Career Opportunities

Graduates of this major may find employment in many areas directly and indirectly related to emergency management and homeland security, such as emergency management coordinators and specialists; emergency planners; disaster planning specialists; public health preparedness coordinators and specialists; emergency medical technicians and paramedics; and police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers.

Recommended High School Subjects

Mathematics, science, communications, social sciences, criminal justice, and technology courses will aid in preparing student readiness for the Emergency Management & Homeland Security major.

Special Equipment Needs

Students must have access to a computer with consistent Internet access. Technical requirements are as follows: 

• Windows 11 or higher (recommended). 
• Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended). 
• 8+ GB RAM (recommended).  
• 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended). 
• Laptop/computer must include a webcam and microphone (required). 
• Laptop/computer must include a wireless network card (required). 
• Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required). 
• Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance). 
• Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited. 

Remediation Strategies

All incoming students must meet placement requirements in math. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in the College Catalog (see https://www.pct.edu/catalog/admissions-policy).

Transfer Procedures

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.

Program Goals

• assess, organize, and develop plans to facilitate the relationship between federal, state, and regional emergency management agencies and the communities they serve.
• collaborate within and between governmental entities, community service agencies, and health care provider organizations to ensure that effective disaster preparedness mitigation, capacity to respond to disasters, and disaster recovery planning are current and adequate to meet local and regional needs.
• utilize best practices to facilitate and support leadership in response to natural and man-made emergencies.
• communicate effectively and appropriately with professional emergency responders, law enforcement personnel, public officials, and affected citizens during all phases of a disaster.
• demonstrate a commitment to continuous personal growth and professional development.
• promote and support the profession through service activities and affiliation with relevant professional associations.

Performance Standards

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.