Students will demonstrate the connection between academic learning and real world application by participating in local, regional, state, or federal agencies activities for a minimum of 100 hours during the program. This participation is a graduation pre-requisite and supporting documents will need to be submitted to the Program by the beginning of your final term.

Activities include participating in any or all of the following examples:
1. Local Emergency Planning committee (LEPC)
2. Municipal/Boro/City/Hospital Emergency Manager
3. Regional Counterterrorism task forces and committees
4. State of specialized emergency response team (MRC, USAR, medical teams)
5. State emergency management agency
6. Federal agency (HHS, FEMA, DHS)
7. Organization Emergency Management committee (business, industry, hospital, school, public or private sector role).
8. Disaster volunteer for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, faith based, etc.
9. Shadow or mentor with a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

This is more than being a First Responder – it needs to be at the level of not just responding and working a call but participating in the management aspects. Students are expected to participate in activities and to volunteer in many roles, including exercises. Be clear that the primary focus is to be on management activities of disasters – planning/preparedness, mitigation, specific response needs i.e. sheltering, special populations, risk communication, and recovery planning. A review of the Certified Emergency Manager 12 knowledge areas may help guide your choices in activities. (see IAEM website)

If you are already working in the disaster/emergency management field please provide documentation that supports meeting this requirement.

Professional Organizations
Membership in a professional organization is a positive step in your career path. We also look at that during the Dean Scholarship process. There are many organizations you can join based on your professional experience and background. Philadelphia University has a student chapter in the International Association of Emergency Managers. You can join the University's chapter for $30 per year. For more information click here.