UAlbany students participating in a field test rescue at the New York State Preparedness Training Center.

Master of Science  in
Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Online or On Campus

Prepare to Avert and Manage U.S. Disasters

In the Master of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security program at the University at Albany, you will learn how to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against crises. The degree encompasses the fundamental principles of emergency management and homeland security: identifying stakeholders, studying past incidents and research, evaluating governance and ethics, and designing appropriate solutions.

The program provides a core curriculum in both disciplines while offering you multiple options for specialization. Unique opportunities to demonstrate expertise through independent research or applied projects will secure you a competitive advantage for roles in consulting, analysis, business continuity, nongovernmental and governmental organizations, and higher education.

 These customizable learning pathways combined with options to complete the degree on campus or online or through synchronous, simulcast course lectures offer a truly flexible educational experience to meet your professional development and career goals.

Program of Study

programofstudy

The MS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security program encompasses fundamental principles including identifying stakeholders, studying past incidents and research, evaluating governance and ethics, and designing appropriate solutions. 

You can choose to specialize in either the Emergency Management or the Homeland Security track. 

36 credits as follows:

Core Courses (9 credits)

  • Fundamentals of Emergency Management  
  • Fundamentals of Homeland Security  
  • Research Design for Emergency Management and Homeland Security


Methods (3 credits)

Choose one:

  • Quantitative Methods
  • Qualitative Methods 
  • Professional Analytical Skills
     

Tracks (6 credits)

Choose Emergency Management OR Homeland Security: 

Emergency Management  

  • Preparedness and Response 
  • Mitigation and Recovery  

Homeland Security  

  • Terrorism and Counterterrorism AND 
  • Homeland Security Risk  

OR 

  • Political Violence, Insurgency, and Terrorism AND 
  • Homeland Security Risk Analysis and Risk Management


Electives (6 credits)
 

Culminating Experience (3 credits)

Choose one:

  • Practicum
  • Master’s thesis
     

Concentrations (9 credits)

Choose from the following concentrations:

Security Risk Analysis

  • Advanced Threat and Hazard Assessment
  • Homeland Security Intelligence
  • Risk Theory and Management

Planning and Coordination 

  • Planning, Risk, and Continuity
  • Governance and Stakeholders in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
  • Crises & Vulnerable Populations

Intelligence Analysis

  • Homeland Security Intelligence
  • Information Analysis Techniques and Technologies
  • Intelligence Preparation and Production

Risk Communication

  • Risk Communication for Safety, Security, and Emergency Management
  • Crisis and Vulnerable Populations
  • Weather, Climate Change, and Societal Impacts

Self-Guided

  • Courses determined in consultation with your advisor.


Additional Information

See the Graduate Bulletin for details.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Research

You will learn and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative research methods with examples drawn from emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity. Courses will explore data collection, analysis techniques, research ethics and objective reporting.  

Working collaboratively with researchers from diverse backgrounds, you will find solutions to address emergency and security challenges by analyzing theories and research findings, as well as by using private, governmental and non-governmental resources.

A group of four UAlbany students working in the Virtual Operations Support Team lab.
ms-emhs-research
Career Outcomes

With a master’s in emergency management and homeland security, you will be prepared to address crises in public, private and non-profit sectors including non-governmental organizations and higher education. 

Potential job titles for an MS degree in emergency management and homeland security: 

  • Emergency Manager 
  • Public Information Officer 
  • Federal Agent 
  • Government Continuity Specialist 
  • Business Continuity Manager 
  • Consultant 
  • Analyst 
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career
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Option

If you’re a current UAlbany undergraduate student with at least a 3.2 GPA, you can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework as early as your junior year. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you can complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately.

Contact your undergraduate advisor to see if you’re eligible and learn about your combined graduate program options.

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Admissions Requirements
Deadlines

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: March 1
Spring: November 1
Summer: N/A

No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

Fall: August 1
Spring: January 1
Summer: April 1

Required Application Materials
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended. A grade point average of 3.0 (B) is strongly preferred.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume
  • Short-Answer Responses:

1. Discuss (in 500 words or less) your background and/or experiences that have led to your interest in Emergency Management and/or Homeland Security.

2. State (in 500 words or less) your short and long-term career objectives, including how the opportunities provided by the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Master’s program will assist you in achieving those objectives.

3. Describe (in 250 words or less) any barriers to success you have encountered in your educational or professional career, how you have overcome them, and how the skills and knowledge you leveraged to circumvent those barriers may also help with the demands of being enrolled in a master’s program.

4. Identify (in 250 words or less) the concentration you wish to pursue in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Master’s program and explain why you are interested in that concentration. If there are particular faculty you would like to work with or you think would be a good fit as an advisor, feel free to discuss that here as well.


Available information for International Applicants.

Special Notes

This program offers an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If you have concerns about this matter, please contact the Dean’s Office of your intended academic program.

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Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Master of Science
  • Describe the origins and fundamental principles of emergency management and homeland security
  • Identify emergency management and homeland security key stakeholders
  • Summarize lessons learned from decades of emergency management and homeland security research
  • Develop oral and written skills needed to effectively coordinate and collaborate with various stakeholders
  • Analyze and evaluate governance and ethical considerations related to emergency management and homeland security
  • Design solutions for interdisciplinary challenges associated with emergency management and homeland security
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