Master's in Emergency & Disaster Management

Curriculum

While the SCS campus remains closed, on-campus classes will continue to be held remotely. These courses usually run during their regularly scheduled time and are held in synchronous sessions conducted via Zoom. Students should work with their academic advisors to develop course schedules that meet their academic and personal needs.

To earn an MPS in Emergency & Disaster Management, you must successfully complete 11 courses (33 credits total), including:

  • 2 core courses (6 credits total):
    • Ethics and Critical Decision Making
    • Capstone
  • 5 foundation courses (15 credits total):
    • Theory and Legal Framework
    • Project Management and Budgeting for Emergencies and Disasters
    • Risk Perception Awareness
    • GIS for Emergency & Disaster Management
    • Methods for Emergency & Disasters and Humanitarian Crisis Management
  • 4 elective courses (12 credits total):

Program Formats

The Emergency & Disaster Management program is available in both an online format and an on-campus format. You can opt to take classes online, on campus, or through a combination of both.

  • On-Campus Format: In the on-campus format, classes are held at the same times every week at our downtown D.C. campus.
  • Online Format: The online master’s has the same curriculum as the on-campus format and offers access to all of the same University resources. In this format, you’ll be able to watch lectures and complete assignments on your own schedule.

You’ll have the flexibility to earn your degree at a pace that suits your schedule. You can take up to 12 credits per semester and complete the degree in as little as 15 months, or you can take as little as one course per semester and complete it in five years. Here are what other students typically do:

  • Full-time students typically take 9 credits (3 courses) during the fall and spring semesters, and 6 credits (2 courses) during the summer semester.
  • Part-time students typically take 3 to 6 credits (1 to 2 courses) during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Accreditation

All programs offered by Georgetown University are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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