Emergency Management & Homeland Security
About this program
When emergencies strike, planning and preparation can make a world of difference. At Penn College, our Emergency Management & Homeland Security program focuses on real-world skills. The more you learn now, the better you’ll be prepared to act in the future. Gain practical skills to tackle all phases of emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes. Then put them to the test in mock crisis activities and other skill-building collaborative exercises.
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.
Join the Penn College Emergency Management & Homeland Security Community 
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
17
Average Class Size
100%
Overall Placement
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.
- BEM101Introduction to Emergency Management Operations
- MHIELCMath Elective (MTH113 or Higher)
- BEM103The History & Evolution of Emergency Management
- BEM201Incident Command System Operations
- BEM202Emergencies, Disasters & Catastrophes
- BEM210Disaster Preparation & Planning
- BEM221Crisis Communication
- BEM254Geospatial Information Systems in Emergency Management
- BEM230Disaster Recovery
- BEMELCDirected Emergency Management Elective
- HISP1 Select One Course: HIS116 or HIS126
- BEM340Introduction to Homeland Security
- BEM350Bioterrorism
- HSJ263Criminal Justice
- PSC261International Relations
- HSJ302Trauma-Informed Care
- BEM300Critical Infrastructure Protection
- PSC402Terrorism, Civil War & Genocide
- PSC251Principles of Public Administration
- BEM311Technological Elements of Emergency Management
- JUSELCDirected Emergency Management Elective (300-level or higher)
- BEM450Emergency Management Internship
- BEM495Emergency Management Capstone
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.
Featured Video
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.
Maker Profiles
Student
Brooke Strubel
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Brooke has always been inspired to help others. Her career as an EMT allows her to do exactly that.
Alumni
Gaven Crosby
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Discipline learned as a reserve soldier helps Gaven stay calm under pressure.
Faculty
David Bjorkman
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
His proven approach blends research and theory with real-world experience.
Student
Colten Hajicek
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
After his teammate went into cardiac arrest on the lacrosse field, Colten knew he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to care for those in need.
Industry
County of Lycoming
Accounting & Business Administration
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Individualized Programs of Study
Information Technology
Nursing
Nursing & Health Sciences
Student
Mikya Stake
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
She's community-minded and driven to make a difference. Learn why Ki is attracted to the field of emergency management.
Industry
D4H
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
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.
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.
Feb 21
Undergraduate Open House
Saturday, February 219 AM - 3 PM
Apr 26
Undergraduate Open House
Sunday, April 269 AM - 3 PM
Facilities
Emergency Operations Center
Practice your planning tactics and response strategy in our on-campus training center.
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.
Student Life
Lead and put your skills to the test
Emergency Management Club
Our Emergency Management Club promotes, fosters, and advocates for the professional development within the field of emergency management through trainings, conferences, and professional development opportunities within the emergency management community.
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
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
VIDEO: Grace under pressure
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Schlosser earns CEM certification
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Cross-curricular collaboration explores poverty
Study Abroad
Gain global experience
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
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.
Student Experience
The community as their classroom
Mock crisis authentically adds to interdisciplinary preparedness
Penn College students joined area law enforcement, emergency management and healthcare professionals in a recent simulation at UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center and a variety of other locations.
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.
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.
- 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