Master's in Emergency & Disaster Management
Curriculum

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 (see below for examples)
  • 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):

​Past Capstone titles include:

  • "Rescue Coordination Common Operating Picture: Enhancement through Satellite Technology" by Leo Danaher (G '19)
  • "Disaster Recovery Funding: Enhanced Understanding for Improved Outcomes" by Ryan Fraser (G'19)
  • "Reducing Risk and Building Agency for Vulnerable Asylum Seekers" by Megan K. O’Connor (G'20)
  • "Improving the Resiliency of the United States Healthcare System Before, During, and After Disasters" by David Emigh (G'19)
  • "Practical Flood Risk Reduction Strategies in South Sudan" by John V. Mayen (G'21)

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:

  • Full-time students typically take 9 credits (3 courses) during the fall and spring semesters. 
  • Part-time students typically take 3 to 6 credits (1 to 2 courses) during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Although students are not required to take credits during the summer semester, they have the option of registering for one or more courses in order to continue their progress year-round.

Accreditation

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

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