EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Career and Job Options

AN INTRODUCTION FROM YOUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR
If you are thinking about a major in Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM), you might be wondering what kinds of jobs and careers await those with EDM degrees. While there is no single path for a major to follow, this is actually one of the hidden advantages of the major: a wide array of possible opportunities after graduation.
In this era of global impacts from disasters, there is a great demand for people who possess knowledge of emergency management as well as the research, writing, and analytical skills needed to evaluate changes in the world. These skills are needed in business, government, academia, and a host of other fields at home and abroad; and are precisely the skills graduates possess after completing the EDM program here at AMU and APU.
This document provides information on the types of career opportunities available for those with a degree in emergency and disaster management. While a great deal of the information you will find here may be more suitable for undergraduates, there is also quite a bit here for those graduating with a
Master of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management.
Dr. Tom Phelan,
Program Director, Emergency and Disaster Management, Fire Science and Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Emergency and Disaster Management
USEFUL SKILLS
As with any career, certain skills are required to be successful within your field of study.
Below are some skills that may be applicable to any job within the emergency and disaster management field:
Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Ability to make tough decisions in a timely manner.
Ability to solve problems.
Respond easily to a wide range of issues under stress.
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national emergency management operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Ability to quickly analyze, make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, as well as those that could affect response efforts and details of plan implementation.
Keep informed of federal, state and local regulations affecting emergency plans, and ensure that plans adhere to these regulations.

Provided by the AMU and APU Office of Career Services – 9/27/2012
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Emergency and Disaster Management
CAREER OPTIONS
To identify what education or training is typical for careers within the xx field, use the O*Net hyperlinks below and click on “Job Zone.” In addition, seek out the advice of fellow students and alumni working in the industry using our mentoring program on The Quad (for current students and alumni only), or speak with a career coach.
As with all majors, the education you receive serves as a foundation of knowledge that prepares you for what you may face in the professional world. The career field you choose may require additional education or experience.
Disaster Managers
Example Titles:
• Business Continuity Planner
• Fire Fighter
• Emergency Management Director
Certifications Recommended:
• HAZMAT
• Fire 1, Fire 2, Fire 3
• EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-P
Additional information regarding certifications and employers can be found under “Certifications” and
“Government Agencies and Other Organizations to Consider” below.
Law Enforcement
There are many positions within law enforcement that can benefit from the knowledge an EDM graduate possesses. Each type of law enforcement position will have requirements specific to the field, including additional training, certification, language skills or experience. To become a police officer or detective applicants must typically attend their specific agency or department’s police