (SCI)
Research Methods (SOC313)
Exploration Electives (OEE)
Core Arts Perspective (ARP)

Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

Information, Technology, and Society (CSC124)
English Composition I (ENL111)
Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101)
Business Statistics (MTH157)
Technical and Professional Communication (ENL201)

View full course list

Emergency Management & Homeland Security

A wide variety of rewarding career options await graduates the emergency management & homeland security program.

KEMA Podcast

Listen to David E. Bjorkman, instructor of emergency management/social science, as he discusses the program, career opportunities, the realistic disaster simulations in which students participate, and the overwhelming acceptance by veteran emergency managers.

Listen to David Bjorkman's Interview

Military Tuition Assistance

Thanks to the Military Tuition Assistance Program, more tomorrow makers can find their futures at Penn College. Through this special offering, qualified active military personnel are eligible to pursue college credits tuition free.

Learn More