Program Overview
Incorporating coursework from public administration, management, health sciences, psychology, sociology, criminal justice and environmental sciences, the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online gives you the critical knowledge and tools to become a leader in disaster preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery. In this program, you will acquire operational skills applicable to a wide range of emergency systems and scenarios. Designed for current emergency management professional seeking promotion, as well as individuals preparing for a new career, Barry University’s FEMA-recognized BSEM program can give you the ability to adapt your knowledge to a variety of applications including homeland security, business continuity, and international disaster management.
In the accelerated online program, you will learn to plan, coordinate, and make high-level decisions.
In this program you will learn:
- How to use National Planning Scenarios to adapt and apply emergency management skills to a broad spectrum of potential terrorist threats
- To apply the four-stage hazard mitigation planning cycle and multi-hazard identification and risk assessment (MHIRA) methodologies to analysis of a comprehensive array of disaster scenarios
- The ethical, cultural, developmental, and research-related issues affecting the physical and psychosocial recovery of disaster-exposed individuals and communities
- Students will also complete a Capstone course, designed as an opportunity for students to integrate and synthesize the theories, techniques and management practices acquired during the program
Recognizing that adult learners bring a wealth of knowledge gained outside the classroom, the School of Professional and Career Education (PACE) at Barry values and gives credit for work and service experience. We offer a generous transfer credit policy—up to 90 college credits may be transferred. There are also multiple options to earn up to 90 credits toward the 120 required for graduation through professional licenses and certifications, testing, nontraditional transfer credit and the optional Experiential Learning Portfolio. To learn more about receiving credit for prior learning, view credits.
Courses
The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online is 120 credits. All courses are seven weeks in length. To earn a BS in Emergency Management, students must complete 30 credits of emergency management curriculum, 12 major-related elective credits, 45 credits of distribution requirements (general education), and a variable number of elective credits. Up to 90 credits may be awarded for the optional Experiential Learning Portfolio, traditional and non-traditional transfer credits, licensure/certification and testing.
To see the full list of the BSEM online courses, view courses.
Admissions
As an applicant for the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online, you must submit transcripts indicating graduation from a regionally accredited high school as well as official transcripts from any colleges attended. You must also have at least 2 years of work experience or be an active military member or veteran.
To learn more about our BSEM online admission requirements, view admissions.
Credits
There are multiple options to earn and transfer up to 90 credits toward your undergraduate degree—including, but not limited to, previous coursework, work experience, and community service (Portfolio program). All undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Barry University and meet any specific program requirements. The 120-credit program requires 48 upper-level credits.
To learn more about receiving credit for prior learning, view credits.
Tuition
Barry offers pay-as-you-go tuition for our online undergraduate programs. Students must also pay a one-time $30 application fee. A separate schedule of fees will apply for credits earned via the Experiential Learning Portfolio, transfer credits, licensure/certification and testing.
To learn more about our BSEM online tuition, view tuition.
Calendar
With multiple start dates each year, the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online program is convenient for working adults. Before beginning, you should consider application date deadlines, turn in all required documentation and fees, register for classes, and pay tuition to begin on your desired start date.
To see the full calendar of upcoming start dates for the BSEM online, view calendar.
Also available:
[close-]Courses
The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online curriculum consists of a total of 120 credits —30 hours of emergency management curriculum, 12 hours of major-related electives, 45 hours of distribution (general education) requirements and a variable number of other electives. Credits may also be awarded for traditional and non-traditional transfer credits, licensure/certification and testing. All courses are seven weeks in length. Students should consult with their academic advisor to create their individual degree plan and to answer any questions about required, elective and transfer credits.
For the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online, the core curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credits). Students must take the following courses.
EMA 205: Overview of Disasters and Complex Emergencies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course presents the complete spectrum of natural and human-generated disasters, humanitarian crises, and complex emergencies. The sequence from hazard to harm is examined for each type of disaster. Disaster consequences are compared and contrasted across types of disasters.
EMA 305: Principles of Emergency Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a broad introduction to emergency management. The course presents expert-consensus principles of emergency management, describes each of the four phases of emergency management, describes the incident command system, and introduces the U.S. National Response Framework.
EMA 307: Business Continuity Crisis Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course presents principles of emergency planning to maintain business operations when disaster threatens or strikes. It describes the pre-event continuity planning, event-phase plan implementation, and post-impact restoration of business operations to minimize disaster’s impact on the organization. Prerequisite: EMA 305.
EMA 311: Emergency Management of Homeland Security
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the distinguishing features of emergency management when focused on the threat of terrorism across all phases of the disaster cycle. Using National Planning Scenarios, students adapt and apply emergency management skills to a broad spectrum of potential terrorist threats. Prerequisite: EMA 305.
EMA 315: International Disaster Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course describes the key elements of international disaster management including the actors, the time-phased response activities, and the coordination and monitoring of multisectoral operations. The course considers how development, culture, and politics influence the international disaster response. Prerequisite: EMA 305.
EMA 405: Disaster Response Operations and Management I (DROM I): Mitigation and Preparedness
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course explores two of the four emergency management phases: prevention/mitigation and preparedness. The role of comprehensive emergency management planning and programming is delineated for each of these phases. Prerequisite: EMA 305.
EMA 409: Hazard Mitigation and Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course amplifies the principles of hazard management by applying the four-stage mitigation planning cycle and multi-hazard identification and risk assessment (MHIRA) methodologies to analysis of a comprehensive array of disaster scenarios. For each scenario, strategies and tactics are identified to prevent or minimize disaster risks to the community. Prerequisite: EMA 305.
EMA 499: Capstone in Emergency Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a thorough review of all theories, techniques, and management practices within the field of emergency management. It is designed for students to integrate and synthesize the learning experiences acquired in the Emergency Management program, including those tools required by an administrator in the emergency management field, thus demonstrating proficiency in the field. Pre-requisites: completion of required /core EMA courses or permission from Academic Coordinator.
ADM 353: Leadership Development
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Analysis and interpretation of leadership skills and abilities. Self-analysis will be used to develop a relationship between current work environments and management theory.
PSY 311: Psychosocial Issues of Disaster Preparedness and Recovery
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course surveys ethical, cultural, developmental, and research-related issues affecting the physical and psychosocial recovery of disaster-exposed individuals and communities.
Students must take 12 elective credits from ADM, EMA, and/or PUB.
To graduate, students must have 45 distribution (general education) credits. You must have 9 credits in each of the following categories:
- Theology and Philosophy
- Written and Oral Communication
- Science and Mathematics
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Humanities and Arts
The number of elective credits required is variable, depending on previous transfer credits, advisement, and individual student degree plan.
The portfolio is optional for the BSEM online program and can count for up to 30 credits. Specific requirements for the portfolio can be reviewed in the PACE Student Bulletin. Students will work with their academic advisor throughout the development of the portfolio. The portfolio is a vehicle through which students can demonstrate college-level learning in order to receive credit for professional work experience and/or community service in one or more of the following categories: administration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, interpersonal relations, investigation and research, leadership and supervision.
For more information about the ELP required for your BSEM online, view credits.
Admissions
Let's get started! The admission process is the first step toward earning your online degree. Familiarize yourself with these requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online program.
Programs within the School of Professional and Career Education (PACE) are designed to meet the needs of working adults seeking to complete an undergraduate degree and are not designed for recent high school graduates seeking to enroll in college for the first time.
BSEM Online Admission Requirements
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age
- Official transcripts from any colleges attended
- If fewer than 12 college credits have been earned, official transcript indicating graduation from a regionally accredited high school, or GED
- A resume with 2 references listed and reflecting at least 2 years of full time work experience
- There is no minimum years of service or work experience for military applicants
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended should be mailed directly from the institution(s) to Barry at this address:
Mail to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33161 - By email, sent directly from the institution to myapplicationdocs@barry.edu
- SPEEDE (also known as EDI Service)
- Parchment Exchange
- National Student Clearinghouse
- eScrip-Safe
- JST System (military)
OR
Electronic:
Credits
The School of Professional and Career Education (PACE) at Barry University values and gives credit for life experience and knowledge gained outside the classroom—including, but not limited to, previous coursework, work experience, and community service.
There are multiple options to earn and transfer up to 90 credits toward your undergraduate degree. All undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Barry University and meet any specific program requirements. The 120-credit program requires 48 upper-level credits.
Transfer Credits—Up to 90 Credits
Up to 90 credits from regionally accredited 4-year colleges or 64 from community or 2-year colleges.
Non-traditional Transfer Credits—Up to 90 Credits
Nontraditional transfer credit includes the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT®), which includes credit recommendations for courses or examinations offered by various organizations to their employees or members and the military and coursework recommended for credit by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS). Barry does not charge administrative fees for CREDIT or NCCRS credits but students may incur transcript fees.
Experiential Learning Portfolio—Up to 30 Credits (Optional)
The portfolio is a vehicle through which students can demonstrate college-level learning in order to receive credit for professional work experience and/or community service in one or more of the following categories: administration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, interpersonal relations, investigation and research, leadership and supervision. The portfolio is optional for the BSEM online program and can count for up to 30 credits. Specific requirements for the portfolio can be reviewed in the PACE Student Bulletin. Students will work with their academic advisor throughout the development of the portfolio.
In addition to potentially reducing the cost and time to degree completion, the Experiential Learning Portfolio is an opportunity to increase writing and organizational skills, and enables students to evaluate past and present abilities in order to formulate future goals. The portfolio can be used to demonstrate learnings and competencies to current and future employers.
There is a $1,950 administrative fee (in lieu of tuition) for the Experiential Learning Portfolio. The portfolio does not qualify for Financial Aid.
Testing—Up to 30 Credits
Testing includes examinations of the Educational Testing Service, including the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement program (AP), the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), and Barry University Challenge Exams.
- CLEP: There is a $100 per credit administrative fee if CLEP is taken after the student enrolls at Barry University. No fee if transferred before initial registration. There will be an additional test fee payable at the test site and a fee for the test transcript.
- Advanced Placement: Barry University does not charge any fees for AP credits but students may incur a transcript fee(s).
- DANTES: No fees
- DSST: $100 per credit administrative fee if DSST is taken after the student enrolls at Barry University. No fee if transferred before initial registration.
- Challenge Exams: Challenge exams are university-constructed tests which allow students to demonstrate previously acquired knowledge and earn credit for CAT 102 (Basic Computer Applications), IT 190 (Microcomputer Basics) and IT 200 (Foundations of Information Technology). There is a $75 dollar fee for each challenge exam, payable prior to examination.
Licensure/Certification—Up to 90 Credits
Licensure/certification is the awarding of transfer credits to students who hold one or more of 24 professional licenses, 13 technical certifications and/or the courses leading up to the license. Credit is awarded for the license(s)/certificate(s) itself or for courses completed at federal and state institutions leading to issuance of the license(s)/certificate(s). All license credits appear as General Electives on students' transcripts. An administrative fee will be charged of 10% of current PACE regular credit tuition for each credit awarded. There is no charge for licensure credits obtained from coursework appearing on a transcript from a regionally accredited college or university.
Tuition
Tuition for the Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online program is $247 per credit. It is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Students must also pay a one-time $30 application fee. A separate schedule of fees will apply for credits earned via the Experiential Learning Portfolio, transfer credits, licensure/certification and testing.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 3-credit course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management | $247 | $741 | $29,460* |
*Based on 120 undergraduate credits needed for graduation. Total program cost varies based on number of transfer and experiential credits accepted.
[close-]Calendar
Barry offers six start dates each year for your convenience. Following acceptance into the program, please submit all required documentation, register for classes, and pay your tuition. These steps are necessary in order to begin on your chosen start date.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term B | July 1, 2019 | June 17, 2019 | June 24, 2019 | June 24, 2019 | June 26, 2019 | August 17, 2019 |
| Fall Term A | August 26, 2019 | August 12, 2019 | August 19, 2019 | August 19, 2019 | August 21, 2019 | October 12, 2019 |
| Fall Term B | October 21, 2019 | October 4, 2019 | October 10, 2019 | October 14, 2019 | October 16, 2019 | December 7, 2019 |
| Spring Term A | January 13, 2020 | December 30, 2019 | January 6, 2020 | January 6, 2020 | January 8, 2020 | February 29, 2020 |
| Spring B | March 9, 2020 | February 24, 2020 | March 2, 2020 | March 2, 2020 | March 4, 2020 | April 25, 2020 |
Barry University ranks among The 15 Best Online Bachelor's in Emergency Management Programs, according to TheBestSchools.org.
