Master's in Emergency & Disaster Management
Career Outlook

With evolving complexities such as global population growth, increasing urbanization, and the rising demand for resources, today’s emergency managers must possess a greater level of preparation and knowledge to meet the needs of a changing landscape.

Climate change, extreme weather, and rising sea levels are likely to exacerbate resource scarcities and threaten U.S. industrial infrastructure, while greater access to technology and rapidly growing economies in the developing world pose potential threats from terrorist organizations. And these are just some of the issues that will test the readiness and resiliency of emergency and disaster management professionals. As a result, the emergency management field is in need of practitioners who are able to tackle these 21st century challenges with confidence.

Our program’s blend of focused coursework and hands-on practice prepares you to manage teams and make decisions in the face of uncertainty. You’ll leave the program with the leadership competencies and strategic mindset that position you for success in this high-intensity field.

What comes after a master's degree? Explore Careers in Emergency & Disaster Management.

Median advertised salaryfor emergency management directors $74,100 BudgetingProject managementSchedulingEmergency servicesSupervisory skillsStaff managementContract managementDisaster recovery planningChange managementEmergency preparednessProcess improvement Top in-demand skills for emergency management directors: Where do people in this field work? Local government, excluding education and hospitals 52% State government, excluding education and hospitals 12% State, local, and private hospitals 9% Professional, scientific, and technical services 6% State, local, and private colleges, universities, and professional schools 4%

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lightcast