The online M.S. in Emergency Management at Anna Maria College is designed to provide you with the analytical, managerial, operational, and communication skills you will need to assume a leadership role in protecting communities from all hazards and to direct response, recovery, and mitigation when disasters strike.

Students have two pathways to follow in the emergency management program. Students who have at least five years' experience in emergency management in a progressively more responsible capacity may be eligible for Advanced Standing. Students who merit the Advanced Standing designation can earn the M.S. degree via a 10-course curriculum. Students who have less experience in emergency management would follow the Direct Entry path that requires 12 courses to earn the degree.

GRS 600 Ethical Theory
This course explores historical, intellectual, and theoretical perspectives of ethics from the Judeo-Christian and liberal arts traditions. Specific attention is given to the significance of the dialogue between faith and reason in the development of ethical theory from the ancient period through the present.

EPR 601 Essentials of Emergency Management
This course provides an introduction to the study of emergency management, its history, and current functions in the public and private sectors. Key theories and concepts and ethical considerations are introduced. It illustrates the need for integrated, collaborative operations; the grounding in data and analysis; and focus on prevention and continuous improvement (waived for Advanced Standing students).

EPR 616 Emergency Management Operations Frameworks
Students will become familiar with operations frameworks such as the Incident Management System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the National Response Framework, as well as other systems used by NGOs, international organizations, and the military in responding to and handling complex events (waived for Advanced Standing students).

EPR 619 Hazard Analysis and Mitigation
This course builds a conceptually sound basis for identifying potential cuases of emergency events, estimating their probability and severity, evaluating community vulnerability, systematically identifying mitigation strategies, and selecting from among options. Methods for studying new or rare threats for which there are scant data are included . The essential links between sustainable development and effective hazard mitigation are stressed.

EPR 632 Weather and Natural Hazards Planning
Natural hazards are among the most common initiators of emergency conditions. This course surveys the major weather hazards and the indicators of their severity, movement, and probability. Students learn the vocabulary, methods, and tools of modern meteorology using historical and real-time case studies. Issues in planning, mitigation and community resilience are addressed.

EPR 634 Public Health Hazards Planning
The major areas of focus in this course are infectious disease outbreaks, food- or water-borne illnesses, and incidents involving the intentional release of hazardous agents. Management strategies are reviewed, including surveillance and detection of agents or affected individuals, prevention of exposure to agents of concern, capacity and resource planning, collaboration with the medical and public health communities, and actions in multiple casualty/fatality events. Case studies are stressed.

EPR 636 Terrorism and Other Intentional Threats
This course provides an overview of the motivations, tools, and impacts of terrorist activities. Intentional actions by individuals or groups are examined in the context of case studies. The role of social, political, physical, legal, and information-based strategies is examined. Special emphasis is place on critical infrastructure mitigation planning.

EPR 638 Military in Emergency Management
This course outlines the organization of the U.S military units that are capable of contributing to emergency management operations. Includes the legal and procedural steps required to initiate military involvement, and how to use the military for maximum efficiency in domestic and international disasters.

EPR 649 Operations Planning, Practice, and Evaluation
This course takes a comprehensive view of planning as a key step in emergency management. Introduces the skills involved in designing, implementing and evaluating exercises, drills, and electronic simulations. Case studies provide practice in suggesting improvements to palns and community resilience based on exercises. The role of community education and preparation programs in included.

EPR 652 Management of Financial, Material, and Human Resources
This course addresses planning for acquiring and using resources effectively through all phases of emergency management. Along with the managerial and leadership skills involved, strategies for efficiency, effectiveness and accountability are stressed.

EPR 653 Continuity of Operations Planning (capstone scenario management report)
This course addresses the critical to build resilience and planning for rapid recovery into emergency management for government agencies, businesses, and institutions such as schools. Key aspects of planning for continuity are illustrated. Case studies provide models and lessons. A scenario management report constitutes part of the student's capstone assessment.

EPR 703 Research Project
Students produce a significant written report of a research project and provide an illustrated presentation on its structure and findings. This course, along with EPR 653, serves as the capstone assessment for the program.