When emergencies strike, planning and preparation can make a world of difference. At Penn College, our Emergency Management & Homeland Security program focuses on real-world skills. The more you learn now, the better you’ll be prepared to act in the future. Gain practical skills to tackle all phases of emergencies, disasters, and catastrophes. Then put them to the test in mock crisis activities and other skill-building collaborative exercises.
FEDERAL & PA GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT
Federal employees, and employees of state and regional government agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are eligible for a 25% tuition discount.
Join the Penn College Emergency Management & Homeland Security Community 
Your coursework will cover classes specific to your area of specialization along with foundational concepts and lessons that invite fresh perspectives.
8
Semesters
40
Courses
120
Credits
Fall 2026
6 courses 16 credits
17% program-specific courses
Spring 2026
5 courses 15 credits
60% program-specific courses
Fall 2027
5 courses 14 credits
60% program-specific courses
Spring 2027
5 courses 15 credits
20% program-specific courses
Fall 2028
5 courses 15 credits
40% program-specific courses
Spring 2028
5 courses 15 credits
20% program-specific courses
Fall 2029
4 courses 15 credits
25% program-specific courses
Spring 2029
5 courses 15 credits
40% program-specific courses
Please Note: The outlined curriculum assumes a fall semester start for students completing a full credit load schedule without additional developmental math requirements. Students beginning in the spring or summer, taking less than a full load, and/or requiring developmental coursework follow an altered curriculum sequence. Speak to your academic advisor or school office with questions.
17
Average Class Size
100%
Overall Placement
300
Hours of Field Experience
Every year, hundreds of community members come to the campus to experience Rotorfest. As an Emergency Management & Homeland security student, you get to coordinate the entire event. As part of your class.
With 300 hours of internship experience, Emergency Management & Homeland Security students get hands-on experience in real-world settings.
Meet faculty member Dave Bjorkman, who found his way to Emergency Management through a passion for planning and career experience with the Baltimore City Police Department, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, and public health consulting during the H1N1 pandemic.
Practice your planning tactics and response strategy in our on-campus training center.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
As a Emergency Management & Homeland Security student at Penn College, you may be elgible for 112 scholarships.
Penn College creates mock press conference for state reps
April 15, 2026
A group of state representatives recently visited Pennsylvania College of Technology to learn more about the emergency management & homeland security program…
WNEP-TV airs story on Rotorfest
April 09, 2026
WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker visited Rotorfest, an event planned and managed by Penn College emergency management & homeland security students, on Tuesday. Her…
WNEP-TV visits MILO
February 27, 2026
WNEP-TV’s Mackenzie Aucker recently checked out Penn College’s new Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives – or MILO – system. Aucker interviewed William A.…
Legislators explore emergency management
February 10, 2026
Four state representatives visited Penn College on Monday to learn more about its emergency management & homeland security degree and to try out the program’s…
Emergency Management Club explores NYC
January 16, 2026
Seventeen members of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Emergency Management Club spent time in New York City in early December to explore the city’s history…
VIDEO: Grace under pressure
December 02, 2025
Raised in a family rooted in community service, Mikya L. Stake is forging her own path – balancing a full college course load with overnight shifts as a live-in…
Schlosser earns CEM certification
September 02, 2025
Pennsylvania College of Technology emergency and homeland security instructor William A. Schlosser has been named a Certified Emergency Manager by the…
Cross-curricular collaboration explores poverty
May 06, 2025
Can you survive a month in poverty? That was the key question at a recent Community Action Poverty Simulation explored by Penn College students in various…
Powerful giving: Making dreams come true
April 23, 2025
Empowering tomorrow’s workforce through investing in Pennsylvania College of Technology students was the focus of the annual Donor Recognition Reception, held…
Emergency responders, students gather at third Rotorfest
April 23, 2025
The third annual Rotorfest, held this month at Pennsylvania College of Technology, brought more than 500 K-12 students and educators to campus to learn about…
Student
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Brooke has always been inspired to help others. Her career as an EMT allows her to do exactly that.
Alumni
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Discipline learned as a reserve soldier helps Gaven stay calm under pressure.
Faculty
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
His proven approach blends research and theory with real-world experience.
Student
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
After his teammate went into cardiac arrest on the lacrosse field, Colten knew he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to care for those in need.
Student
Emergency Management & Homeland Security
She's community-minded and driven to make a difference. Learn why Ki is attracted to the field of emergency management.
Listen to David E. Bjorkman, instructor of emergency management/social science, as he discusses the program, career opportunities, the realistic disaster simulations in which students participate, and the overwhelming acceptance by veteran emergency managers.
Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Internships are key for career preparation. During the eighth and final semester, apply what you’ve learned in the real world working with an emergency preparedness, response, or recovery organization.
Our Emergency Management Club promotes, fosters, and advocates for the professional development within the field of emergency management through trainings, conferences, and professional development opportunities within the emergency management community.
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Penn College students joined area law enforcement, emergency management and healthcare professionals in a recent simulation at UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport Regional Medical Center and a variety of other locations.
Internal and external transfers may carry parallel major courses into the baccalaureate when the grades are 'C' or better. Transcripts should be submitted with the application for admission and will be evaluated by Registrar staff and by academic school staff. By its nature, prior work experience in emergency services, military, and other appropriate work backgrounds will be evaluated for transfer evaluation and placement in the major. The academic school dean and full-time faculty will evaluate credit for life experience for course work from applicants with non-credit training or work experience. Credits awarded for work/life experience will be posted to the applicant’s College transcript after successful completion of at least 12 credits at the College.
Students must acquire their own tools and laptop computer as noted below.
Students must complete all BEM-designated courses with a grade of 'C' or above. Failure to achieve a grade of 'C' or above in a course after the maximum attempts allowed by college policy, results in withdrawal from the major. Students should work closely with their academic advisors and program faculty to ensure that they are meeting all criteria for satisfactory progress in the program.
Continued progression in the program, to include eligibility for internship courses and graduation, is predicated not only upon satisfactory academic performance, but also upon satisfactory demonstration of professional and ethical responsibility, personal responsibility, and satisfactory demonstration of skills and abilities prerequisite to the ethical delivery of services in the field. For more specific information about the criteria used to evaluate students' progress, a copy of the program manual can be obtained from the School of Business, Arts & Sciences.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page in our Course Catalog for general requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Emergency Management & Homeland Security Advisory Committee Members
Mr. Benton J Best
County Emergency Management Coordinator
Tioga County Emergency Management Agency
Ms. Roseann B Cordelli, MPA
Communications Program Manager
Tetra Tech EMI
Mr. Gaven Crosby
Supervisory Program Manager
FEMA
Mr. William E Ebersole, JD, CPA, CFE, GISF
Security Compliance/Emergency Manager
Disney Cruise Line
Ms. Stacey Folk
EMA Manager (Emergency Management Coordinator)
Lycoming County Department of Public Safety
Mr. John W Magyar II, CEM; MCAS; CHS-V
Senior Environmental Health & Safety Technician
Range Resources-Appalachia LLC
Mr. Chris E Miller
Chief of Police
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Mr. David Pletz
Chief of Police & Director of Campus Safety
Penn College
Ms. Kelle B Robinson
County Emergency Management Coordinator
Lycoming County Department of Public Safety
Mr. Anthony N Subbio, CEM, PMP, MS
Emergency Management Specialist
Tetra Tech, Inc.
Mr. Jeff Wagner
Instructor, Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Instructor, Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Online
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Graphic Design
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Chemical Dependency, Online
Competency Credential
Advertising Art
Associate of Applied Arts (A.A.A.)
General Studies
Associate of Arts (A.A.)
Brewing & Fermentation Science
Certificate
Human Services & Restorative Justice
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Individual Studies
Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)