Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Online

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

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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Courses

Your coursework will cover classes specific to your area of specialization along with foundational concepts and lessons that invite fresh perspectives.

Fall 2028

  1. 3
  2. 3
  3. 3
  4. 3
  5. 3

5 courses 15 credits

40% program-specific courses

Spring 2029

  1. 3
  2. 3
  3. 3
  4. 3
  5. 3

5 courses 15 credits

40% program-specific courses

Please Note: The outlined curriculum assumes a fall semester start for students completing a full credit load schedule without additional developmental math requirements. Students beginning in the spring or summer, taking less than a full load, and/or requiring developmental coursework follow an altered curriculum sequence. Speak to your academic advisor or school office with questions.

Careers

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

Flexible Online Program

In-State Tuition for All Students

300

Hours of Field Experience

Featured Videos

The Making of Rotorfest

Every year, hundreds of community members come to the campus to experience Rotorfest. As an Emergency Management & Homeland security student, you get to coordinate the entire event. As part of your class. 

Internship Experiences

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

Meet Bjorkman

Meet faculty member Dave Bjorkman, who found his way to Emergency Management through a passion for planning and career experience with the Baltimore City Police Department, Johns Hopkins Baby Medical Center, and public health consulting during the H1N1 pandemic.

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.

Undergraduate Open House

Saturday, July 18 9 AM - 3 PM

Register

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Admissions Office

Scholarships

As a Emergency Management & Homeland Security student at Penn College, you may be elgible for 112 scholarships.

4 Program-related scholarships

108 Additional scholarships

Explore scholarships

Penn College News: Real World Ready

PA House produces video on Penn College event

April 23, 2026

State Rep. Clint Owlett shared a video on his Facebook page to highlight a recent emergency simulation provided to first-year state representatives by Penn…

Penn College creates mock press conference for state reps

April 15, 2026

A group of state representatives recently visited Pennsylvania College of Technology to learn more about the emergency management & homeland security program…

WNEP-TV airs story on Rotorfest

April 09, 2026

WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker visited Rotorfest, an event planned and managed by Penn College emergency management & homeland security students, on Tuesday. Her…

WNEP-TV visits MILO

February 27, 2026

WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker recently checked out Penn College’s new Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives – or MILO – system. Aucker interviewed William A.…

Legislators explore emergency management

February 10, 2026

Four state representatives visited Penn College on Monday to learn more about its emergency management & homeland security degree and to try out the program’s…

Emergency Management Club explores NYC

January 16, 2026

Seventeen members of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Emergency Management Club spent time in New York City in early December to explore the city’s history…

VIDEO: Grace under pressure

December 02, 2025

Raised in a family rooted in community service, Mikya L. Stake is forging her own path – balancing a full college course load with overnight shifts as a live-in…

Schlosser earns CEM certification

September 02, 2025

Pennsylvania College of Technology emergency and homeland security instructor William A. Schlosser has been named a Certified Emergency Manager by the…

Cross-curricular collaboration explores poverty

May 06, 2025

Can you survive a month in poverty? That was the key question at a recent Community Action Poverty Simulation explored by Penn College students in various…

Powerful giving: Making dreams come true

April 23, 2025

Empowering tomorrow’s workforce through investing in Pennsylvania College of Technology students was the focus of the annual Donor Recognition Reception, held…

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

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.

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 Life: Stay active in and out of the classroom

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.

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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.

Get Involved

Student Experience: The community as their classroom

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

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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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

More Information

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.

David Bjorkman

David Bjorkman

Instructor, Emergency Management & Homeland Security

William Schlosser

William Schlosser

Instructor, Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Contact Information

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