Online Master of Science in Emergency Management

When It Hits, Be Ready. When It Matters, Lead the Charge.

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100% online

FLEXIBLE MASTER’S DEGREE

Part-time

STUDY ON YOUR SCHEDULE

2.5 years

TO GRADUATION

10:1

STUDENT-TO-FACULTY RATIO

No GRE

APPLY AS YOU ARE

Lead When It Matters Most

You’ve seen the difference between people who respond to emergencies and people who lead through them.

Adelphi’s online Master of Science in Emergency Management gives you the advanced training to become that leader, with the strategic knowledge, policy fluency and credentials to take charge before, during and after a crisis.

This master’s program is designed for working professionals who want the flexibility of a part-time program and online coursework they can access on their own schedule. At $475 per credit, it’s also one of the most affordable MS in EM programs in the United States.

Courses That Reflect the Realities of Disaster Management

When a crisis hits, gaps in knowledge mean gaps in response. We want you to be ready for anything, which is why our program covers everything: from public policy and emergency law to business continuity and homeland security.

You’ll complete the program with the knowledge and credentials to lead in any setting.

See how we’ve designed our emergency management curriculum for working professionals →

Faculty Who Know How to Build a Career in the Field

Adelphi’s emergency management faculty have managed real disaster response: terrorist attacks, health epidemics, natural disasters and major public events. They bring that experience to you in every course.

They also know how the field works from a career-building standpoint: how to establish and use your professional network, how to position yourself for leadership roles and how to make yourself stand out when you’re changing roles.

Request Program Brochure

To learn more about Adelphi University’s online MS in Emergency Management and download a brochure, fill out the fields to request information or call us at 516.619.2209 to talk with one of our enrollment specialists.

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Why Adelphi’s Online MS in Emergency Management?

Competitive Tuition

At $475 per credit, Adelphi’s MS in EM is among the most affordable programs of its kind. You’re also automatically considered for all scholarships when you’re accepted, without the need to submit separate applications.

Flexible, Instructor-Led Courses

Courses are delivered online and designed to fit busy schedules. You get the benefit of on-demand coursework combined with expert instruction and engagement with your peers.

Credentials You Can Use Before You Finish

After completing the first five courses, you’ll earn a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management. It’s a credential that stands out on a résumé and makes a real case for a promotion while you keep your master’s momentum going.

Built for People Who Do the Work

This program draws professionals from public safety, healthcare, municipal government and the military. If you’re already in the field and serious about leading it, you’ll find your people here.

Hear From Students & Faculty

“

Studying emergency management at Adelphi University was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and my career. Read more

Lana Corbie

Emergency Manager at FEMA Brooklyn and MA in Emergency Management Alum

“

I come from a family of police officers and my husband is a 9/11 first responder, so the program really tied into my upbringing... I loved the leadership class, it taught me all about different types of leadership and what kind of leader I am. Read more

Erin Donohue

Director of hospital operations for Cohen Children’s Hospital and MA in Emergency Management Alum

“

Emergency management is an umbrella. It can really direct interested students to any career path.

Terry Cooper

Director of the Emergency Management Program

Curriculum Overview

The online MS in Emergency Management is a 33-credit program that typically takes 2.5 years to complete.

The curriculum goes beyond emergency response foundations to cover the policy, strategic and organizational skills that separate responders from leaders. Courses draw from multiple disciplines across Adelphi’s schools, including the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences and Robert B. Willumstad School of Business.

Core Courses Include

Organizational Planning and Response
Securing the Homeland
Health Management in Times of Disaster
Public Policy and Administration in Emergency Management
Business Continuity Planning
Emergency Management Law

You’ll also choose two electives to go deeper in areas like organizational leadership, management theory or data analytics.

See the full course list for the MS in Emergency Management →

What You’ll Be Able To Do

Understand how the discipline of emergency management applies science, technology, planning, risk analysis and management techniques to deal with large and complex events

Develop competencies of planning methodologies to evaluate, critique and apply social science research and government policies to effective disaster response

Acquire skills and knowledge to evaluate, assess and synthesize data, using current research methods to employ an evidence-based strategy to disaster decision making

Analyze and evaluate public administration in the field of emergency management at federal, state and local levels while considering the role of the private and nonprofit sectors

Explore the curriculum →

Download a curriculum guide

Emergency Management Master’s: Who Is This Program For?

For the emergency management professional: If you’re in emergency services or public safety and ready to move into a leadership role, this program gives you the credentials and strategic training to get there.
For the adjacent-field professional: Professionals in healthcare, municipal government, the military and other sectors increasingly find themselves responsible for emergency preparedness. This program gives you the formal training to match those responsibilities.
For the career changer: Any bachelor’s degree qualifies, and no prior emergency management experience is required. You will need to submit a personal statement describing your interest in the Master of Science in Emergency Management to help us understand where you’re coming from and where you want to go.
For the mission-driven leader: Emergency management is hands-on, high-stakes and deeply necessary. Your decisions have real consequences for real people. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.

See our full admissions requirements

One Degree, Two Promotions: Hear From an Emergency Management Grad

Erin Donohue finished her master’s and went from project manager to director of hospital operations at Cohen Children’s Medical Center at Northwell Health. Here’s how she got there.

Read Erin’s story →

Emergency Management Career Landscape

The field is hiring—and paying. The median advertised salary for roles requiring emergency management skills is $78,700, and for positions that specifically require a master’s degree, that figure climbs to $90,000.

The demand spans every sector. Among the top employers actively posting emergency management roles:

Federal agencies: FEMA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Healthcare systems: HCA Healthcare, Parkland Health, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Consulting firms: WSP Global, ICF International, Hagerty Consulting, Tetra Tech
Nonprofits: American Red Cross, Salvation Army
Government: City of New York, State of Florida, State of Washington

The skills employers are looking for map directly to what you study here.

Skill Employers Want	Where Adelphi Covers It
Leadership and decision-making under pressure	Leadership & Innovation in Complex Systems
Public policy and administration	Public Policy and Administration in Emergency Management
Organizational planning and coordination	Organizational Planning and Response
Business continuity and risk management	Business Continuity Planning
Legal knowledge	Emergency Management Law
Data analysis and research methods	Research in Emergency and Disaster Management + Statistical Methods
Health and public health emergency response	Health Management in Times of Disaster
Homeland security frameworks	Securing the Homeland

Salary data sourced from Lightcast Data Analytics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job posting data sourced from Lightcast.

0.0%

Emergency services salaries have risen 11.3% in the past three years.

Source: Lightcast Labor Analytics Database

What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management?

“Don’t think of it just as homeland security or FEMA or the police department. It’s a very versatile degree.”

— Erin Donohue, MS ’23, Director of Hospital Operations, Cohen Children’s Medical Center

Explore all you can do with an emergency management degree →

Frequently Asked Questions: MS in Emergency Management

What is emergency management?

Emergency management is the professional discipline of planning for and responding to disasters and crises. It covers the full lifecycle of an emergency, from the preparation that happens long before a crisis strikes to the recovery work that follows.

In practice, that means identifying risks before they become emergencies and building the plans and systems that guide response. Emergency managers work across every sector: government agencies, hospitals, utilities, consulting firms, nonprofits and private-sector businesses all need professionals in this field.

The discipline has grown significantly in recent decades. The increasing frequency of natural disasters, combined with the expanding threat of cyberattacks and public health crises, has broadened what emergency management covers and who needs it.

Homeland security degree vs. an emergency management degree: what’s the difference?

Emergency management takes an all-hazards approach, applicable across any type of disaster or disruption in any sector
Homeland security focuses more narrowly on protecting the nation from internal and external threats, including critical infrastructure and national security

The fields overlap, but emergency management is a broader discipline. If you want a credential that applies across industries and sectors, the MS in Emergency Management is the more versatile choice.

We compare these two degrees in-depth in our article, “Choosing Between a Master’s in Homeland Security vs. a Master’s in Emergency Management.”

What are the admissions requirements?

Admission requirements for the online Master of Science in Emergency Management include:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum 2.7 cumulative undergraduate GPA
No GRE required

We don’t require a previous degree or experience in emergency management, but you do need to be able to tell us about why you are interested in this field in your application. Visit our admissions page for more information.

How much does the program cost?

Visit the tuition page for fees and financial aid information. You can also contact an enrollment specialist at 516.619.2209 or online@adelphi.edu to discuss how you can finance your degree.

How does Adelphi help with career development or job placement?

The emergency management programs draw on Adelphi's connections to agencies, first responder organizations and private-sector emergency management teams across New York and nationally.

Many faculty members are active practitioners in the field, giving you direct access to people currently working in FEMA, state and local emergency management offices, public safety agencies, hospitals and corporate continuity roles.

Students and alumni have access to Adelphi's Center for Career and Professional Development for résumé reviews, interview prep and job search support. They also have access to Handshake, which puts you in front of 1 million+ employers, including every Fortune 500 company.

Do I get military benefits at Adelphi?

Yes. Adelphi is ranked in the top 20 percent of colleges for veteran and military benefits, and is a recognized Top Yellow Ribbon School by U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Several benefits apply to the online MS in Emergency Management:

GI Bill (Chapter 33/Post-9/11): Eligible students can receive up to 100 percent of tuition coverage based on credits enrolled each semester
Yellow Ribbon Program: Eligible Chapter 33 recipients may receive additional funding beyond the standard benefit, with the VA and Adelphi each contributing up to $4,000 for a potential total of $8,000
Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP): Allows soon-to-enlist or currently enlisted military personnel to take courses while continuing their service

To get started, submit your Certificate of Eligibility to the One-Stop Student Services Center at onestop@adelphi.edu. Include your full name and Adelphi student ID.

For questions about eligibility or obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility, contact the veterans support team at veteransupport@adelphi.edu.

Learn more about military financial aid benefits or explore our broader veteran and military resources for Adelphi students.

My question isn’t answered here. How can I get personalized guidance?

An enrollment specialist can walk you through program details, admissions requirements and financial aid options. Call 516.619.2209 to start the conversation or email online@adelphi.edu to set up a time to talk.