General Requirements:
- Daily access to a computer with the Windows Operating System (Window XP or Windows 7 or higher) or access to an Apple Macintosh with the Office Suite
- Internet access with a high-speed connection (DSL, FIOS or Cable)
- Ability to online chat
- Familiarity with basic computer functions including e-mail, internet, and Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010 for PC; Microsoft Office 2011 for MAC and PowerPoint
- Participation in various off-campus guided and independent learning activities, facilitated through the use of e-mail, internet, and distance learning technologies (Blackboard, web conferencing)
- Participation in the mandatory summer on-campus week.
Required Student Experience:
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 (If you are already working in the disaster/emergency management you will need to provide documentation that supports meeting this requirement).
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.
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 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)
These experiences begin the first term of the program where you develop a plan followed by documenting your progress each term toward the 100 hours.
Writing requirements:
As in every Graduate Program, communication ability is a critical component. This program is no different as we have the following:
- Construct an argument or hypothesis in a logical, organized fashion, demonstrating depth of analytical ability and concept development.
- Defend or support work by cohesive paragraph development and flow.
- Avoid plagiarism by being able to restate factual information with their own words and demonstrate analytical ability and critical assessment.
- Search for and use sources and citations appropriately; demonstrate the ability to filter references for applicability and quality, and /or to follow the trail of references to the root article and evaluate for accuracy. In short, students should use critical analysis of the literature techniques.
- Recognize when an idea has been well presented and when it needs more development.
- Use correct grammar and sentence structure to ensure readability and publication potential.
- Present information clearly and effectively in multiple modalities: written paper, Power Point presentation, poster, discussion boards.
- Demonstrate reasonable facility with APA style and/or professional writing guidelines.
