Emergency Management and Disaster Planning (Professional Certificate)

Award: Professional Certificate
Program of Study: Emergency Management and Disaster Planning
Program Code: 1771

About This Program . . .

The certificate in emergency management and disaster planning is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in emergency management and disaster preparedness activities in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.  It also prepares students for successfully completing the exam and essay requirements for the International Association of Emergency Managers’ certified emergency manager certification process.  Completion of the certificate in emergency management and disaster planning will also contribute to the training requirements for the International Association of Emergency Managers’ certified emergency manager certification process.

All CMU certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, critical thinking, and personal and social responsibility. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Synthesize current theories, principles, and practices in emergency management. (Specialized Knowledge)
  2. Communicate emergency management perspectives to various audiences. (Communication Fluency)
  3. Apply problem-solving skills to issues in emergency management. (Critical Thinking)
  4. Combine emergency management theory with practitioner experience and skills. (Applied Learning)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Certificate Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU Professional Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
  • Primarily 300-400 level courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
  • A grade lower than “C” in the program of study will not be counted toward meeting the certificate’s requirements.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements. 

Program Specific Certificate Requirements

(9 semester hours, must earn a grade of "C" or better in each course.)

EMDP 211Introduction to Emergency Management 13
EMDP 321Hazard Preparedness and Mitigation 13
EMDP 331Disaster Response and Recovery 13
1

Consult with Social and Behavioral Sciences Department advisor regarding prerequisite classes that might be necessary to take.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
EMDP 211 Introduction to Emergency Management 3
 Semester Credit Hours3
Spring Semester
EMDP 321 Hazard Preparedness and Mitigation 3
EMDP 331 Disaster Response and Recovery 3
 Semester Credit Hours6
 Total Semester Credit Hours9

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended certificate.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.

If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.