Public Administration

Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience

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12 Credit Hours

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Cost per Hour

$636

Per Credit Hour
EKU Online > Online Public Administration Degrees & Certificates > Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience

Protect Communities and Become a Leader in Emergency Situations

EKU’s 100% online emergency management and disaster resilience certificate provides students with the skills needed to become leaders at the local, state, or federal level in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. This program prepares you to work with government agencies, nonprofits, private companies, and the public to develop and implement effective plans that minimize damage and disruptions during an emergency.

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Benefits
NASPAA
Careers
Benefits of EKU Online

Providing a program that can be tailored to your career goals, EKU blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as public sector leadership, public finance administration, human resources management, policy analysis and program evaluation, and administration, ethics and public policy.

EKU has received national reaccreditation by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). NASPAA is the only accrediting body for US programs in public administration, public policy, and public affairs, and has recently moved into international accreditation.

Accreditation demonstrates our commitment to the highest quality education in public administration. It also means that we consistently identify and track the knowledge, skills, and abilities we expect our students to achieve.

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Open the Door to Rewarding Career Opportunities

Public administration programs prepare students to work in social service and government agencies. From developing programs and resources for low-income individuals and families to serving in public office, MPA graduates have a competitive edge in the job market.  MPA programs provide essential skills for today’s work environment and allow you to bring your on-the-job experience into the classroom, helping you make your mark as a public servant.

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Curriculum

Set yourself apart with in-depth knowledge of public administration in the context of disaster preparedness and management. Prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. Help lead the response during and after emergencies, often in coordination with public safety officials, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

Degree Requirements

A total of 12 credits are required to graduate.

View the emergency management and disaster resilience certificate requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University graduate catalog.

HLS 810 – Infrastructure Protection and Risk Analysis (3)
Foundations for providing security and resilience to the nation’s critical infrastructure with an emphasis on risk management

HLS 830 – Achieving Long-Term Disaster Resilience (3)
Explores disaster trends and problems, as well as community wide mitigation and preparedness strategies aimed at reducing the impacts of natural hazards and achieving long-term disaster resilience

HLS 831 – Evolution of Emergency Management (3)
Current practice of emergency management evolved through governmental reactions to disasters that helped shape current emergency management practices, policy, administrative changes, and historical context for the changes

HLS 835 – Intergovernmental Relations in Disaster Management (3)
Analysis of intergovernmental relations and disaster policies across all phases of emergency management with a focus on disaster response and recovery. Systems are investigated through critical thinking, case studies, and comparative analysis methodologies

Enrollment

Kim Chitwood

Kim Chitwood

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Kim Chitwood for information about the Public Administration Master’s Degree program.

Contact Info:
859-622-6921
Kim.Chitwood@eku.edu

Application Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A August 1 August
Fall B October 5 October
Spring A December 5 January
Spring B March 5 March
Summer A May 1 May
Summer B June 5 June

 

Admission Requirements

Applicants who meet the criteria listed below may qualify for “Clear Admission” to the MPA program.
Applicants must:

  • submit a complete application
  • meet the general requirements of both the Graduate School and MPA program
  • have a minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale), or 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours. In addition, applicants are expected to have verbal scores of 146 or above, and quantitative scores of 140 or above on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from the GRE requirement
  • provide two (2) letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic or employment experience
  • submit a statement of career goals and objectives

Students who fail to meet the targeted GPA or GRE scores specified above may be granted a probationary admission. The minimum condition for transfer from probationary admission status to clear admission status is the successful completion of at least nine hours of graduate course work with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and with no more than one grade, regardless of the number of course credit hours, of “C” or lower. Students must be removed from probationary admission prior to registering in any course work beyond an initial 12 hours. At least six hours of the first 12 hours must be in the common MPA core.

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

Knowing that the faculty and staff care about your education and future goals, while also having support from other students and peers, was invaluable during my time as an online student.

Anna Elaine StamperEKU Online MPA Graduate

Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $258 per credit hour for undergraduate and $335 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

Heath Bergmann
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
  • “I am very lucky to be apart of the MPA online program at EKU and would recommend this program to anyone in the administration field.” – EKU Online MPA student Madison Hill
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