Emergency Management Programs provide a theoretical and applied approach to professional education of students, while ensuring relevance to the homeland security and public safety industries. Programs emphasize the fundamentals of emergency management while providing interdisciplinary course study in the skills and practices of emergency planning and management.

Recent events have demonstrated the importance of emergency management training and emergency preparedness for professionals in healthcare, business, travel and tourism, insurance public service and education. In order to meet the need for professionals with emergency management training who can respond effectively to emergency situations, numerous universities offer programs in emergency management training.

Emergency services organizations are a crucial part of our society. Protection from and response to public safety threats, hazardous materials, fire and other emergency situations are crucial to public welfare. The leadership and management of public safety personnel, whether in fire service, law enforcement, emergency telecommunications, emergency medical services or corrections are imperative to the success of an organization in protecting and serving the public and carrying out its mission.

Students who are interested in emergency management training as well as emergency service administration should consider applying for a management training program. This includes police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, military officers, local, state and federal emergency administration officials, private security administrators and officers, publicly elected officials, homeland security officers, community service administrators, coast guard officers, hospital administrators and others who are currently working or are interested in emergency services.

Disaster management training can lead to careers or jobs in numerous fields. These fields include: fire deputy chief, fire chief or commissioner, police bureau chief, inspector, captain, sergeant or lieutenant, police chief or commissioner, battalion captain, commander or lieutenant, federal, state and local government emergency services administrator, health care or hospital organization vice president or president, community organization supervisor, political advisor or non-profit disaster relief administrator.

Emergency leadership training programs come in different shapes, sizes and locations. Many programs mix the elements of emergency management training and homeland security. However, there is a growing consensus that there should be a clear separation between emergency management and homeland security and a number of institutions have successfully separated the two.

There are a number of online resources that explore the diverse program delivery methods and offerings, as well as their parent institutions and locations. The FEMA higher education Web site offers links to various programs in the fields of emergency leadership, public, medical and international disaster relief, homeland security and humanitarian assistance.

Emergency management programs often highlight the application of research methodology; the utilization of communication skills at the personal, professional and public level; and the development of professional skills and knowledge in the fields of public safety and disaster management.

These management training programs are ideal for individuals working in or desirous in one of several fields, including disaster management, fire protection, emergency medical response, law enforcement, environmental health and safety as well as numerous other related fields. Individuals interested in these fields should seriously consider an education in emergency management.