Ph.D. In Emergency Management Online

Who Gets a Ph.D. in Emergency Management & What to Expect

Students interested in pursuing a specialized career in emergency management can consider enrolling in a Ph.D. in emergency management online program. Students who can think critically, problem-solve under pressure, and communicate effectively thrive in these programs. Professionals with a master's degree can enjoy higher salary potential and a variety of career opportunities, but doctorate-holders enjoy even higher earning opportunities and job possibilities, including research-oriented roles and higher education positions.

5 Reasons to Pursue an Online Ph.D. in Emergency Management

Students pursuing their Ph.D. in emergency management online enjoy a variety of attractive benefits. Many students pursue a doctorate to take advantage of higher salary opportunities and promotions. Some students desire to move into more specialized roles or change jobs. Doctoral students also develop their skills and knowledge to an expert level.

1. High Salary Potential
   Doctoral graduates enjoy access to the most lucrative pay brackets in their field since they hold the highest possible education for emergency management professionals. These professionals can make more than $100,000 each year, depending on their chosen career path.
2. Promotion Opportunities
   Some doctoral students choose to advance their degree to pursue promotion opportunities with their current organization. Employers often view candidates with unique education or experience favorably.
3. Skill Development
   Earning a doctorate exposes students to the most expert-level skills in their field. By enrolling in a doctoral option, students can expand their skill set and knowledge base, setting them apart from other professionals.
4. New Job Opportunities
   Students often choose to pursue a doctorate to switch to a new company or job opportunity. Professionals looking to make a significant change within their careers should ensure they stand out among other candidates.
5. Specialized Roles
   Doctorate-holders can focus their careers on more specialized roles. Careers in higher education and research often require professionals to hold a doctorate since they should have additional knowledge and skills in their specific interest area.

What Can I Do With an Online Doctorate in Emergency Management?

Students pursuing their Ph.D. in emergency management online can explore various subfields and career paths. Doctoral students can focus their degree outside of a Ph.D. if they pursue a doctor of emergency management (DEM) or a doctor of public administration (DPA). DEM programs prepare graduates for careers in operations, management, and leadership roles. DPA programs focus on the field's civic and governmental aspects. Most graduates of doctoral-level emergency management programs turn towards research-oriented or higher education careers.

Common Career Paths and Salaries

Graduates with a Ph.D. in emergency management can explore an array of prestigious job opportunities, allowing them to take advantage of high salary opportunities along the way. Graduates can pursue careers as risk management directors, emergency management specialists, emergency room directors, emergency preparedness managers, and college professors. Salary opportunities across these professions range from $60,000 to more than $117,000 annually.

Source: BLS and PayScale

6 Skills and Competencies

Students earning their Ph.D. in emergency management online develop a variety of useful skills and competencies to prepare them for successful careers.

Emergency Management Ph.D. Program Requirements and Outcomes

Applicants dedicated to earning their Ph.D. in emergency management online need a master's degree from an accredited institution. While admissions processes and application requirements vary by school, some similarities exist. Doctoral programs require applicants to meet minimum GPA requirements, usually between 3.0 and 3.5. To demonstrate their minimum GPA and prior coursework, applicants should submit their official transcripts. All applicants must complete and submit their admissions applications and pay any associated application fees.

Applicants to emergency management programs do not typically need to provide GMAT or GRE scores. However, applicants may need to submit other supplemental admissions materials, including admissions essays, recommendation letters, and a resume or cover letter. Students typically earn their Ph.D. in around three years, focusing on coursework for two years and their dissertation requirement for one year.

Common Courses

Students pursuing their Ph.D. in emergency management online take many courses that provide useful skills and knowledge. Courses explore emergency management systems; emergency management policy and the administration of emergencies and disasters; contemporary issues in emergency management; risk management; and operations and planning. Coursework allows students to develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making skills throughout the curriculum.

• Contemporary Issues in Emergency Management
  Students in this course explore social norms along with best practices and emergency management theories. They research the contemporary issues in emergency management and work to understand the impact management theory has on disaster events and emergency management services.
• Emergency Management Operations and Planning
  This course explores theories about planning, risk, and resiliency, reviewing both inter-organizational and intergovernmental roles in the emergency management field. Students research national policies and federal laws throughout their coursework.
• Risk Management in Emergency Management
  In this course, students review risk, hazard, and vulnerability elements to derive informative risk-aware decision-making. Students explore real-world disaster scenarios, leading them to theoretical perspectives in emergency management.
• Emergency Management Systems
  Students in this course focus on the best practices for managing and coordinating comprehensive emergency management systems. The course emphasizes risk communication, research-integrated applications, application of theory, and risk-based decision-making. The course also explores how to monitor and measure analyzed programs in the field.
• Emergency Management Policy and The Administration of Emergencies and Disasters
  Degree-seekers in this course explore the challenges that emergency management professionals face daily. Students review administrative and organizational theories along with best practices in administration and leadership. They also examine change initiatives and creative policies to achieve ethical functionality.

Other Requirements

To successfully complete a doctoral program or any other degree, students must satisfy coursework requirements. Doctoral programs, however, feature extra requirements that students must complete before earning their degree. A dissertation is a key piece of a Ph.D. program. Students must complete research seminars dedicated to their dissertation along with their actual written product. Students must also complete a comprehensive exam at the end of their program to effectively demonstrate their competencies, skills, and knowledge of emergency management.

Emergency Management Professional Organizations

Professional organizations in the emergency management field allow professionals to take advantage of unique opportunities specific to their chosen career path. Emergency management includes emergency medical technicians, police officers, firefighters, and employees dedicated to providing safe environments and disaster and emergency relief to communities all over the world.

Joining a professional organization allows emergency management professionals to connect with other professionals in their field. These networking opportunities can help professionals cultivate job opportunities and lasting professional relationships that can lead to referrals during an individual's career.

Some organizations hold events and seminars that allow professionals to expand their skills and knowledge in the field. These events and seminars also open up more networking opportunities for members. By participating in professional development, networking events, and volunteering opportunities, members can make the most of their membership.

International Association of Emergency Managers

This nonprofit promotes the emergency management profession by working with members to support their goals of saving lives and protecting property from disasters and emergencies.

National Emergency Management Association

NEMA operates as the professional association for emergency management directors from every state, all territories, and the District of Columbia. NEMA exists as a source of support, information, and expertise for professionals in the emergency management field.

International Disaster Emergency Service

This nonprofit helps people from around the world using a Christian perspective and approach. The organization offers a variety of volunteer projects and training opportunities.

The International Association for Preparedness and Response

This membership organization functions as a nonprofit for all phases of emergency management and disaster preparedness. The organization promotes support for disaster services.

International Association of Fire Chiefs

The leading organization for emergency responders and firefighters around the world, this group leads the field in emergency medical services and firefighting.