Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Emergency and Disaster Management

The Department of Public and International Affairs offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) for professionals, practitioners and students who wish to gain a solid understanding of managing and mitigating crises in both domestic and international settings. The program is based on a dual-format, blended-course model which includes intensive instructional blocks utilizing face-to-face instruction, video teleconferencing and mobile access – all of which can be accessed virtually in real time or via the archives asynchronously, followed by self-paced but guided distance education. There is one instructional block a semester spanning two-to-four weeks at the beginning of the fall, spring and summer semesters. The program is designed to provide core knowledge, skills, and abilities through a set of modules focused on the theoretical and applied approaches to crisis and emergency management. Effective and immediate response to emergencies and disasters by both first responders and those coordinating teams in the field is a crucial element in managing emergencies and pending disasters.

The objective of the certificate program is to give graduates the knowledge and skill set to manage and mitigate emergencies in diverse domestic or international environments. Students may participate in the certificate program while enrolled in a master’s degree program in another discipline, whether at UNCW or any other regionally accredited university.