Emergency Management: Emergency Management Courses

This course provides an examination of the principles and practices of emergency management, to include the history and evolution of the profession.  Students will explore the nature and organization of emergency management systems in the public and private sectors and understand the various phases of emergency management.  The course will also examine the political issues and legal framework impacting the field, as well as existing relationships between local, State, and federal governments and agencies.

This course will explore various aspects of emergency planning, and how the discipline fits within the field of emergency management. Students will examine the components of a comprehensive emergency plan, principles and practices that guide the planning process, applicable governmental mandates, and resources that can be used in developing the plan. The course will emphasize the importance of fostering a successful emergency planning environment, analyzing and selecting protective actions, identifying structures and systems for managing emergencies, implementing effective strategies for communicating the plan, as well as considering emergency plans as living documents that must be reviewed and revised on a regular basis.

This course explores various natural and human-made hazards, how hazards differ from disasters, and the types of costs associated with disasters. Students will identify the role of federal, State, and local government in mitigating hazards, and how the private sector can contribute to building community resilience. Students will examine the process of identifying hazards and assessing vulnerability, explain various mitigation tools and techniques, and assess strategies for reducing vulnerability. Students will also understand the importance of building a “Whole Community” coalition for building a culture of disaster resilience.

This course provides a theoretical framework for the understanding of the ethical, sociological, organizational, political, and legal components of community risk reduction. Students will identify and develop community risk reduction intervention strategies, and examine various methods for the development of a comprehensive community risk reduction plan.

This course provides an overview of fire protection and emergency services. Students will examine career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; fire loss analysis, the culture and history of emergency services; the organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; introduction to fire protection systems; introduction to fire strategy and tactics, and; life safety initiatives.

This course will examine various disaster events to illustrate the high levels of communication, coordination, and collaboration that are necessary among responding agencies when disaster strikes. The course will explore the guiding principles, strategies, operating structures, and technologies in place for effective disaster management, as well as the roles and responsibilities of disaster participants. Through the use of case studies and in-class exercises, students will examine the National Incident Management System, the National Response Framework, the Incident Command System, and other guidance and policy documents. Students will also assess potential issues with interagency disaster response, and identify applicable leadership and management interventions to solve problems.

This course will introduce students to various concepts, principles, and methods for the effective leadership of comprehensive fire-prevention and risk-reduction programs. Students will examine policies, procedures, and outcomes of successful fire-prevention efforts, and explore historical events and their influence on fire prevention. The course will also provide an overview of applicable local, State, and federal resources.

This course explores the social impact that disasters have on individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Disaster case studies will be used to identify various aspects of social vulnerability, to include the social, political, and economic impact that this has had on communities over the years. Students will examine various topics such as socially vulnerable groups, how these groups have been impacted by disaster, community responses to disaster, the role of NGO’s in times of crisis, as well as societal expectations of government. The course will help students to understand the importance of building capacity and community resilience.

This course provides an overview of domestic and international terrorism, and how associated threats and risks impact both homeland security and emergency management. The course will examine topics such as terrorist groups and their methods, counter-terrorism measures, critical infrastructure protection, border security issues, as well as legal and political responses to the terrorist threat. Case studies will be used to illustrate the challenges facing all levels of government and the private sector in responding to various terrorist threats, and to identify best practices in the field. The course will emphasize the importance of applying a comprehensive emergency management framework to terrorism.

An analysis of the principles and practices of crisis communications, and the impact that social media continues to have on emergency management. The course will focus on identifying and applying lessons learned from various incidents to achieve effective crisis communications and develop successful crisis leadership. Students will assess the uses and functions of social media, design strategies for social media sites in emergency management, as well as challenges and opportunities in this increasingly important area.

This course provides an overview of essential traits and skills that contribute to effective leadership and ethical behavior within the context of emergency management. The course will introduce students to fundamental theories, concepts, and principles of leadership, and how these can be applied to the practice of emergency management. Students will identify leadership strategies that promote a positive work environment, encourages ethical conduct, and builds trust among stakeholders. Students will assess various problem-solving and decision-making models, and examine the impact of effective leadership and influence in emergency management.

This course examines the nature and scope of current and emerging technologies in emergency management and the impact that these technologies are having on the field. The course will explore various technology applications, including their role in emergency planning, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. Students will assess the impact that technology has on decision-making and how the effective use of technology can help achieve greater interconnectedness among the emergency management community. The course will also examine challenges and issues with technology applications and explore strategies for problem resolution.

This course is a progressive primer for students interested in fire and emergency services administration. The course focuses on various skills necessary for managing and leading a fire and emergency services department in the 21st Century. These include persuasion and influence, accountable budgeting, anticipation of challenges and the need for change, and using specific management tools for analyzing and solving problems. An important component of the course is how the leadership of a fire and emergency services department develops internal and external cooperation to create a coordinated approach for achieving the department’s mission. This course design is influenced by the Florida Bureau of Fire Standards course BFST 9516 and the FEMA/US Fire Administration FESHE course outline C0271.

This course explores the social impact that disasters have on individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Disaster case studies will be used to identify various aspects of social vulnerability, to include the social, political, and economic impact that this has had on communities over the years. Students will examine various topics such as socially vulnerable groups, how these groups have been impacted by disaster, community responses to disaster, the role of NGO’s in times of crisis, as well as societal expectations of government. The course will help students to understand the importance of building capacity and community resilience.

This course examines the complex nature of critical incidents and large-scale special events, and the dramatic impact that these events can have on organizations and communities. Case studies and after-action reports will be used to identify lessons learned from a multitude of incidents and events. The course will emphasize effective operational, tactical, and strategic planning, and will introduce students to a comprehensive approach to planning, responding to, and managing large-scale special events and high-profile critical incidents. Students will also assess the importance of communication, coordination, and collaboration with various stakeholders.

This course will explore the role of Emergency Operations Centers (EOC’s), and the coordinating function that they serve for managing complex emergencies and disasters. The course will examine how the EOC mobilizes people and resources to manage critical incidents that typically are beyond the capabilities of a single agency. The organizational structure, essential functions, and types of EOC’s will be covered at length. The course will also Identify various characteristics of the Incident Command System (ICS), the various emergency support functions (ESF’s), Unified Command (UC), and Joint Information Centers (JIC’s). Students will be expected to explain the importance of effective leadership, coordination, and interagency cooperation during EOC activation.