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Earn a Degree in Emergency Management
When disaster strikes, you’ll be prepared.
Our program in emergency management prepares you to manage emergencies in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We focus on the integration of emergency management, fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, business continuity and homeland security in a comprehensive approach to protect life, property, government, the economy and our infrastructure.
PLEASE NOTE: The University of Richmond has petitioned its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), to request the closure of its undergraduate major in emergency management, part of its Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies program. We plan to continue to accept requests for information and applications until we receive official approval from SACS.
Emergency Management
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies
General Education
24 semester hours. Includes Common Seminar and Areas of Study.
Common Seminar
6 semester hours
ADED 301U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines I
Semester hours: 3
Description
ADED 301U develops advanced reading, writing, and research techniques, using a variety of disciplinary approaches. It will require students to read a range of primary and scholarly texts related to the content of the course, synthesizing them in assignments of varying medium, length, and purpose. It will also require them to locate, evaluate, and incorporate a wide range of research sources. Explicit writing instruction will be central to the course.Prerequisites
ENGL 203U with a grade of 'C' or better.
ADED 302U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines II
Semester hours: 3
Description
ADED 302U builds upon the skills developed in ADED 301U, culminating with a significant research project. It will require students to read a range of primary and scholarly texts related to the content of the course, synthesizing them in assignments of varying medium, length, and purpose - including a research-driven essay and presentation. Explicit research instruction will be central to the course.Prerequisites
Completion of ADED 301U with a grade of 'C' or better.Areas of Study
18 semester hours. At least one 3-hour course from each of the following areas: History, Literature, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Cultural Studies, MATH 103U Finite Mathematics (or higher), and the Arts.
General Distribution
66 semester hours. Coursework selected from across the curriculum. Minors may be drawn from this area.
Foundation Coursework
12-15 semester hours. If required, counts toward General Distribution requirements. ENGL courses represent the Communications Core. MATH 103U counts toward Area of Study.
ENGL 101U Strategic Reading and Writing
Semester hours: 3
Description
This course focuses on critical reading and writing, providing instruction in grammar and mechanics, organizational and paragraph development skills, rhetorical techniques, and basic research. It will provide a collaborative environment in which students will employ a range of comprehension strategies to a variety of assigned texts, and it will encourage students to approach writing as a process by requiring prewriting, editing, and revision. It will also introduce basic research skills.
ENGL 201U Critical Writing and Research I
Semester hours: 3
Description
This course focuses on academic writing, critical reading, and research. Throughout the semester, it will require students to write on a range of topics for a variety of purposes and audiences, emphasizing writing as a process. It will also introduce a broad array of texts that are intended to improve students' critical reading skills. Finally, it will include training in research and proper methods of documentation.Prerequisites
Satisfactory ACCUPLACER score or completion of ENGL 101U with a grade of 'C' or better.
ENGL 202U Critical Writing and Research II
Semester hours: 3
Description
This course focuses on academic writing, critical reading, and research, building on the skills developed in ENGL 201U. Throughout the semester, it will require students to write essays of varying length and purpose, culminating in a research-driven persuasive essay. It will also introduce a broad array of cultural texts that are intended to improve students' critical reading and analytical skills. Finally, it will include additional training in research and documentation.Prerequisites
Completion of ENGL 201U with a grade of 'C' or better.
ISYS 203U Collaborative Technologies
Semester hours: 3
Description
The application of information technologies in organizations to work collaboratively, facilitate decision-making, and achieve competitive advantage. Use of multimedia, storage, and mobile devices, networks, databases, and collaborative Internet technologies supporting work and academics.
MATH 103U Finite Mathematics
Semester hours: 3
Description
Logical thinking and problem-solving using sets, logic, numeration and mathematical systems, real number system, algebra, counting methods.Major in Emergency Management
Professional Core
9 semester hours
LDSP 368U Leadership in the Global Environment
Semester hours: 3
Description
Explores leadership within a global context weighing issues such as culture, laws, language, and other differences. This course provides practical insights into leadership in the global environment. Topics covered include an analysis of global leading across cultures in modern societies.
HUM 300U Applied Ethics
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examination of ethical choices, omissions, dilemmas and crises faced by individuals and organizations in the nonprofit, government, corporate, media, technology, environmental, and sports sectors. Use of ethics theories and the law as a framework to analyze case studies. This course will foster skills in ethical reasoning by encouraging students to analyze critically the consequences of individual and collective actions.
MATH 300U Critical Thinking and Analysis
Semester hours: 3
Description
Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data for decision-making in the business, law, governmental, and non-profit sectors. Application of common algebra, statistics, and basic calculus to solve common classes of problems.Prerequisites
MATH 103U, Finite Mathematics, or college algebra or higher.Required Core
9 semester hours
EM 312U Emergency Management Systems and Theory
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines the structure and missions of local, state, national, and international emergency management agencies and their relationship with public safety and voluntary organizations and other government departments. Relates structure and processes to legal requirements for disaster management. Discusses current theoretical approaches to disasters and to emergency management program management. Based on structure, legal requirements, and theory; suggests courses of action for effective local program management.
EM 331U Homeland Security Policy and Programs
Semester hours: 3
Description
Describes evolution of homeland defense as policy, programmatic, and organizational issue. Identifies current policies and programs, suggest evaluation measures, and assesses their effectiveness against potential threats. Examines role of governmental and voluntary citizen organizations in creating an effective homeland defense.
EM 495U Hazards and Threats for the Future
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines the future of disasters and their management in the context of long-term political, environmental, technological, economic and social change. Identifies current methods for futures analysis and provides a framework for developing tools and resources to design future missions and strategies for professionals in both emergency management and business continuity and their organizations. Develops an understanding of the relationships of vision to the future and relates that to the department of programs to protect lives, property and the environment at any level.Prerequisites
For undergraduates, completion of required core and focus courses.Focus Courses
12 semester hours selected from the following courses
EM 302U Emergency Planning
Semester hours: 3
Description
Exposes students to basic emergency planning concepts at federal, state, local, and business level. Also introduces students to design and use of exercises to test and refine plans.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 306U Law and Ethics for the Emergency Services Manager
Semester hours: 3
Description
Current legal principles and ethical issues which impact emergency services, including both provision of care and services and management of service.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 307U Managing Emergency Operations
Semester hours: 3
Description
Covers management of complex emergency operations in field using incident management systems and role of emergency operations centers in directing disaster response.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 308U Terrorism
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines political basis for terrorism and identifies potential motivations of terrorists and their operational implications. Explores terrorist weapons and tactics. Discusses courses of action for terrorism prevention, detection, and response.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 309U Social Dimensions of Disaster
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines how populations respond to disasters including such areas as response to warnings, evacuation reactions, and looting. Suggests strategies for management of formal and emergent organizations and disaster stressors on individuals, organizations, and groups. Discusses development of effective programs for management of community change to increase disaster resistance.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 314U Defending Communities - Integrating Mitigation, Preparedness and Recovery
Semester hours: 3
Description
The integration of mitigation, preparedness and recovery activities is critical to protecting communities from disaster impacts. Addresses value of each phase of emergency management and discusses strategies for effective plans and linkages in building community disaster resistance.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 317U Enterprise Risk Management
Semester hours: 3
Description
Identification of the impacts of disaster events is critical to understanding how an organization can survive the impact and continue to operate. Examines the business impact analysis process, how to manage it, and how to use the analysis as the first step in continuity plan development.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 318U Weapons of Mass Destruction
Semester hours: 3
Description
Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons offer both terrorists and rogue states a powerful selection of tools to swing the correlation of forces in their direction. Understanding range and characteristics of these weapons, how they are most effectively employed, and potential impacts are critical to defending communities against them. Provides detailed look at history, capabilities, and tactics and explores options available to both attacker and defender.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 354U Organization and Management of Public Agencies
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines why and how public agencies operate the way they do. Studies the forces acting upon public safety agencies and how those forces shape agencies' internal and external practices in their political environment.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 356U Public Budget and Finance
Semester hours: 3
Description
Introduction to theory and practice of public finance in areas of budgeting, revenues, and expenditures.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U, EM 354U.
LAW 330U Terrorism Law
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines current state of national and international law on terrorism, including aviation and maritime law as applicable. Considers practical issues involved in enforcing laws on terrorism, and studies the interaction of law and policy in the context of protection of society from its enemies while preserving the essential fabric of law.
PBAD 338U Decision Making in Public Administration
Semester hours: 3
Description
Assists student to recognize decision-making process in public management/administration and to develop techniques to ensure timely decisions with accountability for action. Emphasis on determining methods of controlling administrative decisions within an organization while fostering atmosphere that allows decision making at appropriate level of organization.Minor
Minor in Emergency Management
Required
18 semester hours. EM 322U is an elective.
EM 302U Emergency Planning
Semester hours: 3
Description
Exposes students to basic emergency planning concepts at federal, state, local, and business level. Also introduces students to design and use of exercises to test and refine plans.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 305U Disasters, Characteristics and Physical Impacts
Semester hours: 3
Description
Overview of characteristics of disasters, their impact on population, infrastructure, and economy, and disaster management cycle.
EM 307U Managing Emergency Operations
Semester hours: 3
Description
Covers management of complex emergency operations in field using incident management systems and role of emergency operations centers in directing disaster response.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 312U Emergency Management Systems and Theory
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines the structure and missions of local, state, national, and international emergency management agencies and their relationship with public safety and voluntary organizations and other government departments. Relates structure and processes to legal requirements for disaster management. Discusses current theoretical approaches to disasters and to emergency management program management. Based on structure, legal requirements, and theory; suggests courses of action for effective local program management.
EM 313U Disaster Exercises
Semester hours: 3
Description
Examines the role of disaster exercises and tests in an emergency management or business continuity program and addresses how to design and conduct exercises for training and for evaluation. Identifies strategies for use of lessons learned to improve operations and teaches principles of management of an exercise program.
EM 314U Defending Communities - Integrating Mitigation, Preparedness and Recovery
Semester hours: 3
Description
The integration of mitigation, preparedness and recovery activities is critical to protecting communities from disaster impacts. Addresses value of each phase of emergency management and discusses strategies for effective plans and linkages in building community disaster resistance.Prerequisites
EM 312U, EM 331U.
EM 322U Emergency Operations Center Design, Management and Operation
Semester hours: 3
Description
Emergency operations centers are the core of governmental and business response to disaster. The course examines how they are designed, organized, managed, and operated to coordinate response during a disaster.Admissions
Admission to the degree program in Emergency Management is competitive. The School offers rolling admission decisions around priority deadlines for fall, spring and summer terms.
Non-native English speakers may also be required to submit valid TOEFL scores.
Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management
Minimum requirements include an earned high school diploma or GED and a 2.0 average on all attempted college-level work. Admission pathways are available for transfer and non-transfer admissions.
Additional admission requirements include a completed online application (with application fee) and original transcripts from all college-level work attempted (or evidence of high school graduation or GED).
Admission placement requires ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension and Sentence Skills test scores and an admission decision meeting with a student advisor.
Degree Highlights
Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management
Our major in Emergency Management does not teach standard solutions to problems or regurgitate agency doctrine. We focus on teaching the skills necessary to develop better and more effective ways of approaching professional challenges. Our program addresses how to think about and analyze problems in a variety of contexts, critique old solutions and develop new and better ones.
Careers in Emergency Management
Our graduates are hired by federal, state and local government and by businesses. But not all emergency management jobs are in emergency management agencies; not all business continuity jobs are in private industry. Positions exist at the federal, state and local levels in a surprising variety of agencies.
Professional & Continuing Studies
Special Programs Building
28 Westhampton Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Phone: (804) 289-8133
Fax: (804) 289-8138
spcs@richmond.edu
Front Desk Hours
Monday–Thursday: 8:30 am–7:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 am–5:00 p.m.
The office is closed for all University holidays unless otherwise noted.
Contact a faculty or staff member.