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Emergency Management Online Master’s Concentration Within the MS in Management Program

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You're viewing a Program Concentration

Total courses 4 (of 12)

Term length 10 weeks

Concentration Overview Why focus on emergency management?

As part of your MS in Management program, a concentration adds focus to your degree in a particular area of study — like emergency management. Southern New Hampshire University's Master of Science (MS) in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management focuses on preventing, protecting against and mitigating risks from a wide range of threats, including public health incidents, natural disaster, security hazards and more.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Critical threat/event preparation and response techniques
  • Expertise that can guide teams through organizational change
  • Communication tactics for gathering/presenting information
  • Strategic decision-making practices
  • Task prioritization and project management tools
Nikki Bennett, who earned her dgree at SNHU, standing in her front yard holding her framed SNHU diploma

Courses & Curriculum Career-focused emergency management classes

In our MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management program, you’ll assess strategies for planning, preparedness, response and recovery using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Incident Management System (FIMS) as a guide. You’ll also explore crisis leadership and communication, learning how to protect organizations, government agencies, communities or nations from unexpected events.

Don't have a business background? Before beginning this program, you may need to take OL-501: Business Foundations. The course is designed to help you succeed in a business master's program, whether it's an MSM or an online MBA, and prepare you for the coursework ahead. Your admission counselor or academic advisor can advise whether you'll need to complete it.

Concentration Course Descriptions

Your 4-course emergency management concentration explained

Your entire MS in Management degree consists of 12 courses (36 credits). For 8 of your courses, you’ll take master's-level management classes (24 credits). If you choose this concentration, the remaining 4 courses (12 credits) will focus specifically on emergency management.

Courses may include:

Course ID: MGT 620
This course examines the nation's emergency management system at all levels of government. Using exemplars and anti-exemplars, students will study how the system works to prevent disasters that are preventable, and how it works to mitigate the consequences of those disasters that are not. The National Incident Management System and the National Preparedness System will be studied and emphasized. Topics will include: communications, leadership, disaster management methods and program building models, the all-hazards concept and analysis, community resiliency, the whole-community concept, and the five national frameworks (Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response and Recovery) under the National Preparedness System. Students who complete this course will have a comprehensive understanding of the nation's emergency management system, and of how communities mitigate against, respond to, and recover from all disaster events.
Course ID: MGT 622
This course uses real-world disaster planning strategies and structures to prepare students for roles encompassing the construction of community or organizational disaster-preparedness programs. Various types of threats and hazards to communities and organizations will be studied. Using a scenario-based approach, students will examine existing real-world planning strategies intended to prevent or mitigate the consequences of a disaster event on communities. Students will use the latest guidelines and strategies from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Emphasis is on assessing risk, threats, and vulnerabilities to safeguard against disaster incidents. Emphasis will be on using FEMA systems and tools to assess and construct community disaster preparedness plans. Topics include: all aspects of the all hazards analysis, proper emergency management program building, including the use of community working groups, The National Preparedness System, the National Incident Management System, resilience planning, the whole community concept, the construction of community emergency management plans with FEMA standards, and roles and responsibilities of local, state, and federal government. Students who have completed this course will be well-prepared to plan and prepare for different types of emergencies, using the same FEMA guidelines and tools for disaster planning and program building currently in use by emergency managers throughout the county.
Course ID: MGT 625
The course explores issues and challenges in disaster response and recovery, including evacuation or relocation in the aftermath of a crisis. Using a case-study approach, students analyze real-world critical incidents requiring fast response measures and recovery support and determine the degree of success, in part, on the coordination and cooperation of various departments and agencies. Topics include National Response Framework (NRF), National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), resource management, stakeholders, infrastructure, leadership, communication, and mitigation activities. Students completing the course have a broad view of a response and recovery mission from beginning to end.
Course ID: MGT 628
The course dissects various types of crises within communities, organizations, and governmental agencies. Using a scenario-based approach, students differentiate between the types of crises and develop a systematic response to a critical incident using emergency management planning and preparedness strategies as well as analyzing the crisis in relation to FEMA and NIMS guidelines. Topics include FEMA's Continuity of Operations. Students completing the course have a thorough understanding of the level of preparation in developing an emergency management plan from the planning stages into the final phase of recovery.

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Upcoming term starts: July 6, 2026 | September 21, 2026

Next term starts:
April 20, 2026

Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.4% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2025 survey with 8,718 respondents.

What to expect:

10-week terms

Learn around your schedule

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Faculty Profile

Learn from instructors with industry experience

Our faculty carry with them decades of experience in management. By bringing real-world insights to the classroom, they can help position graduates for success in this ever-evolving field.

Featured Faculty

Dr. Michelle Caron, associate dean
Dr. Michelle Caron

Dr. Michelle Caron has more than 20 years of experience developing and teaching business, education and STEM programs in traditional, hybrid and online settings across academic, government and private-sector organizations. She's also held leadership roles at two Fortune 500 companies in the transportation and retail industries. An international visiting professor, author and consultant, Caron publishes and presents on topics including globalization in education, labor markets, corporate governance and student engagement. She's a member of the Academy of International Business and New Hampshire Women in Higher Education Leadership.

Position
Associate Dean

Joined SNHU
2005

Education

  • PhD in International Business and MS in Business Education from Southern New Hampshire University
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After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

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Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 36-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$659
$1,977
$23,724
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$16,920

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$1,977 $3,954 $5,931 $7,908
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 3 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $21,747

If 6 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,770

If 9 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $17,793

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($659/credit) are accepted toward your master’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,816

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. Most master's degrees require 36 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 12 credits, requiring a minimum of 24 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with my concentration in emergency management?

With an MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management, you may be able to pursue roles like emergency management director, crisis recovery manager, disaster management specialist, emergency preparedness coordinator, global response communicator and more.

Industries

Emergencies happen everywhere, so earning this degree can position you for employment in a variety of settings, including: 

Coordinate resources and respond to disastrous events, often at the local or state level.

Train staff and plan for emergencies to help keep large populations safe.

Manage administrative operations and support staff on the ground during resource-strained situations.

Respond to emergencies that can occur during takeoffs, landings, and everything in between.

3%
An icon of a flow chart arrow pointing upwards

Increase in roles – as fast as average – for emergency management directors through 2032 nationally, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$83,960
An icon of a piggy bank with a dollar symbol

Median annual pay nationally for emergency management directors as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1 Statistic not based on wage data for SNHU graduates.

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Walt Wilkerson '17
Walt Wilkerson '17

I was attracted to SNHU, because I was looking for more than just an online institution. I liked that SNHU had an actual campus, their accreditation was solid and every review from alumni was very positive. The emergency management [concentration] had partnering federal agencies that made me feel at ease that the program was solid.

Walt Wilkerson '17G

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Like many other programs, you can earn an MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management entirely online.

At Southern New Hampshire University, you’ll learn from instructors with extensive professional experience in both management and emergency management, who can share insights and real-world knowledge as you progress through your courses.

Worried about missing hands-on experience? Don't be. You’ll engage with scenario-based exercises and case studies that let you analyze real-world critical incidents, preparing you to manage emergencies from the initial response through final recovery.

You’ll also build expertise in critical areas such as effective business communication, data-driven decision making, talent development and support, project management and more — all through an engaging online learning experience designed for working professionals.

With an MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management, you can help your community (and beyond) avoid the threat of disasters, as well as assist those after a disaster has happened.

This program offers the skills and knowledge needed to lead a team out of crisis with a plan for recovery. You'll learn the latest guidelines and strategies from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Incident Management System, including how to assess risks, threats and vulnerabilities.

You may already be a first responder at the local, regional, national or global level and now feel ready to take your experience to the next level — or you may be new to the field. Fire and police departments, government agencies, hospitals, private firms and not-for-profit agencies all need trained professionals in emergency management. With this degree, you'll have the opportunity to step into a role where your expertise makes a real difference during critical events.

You can earn an MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management the same as you would any other degree — by successfully completing all the required courses in the program you choose.

In Southern New Hampshire University's online master's in management with a concentration in emergency management degree program, you'll complete your degree by taking 8 courses in management and 4 courses in emergency management.

By taking 8 general management courses, you can be prepared to be a leader. Courses about communication, decision-making, human behavior and project management can give you skills that employers find useful, wherever you work.

Then, by taking 4 classes in emergency management, you can pair your management skills with strategies that can make you an effective leader in unpredictable emergency situations.

By merging those two areas into one degree, you can become a leader the community looks up to during disastrous times.

The cost of an MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management varies across universities.

At Southern New Hampshire University, the cost per graduate credit is $659. For our 36-credit online master's in management with a concentration in emergency management degree, the total tuition cost comes to $23,724. SNHU also accepts up to 12 transfer credits towards a master's degree, which could help you save time and money.

We believe cost shouldn't hinder anyone from receiving the degree they want to earn. We understand how rising costs make it harder for some students to commit to a college program, and as a nonprofit university, it's important to us to remove that barrier.

You'll also have the opportunity to work one-on-one with our Student Financial Services team to better understand financial aid (if you're eligible) and create a plan specific to your financial needs.

By taking advantage of all of our services when you enroll, you can position yourself for a better financial future.

Read more: How to Pay for a Master's Degree

The mission statement of the FEMA is "helping people, before, during and after disasters."2 If taking on some of the nation's most deadly events head on and serving the American people in their time of need sounds like a career you're ready to get behind, then earning a disaster management degree could put you on the right path.

Think Sept. 11 attacks, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, fires, floods, landslides, mudslides — from large national events to those that hit smaller communities, emergency management will always be a necessary field.

Additionally, the MS in Management with a concentration in Emergency Management could help you protect traditional businesses, especially when thinking about reallocating resources when disaster strikes.

Southern New Hampshire University understands disaster relief isn't a 9-to-5 job — that you have commitments that might interfere with taking classes at a traditional brick-and-mortar institution.

That's why you get 24/7 access to our classroom. You can finish your coursework when you need to, whether that's 12 pm or 12 am.

By removing barriers and making your master's more accessible, you're in a better position to complete your master's degree and reach your career goals.

At colleges and universities, a concentration is a focused area of study within a larger degree program. A concentration generally replaces elective coursework in the major or discipline, allowing students to focus their studies on an area of interest.

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm (viewed Apr. 29, 2024). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

2FEMA, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/National_Prevention_Framework2nd-june2016.pdf (viewed May 3, 2024)
  • https://www.fema.gov/about-agency (viewed May 3, 2024)