Harper College
Emergency And Disaster Management

Emergency and Disaster Management — Associate in Applied Science

Paramedic on an emergency scene

Earn your degree in emergency and disaster management

Career options Liberal Arts icon

  • Compliance
  • Disaster management
  • Emergency services
  • Planning

Prepare for a career in emergency and disaster management with this program. You’ll develop the skills and knowledge needed to secure full-time employment in emergency management roles at local, state and federal levels. This program will prepare you for a job as emergency manager specialist, emergency services manager, emergency management planner, emergency operations director, environmental compliance planner or emergency disaster coordinator.

Take classes in emergency management, ideologies of terrorism, hazardous materials, incident management systems, social dimensions of disaster, hazard analysis and mitigation, international disaster management and more. You’ll get hands-on experience training in Harper College’s on-site lab, which enables you to walk through realistic emergency scenarios, use communication equipment and practice working in different roles within a chain of command.

A.A.S. degree program plan

This 61 credit-hour program in Emergency and Disaster Management provides foundational knowledge and initial exposure to the Emergency Management field. Students explore a variety of areas within the discipline, including the four phases of emergency management, terrorism in emergency management, as well as inter-agency disaster management. This degree program is designed for students seeking entry-level exposure to the emergency management field, as well as for professionals in industries such as fire science, homeland security, and emergency response administration who are seeking to bolster their emergency management background. This degree program is recognized by FEMA's Emergency Management Institute for higher education.

Program Requirements

NumberCourse TitleCredits
First Semester
EMG 101Introduction to Emergency Management3
EMG 107Incident Management Systems3
EMG 253Ideologies of Terrorism3
ENG 101Composition I3
MGT 150Business Math13
Hours15
Second Semester
EMG 103Leadership, Influence, Decision Making and Problem Solving3
EMG 155Social Dimensions of Disaster3
GIS 100Introduction to Geospatial Technologies3
PSY 101Introduction to Psychology+3
SPE 101Fundamentals of Speech Communication3
Hours15
Third Semester
BIO 260Human Anatomy3
NTR 101Fundamentals of Nutrition
DRO 101Mastering Drone Flight: Essential Skills and Techniques3
Elective(s)3
EMG 150Public Information, Education, and Community Relations3
HED 206Introduction to Community and Public Health3
Hours15
Fourth Semester
Elective(s)12
EMG 153Hazard Analysis and Mitigation3
EMG 299Emergency Management Systems Practicum1
Hours16
Total Hours61
1

The mathematics requirement for this degree can be met with MGT150 (Business Math) or Math Competency. See Math Competency options for information. Students who use Math Competency to meet the mathematics requirement must complete an additional three credit-hour AAS General Education elective. See full list of AAS General Education Electives.

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Students need to choose a course to meet this requirement that also meets the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement. See full list of AAS General Education Electives.

 
 

Electives

NumberCourse TitleCredits
Select at least 15 credit hours from the following courses:15
EMG 131Public Safety Dispatcher I
EMG 201International Disaster Management
EMG 151Emergency Management Policy and Planning
EMG 205Crisis Exercise Design and Evaluation
EMG 231Public Safety Dispatcher II
EMG 251Select Problems in Emergency Management
FIS 260Emergency Services Safety
FIS 132Hazardous Materials

Program learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

  • Evaluate and analyze simple and complex, natural and man-made disasters.
  • Collaborate with other officials in order to prepare and analyze damage assessment following a disaster incident.
  • Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs in local disaster planning.
  • Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations and open shelters.
  • Direct emergency response teams and provide on-site investigations.
  • Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
  • Administer public emergency recovery programs.
  • Design and administer emergency/disaster training programs to the general public.
  • Understand federal, state, county and local regulations and details that affect emergency response and disaster control.
  • Inspect facilities and equipment, such as emergency response centers and communications equipment for readiness.
  • Effectively communicate within and outside the organization, in both written and oral formats.

Related programs

Students interested in emergency and disaster management may also be interested in:

For more information about emergency management training at Harper, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.

Last Updated: 9/30/26