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.

FEDERAL & PA GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT

Federal employees, and employees of state and regional government agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are eligible for a 25% tuition discount.

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Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

Flexible Online Program

In-State Tuition for All Students

300

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)
  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC111)
  • The History & Evolution of Emergency Management (BEM103)
  • World History I (HIS116) or
  • World History II (HIS126)
  • Incident Command System Operations (BEM201)
  • Emergencies, Disasters & Catastrophes (BEM202)
  • Disaster Preparation & Planning (BEM210)
  • Crisis Communication (BEM221)
  • Disaster Recovery (BEM230)
  • Introduction to Homeland Security (BEM240)
  • Directed Emergency Management Elective (BEM)
  • Spatial Analysis in Emergency Management (BEM250)
  • Critical Infrastructure (BEM300)
  • Principles of Public Administration (PSC251)
  • International Relations (PSC261)
  • Social/Psychological Foundations of Emergency Management (BEM265)
  • Bioterrorism (BEM350)
  • Terrorism, Civil War & Genocide (PSC402)
  • Criminal Justice (HSJ263)
  • Technological Elements of Emergency Management (BEM311)
  • Research Methods (SOC313)
  • 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.

  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC111)
  • General Psychology (PSY111)
  • Introduction to Physical Geology (GEL105) or
  • Introduction to Forensic Science (SCI101) or
  • Introduction to Forensic Science Laboratory (SCI102)
  • Science Elective (SCI)
  • Research Methods (SOC313)
  • 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 & Society (CSC124)
  • English Composition I (ENL111)
  • Math Elective (MTH151 or Higher) (MMM)
  • Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101)
  • Business Statistics (MTH157)
  • Technical & Professional Communication (ENL201)
Featured Videos

Internship Experiences

With 300 hours of internship experience, Emergency Management & Homeland Security students get hands-on experience in real-world settings.

Rotorfest 2023

Check out Rotorfest 2023—an action-packed day ran by emergency management & homeland security students. The event included a lineup of emergency services helicopters, drones, and vehicles. 

KEMA Podcast

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

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.

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Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Nov 3

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, November 39 AM - 3 PM

Register

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Contact

Admissions Office

Industry Partners

Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

FEMA
PEMA
Lyco Logo
Online Degrees

Learning that fits your lifestyle

Convenience

  • Accessible online anywhere in the world
  • Flexible scheduling – take classes part-time or full-time
  • Continue to work and be at home with your family
  • Transfer-friendly programs shorten time to complete your degree

Value

  • In-state tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency
  • Same rigor as on-campus programs

Service

  • One-on-one interaction with faculty
  • 24/7 online tutoring
  • Textbooks and course materials available for purchase online through The College Store
  • Graduates can participate in Commencement

Class Delivery

  • Classes delivered asynchronously through P.L.A.T.O., Penn College's Platform for Learning And Teaching Online
  • No required campus visits
Student Life

Stay active in and out of the classroom

Emergency Management Club

Emergency Management Club

Our Emergency Management Club promotes, fosters, and advocates for professional development within the field of emergency management through training, conferences, and professional development opportunities within the emergency management community.

Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Penn College News
Penn College students serving teams, fans at World Series
08.23.2024

Penn College students serving teams, fans at World Series

Fifteen Pennsylvania College of Technology paramedic students are part of the health care team at the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series. The students work under the guidance of certified paramedics from Susquehanna Regional Emergency Medical Services, who are on hand in the stadiums to provide for the emergency health needs of spectators at the nationally televised youth sports event, which began Aug. 14 and concludes Aug. 25.

06.11.2024

Emergency management instructor delivers keynote address

An emergency management and homeland security instructor at Pennsylvania College of Technology delivered the keynote address at the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units’ School Safety and Security Coordinators Seminar, held recently at The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College. “School safety is a passion of mine,” said William A. Schlosser.

04.23.2024

Wildcat Rotorfest doubles in size in second year

The second annual Wildcat Rotorfest, held recently at Pennsylvania College of Technology by the emergency management & homeland security major, doubled in attendance and participants. The interactive career exploration day was attended by nearly 500 K-12 students from 23 schools across the state.

Internship

Your knowledge in practice

Internships are key for career preparation. During the eighth and final semester, apply what you’ve learned in the real world working with an emergency preparedness, response, or recovery organization.

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Student Experience

The community as their classroom

Silenced voices echo through survivor’s search for ‘normal’

Silenced voices echo through survivor’s search for ‘normal’

Emergency Management Technology Online student Robyn Wolfe, a survivor of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, recalls her experience while evaluating the reactions during and after the event.

Read Robyn's story

More Information

Students must complete all BEM-designated courses with a grade of 'C' or above. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course after the maximum attempts allowed by college policy, results in withdrawal from the major. Students should work closely with their academic advisors and program faculty to ensure that they are meeting all criteria for satisfactory progress in the program. 

Continued progression in the program, to include eligibility for internship courses and graduation, is predicated not only upon satisfactory academic performance, but also upon satisfactory demonstration of professional and ethical responsibility, personal responsibility, and satisfactory demonstration of skills and abilities prerequisite to the ethical delivery of services in the field. For more specific information about the criteria used to evaluate students' progress, a copy of the program manual can be obtained from the School of Business, Arts & Sciences.

Internal and external transfers may carry parallel major courses into the baccalaureate when the grades are 'C' or better. Transcripts should be submitted with the application for admission and will be evaluated by Registrar staff and by academic school staff. By its nature, prior work experience in emergency services, military, and other appropriate work backgrounds will be evaluated for transfer evaluation and placement in the major. The academic school dean and full-time faculty will evaluate credit for life experience for course work from applicants with non-credit training or work experience. Credits awarded for work/life experience will be posted to the applicant’s College transcript after successful completion of at least 12 credits at the College.

View general transfer information

Program supplies and books are available for purchase through The College Store.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

International students who are studying in the United States on an F-1 visa must be enrolled in a full course of study in-person. Students are not permitted to enroll in an entirely online degree. Online degrees are available to international students pursuing the degree from their home country. Students must still meet all admissions criteria for admission to the college and any special admissions requirements that govern pursuit of their chosen major.

  • Mr. Benton J Best, County Emergency Management Coordinator, Tioga County Emergency Management Agency
  • Ms. Roseann B Cordelli, MPA, Communications Program Manager, Tetra Tech EMI
  • Mr. Gaven Crosby, '17, Supervisory Program Manager, FEMA
  • Mr. William E Ebersole, JD, CPA, CFE, GISF, Security Compliance/Emergency Manager, Disney Cruise Line
  • Ms. Stacey Folk, '23, EMA Manager (Emergency Management Coordinator), Lycoming County Department of Public Safety
  • Mr. John W Magyar II, CEM; MCAS; CHS-V, Senior Environmental Health & Safety Technician, Range Resources-Appalachia LLC
  • Mr. Chris E Miller, Chief of Police, Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Mr. David Pletz, Chief of Police & Director of Campus Safety, Penn College
  • Ms. Kelle B Robinson, County Emergency Management Coordinator, Lycoming County Department of Public Safety
  • Mr. Anthony N Subbio, CEM, PMP, MS, Emergency Management Specialist, Tetra Tech, Inc.
  • Mr. Jeff Wagner
  • Career Fair Connections

    Career Fair Connections

    Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

    Learn More About Career Fair