Help your community prepare for, mitigate and recover from natural and man-made disasters. With an education in emergency management, you’ll be ready to effectively respond to local crises. At the UCF School of Public Administration, we offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in emergency management. Graduates of these programs now serve their communities as directors of emergency operations centers and coordinators of emergency management for a variety of public and private organizations.
Program Director
Degree Programs
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management
Choose between the bachelor of science or the bachelor of arts. Both options provide students with the fundamentals of emergency management and the core competencies of public administration.
Minor in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Students interested in exploring emergency management may choose to pursue the minor, which provides training on the disaster management cycle.
Graduate
Master of Emergency and Crisis Management
The MECM builds off of the foundational knowledge provided in the undergraduate degree and emphasizes leadership, disaster planning and advance concepts in emergency management.
Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Our 18-credit-hour certificate provides intensive interdisciplinary graduate education for working professionals engaged in, or seeking professional careers in, emergency management and homeland security.
Faculty
Pegasus Professor and School Director
Public Administration, Center for Public and Nonprofit Management
Associate Professor, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program Director
Public Administration
Student Resources
MECM New Student Handbook
MECM Virtual Orientation
Knight to New Hire
The emergency management advisory board has developed this guide to help Knights prepare to enter the workforce. Everything from managing your online brand, developing your resume, and successfully completing an interview is included in this short guide.
Public Services Career.org
Tired of looking on monstrous job sites with thousands of generic jobs? This new nationwide public and nonprofit sector job site has just been launched for you!
FEMA Emergency Management Institute Online
Offers students access to completely free FEMA Independent Study courses. These courses can be used to further a student’s knowledge in a wide range of topics and greatly enhance a student’s resume.
FEMA Professional Development Series
Part of the Emergency Management Institute, this allows students to take advanced online Independent Study courses and awards a professional certification upon completion. This is recommended for all students interested in pursuing a career in Emergency Management. These courses are also completely free.
Sert Trac
Sert Trac is run by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and offers two supportive features. First, it allows students to create a profile and then upload and track all of their trainings, Independent Study classes, and certifications. Second, it allows students to apply for free advanced trainings that are offered throughout the state. Disclaimer: Trainings require prerequisite online courses, and may require some in class prerequisite trainings.
IAEM Website
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) website offers multiple resources for students. It outlines events and conferences that are taking place all over the world along with keeping students up to date with current topics in Emergency Management. The website also allows students to access a jobs board which has job and internship postings for organizations all over the world.
Governor’s Hurricane Conference
The Governor’s Hurricane Conference (GHC) is held yearly and focuses on all aspects of Emergency Management in relation to hurricanes. It offers hundreds of hours of trainings and workshops open to students who attend. The GHC website includes scholarship information that any student may apply for and contains further registration information. The 2014 Governor’s Hurricane Conference will be held in Orlando on May 11 through May 16!
Florida Emergency Preparedness Association
The Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) is an organization that brings together individuals in the Emergency Management field from all over Florida. FEPA offers professional memberships, including a student membership at a discounted rate. FEPA is a great way to stay informed about current events and discussions within the field and will inform students of conferences as well as networking events.
ASPA’s Section on Emergency and Crisis Management
The American Society for Public Administration is an excellent resource for all students interested in staying involved with various disciplines within the field. Joining this organization will give you access to current topics, job openings, and conferences. Joining also gives a student access to the various chapters and sections, including the Section on Emergency and Crisis Management. This section has up to date Emergency Management topics and issues, and publishes a newsletter.
Academic Calendar
UCF’s academic calendar, complete with deadline dates, holidays and special-event notices
Graduate Catalog
UCF’s online graduate catalog with complete and up-to-date requirements for master’s, doctoral and graduate certificate programs
Undergraduate Catalog
UCF’s online undergraduate catalog with complete and up-to-date requirements for majors, minors and undergraduate certificate programs
Tuition and Fees
Includes a list and explanation of fees
Online Learning
If you’re taking a UCF web course for the first time, UCF offers this outstanding tutorial to answer your questions about WebCT and learning online. Take time to review this tutorial — it will ease your transition into online learning.
UCF Global
UCF Global provides support for students and potential students interested in international travel or education. Students can obtain information on visa requirements, financial aid, and international admission.
Alumni & Giving
Alumni & Student News
Alumna and Channel 13 Meteorologist Maureen McCann was recently recognized with the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association Media Award. The media award is presented to an individual or organization of the news media for outstanding efforts to educate and inform the public about emergency management. McCann graduated in spring 2017 with a certificate in emergency management and homeland security.
Undergraduate student Floyd Diehl has been designated a senior military emergency management specialist by the Military Emergency Management Specialist Academy, which is part of the State Guard Association of the United States. Diehl, who is a lieutenant within the Royal Laos Airborne Association, is a public administration student minoring in emergency management.
After a career of service with the South Korea Coast Guard, Hyun-do Hong, known as Chris Hong to his American friends, decided to continue his education at UCF.
Alumni Achievement Award Winners
Keila Walker, ’15, serves as the operations manager for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Michelle Cechowski, ’12, is the emergency manager for the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.
Angela Moreno, ’12, is a business analyst for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Kristie Toruno, ’08, is a solutions consultant and social media analyst for Snaptrends in Central Florida.
