Undergraduate | Graduate

BS in Emergency Management

Q: Is JSU accredited?
A: Yes. JSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Q: Is there a residency (on campus) requirement?
A: No, our program can be earned 100% online.

Q: What are the tuition rates?
A: Tuition rates

Q: How long do I have to finish my degree?
A: Undergraduates who have not completed a program within 12 years may be required to convert to a new catalog.

Q: How do I apply?
A: Your first step is to apply to the University. Admissions to undergraduate programs can be reached at 800-231-5291 ext. 5268 if you have specific questions. Click here for a full description of admissions requirements. Generally speaking, you should submit the online application available at iep.jsu.edu, pay the $30.00 (U.S.) application fee and provide official transcripts from any college or university previously attended to admissions. You may also be asked to provide proof of a high school diploma or equivalency. If you are 25 years of age or older, you do not have to provide SAT or ACT scores. Non-residents of the U.S. or graduates from institutions outside of the U.S. must meet additional admissions requirements..

Q: When can I begin?
A: JSU operates on a semester system, with three terms: Fall (August-December), Spring (January-April) and Summer (May-July). If a student is cleared by admissions in time, and registration is still open accordingly, technically a student could begin the program in fall, spring or summer session.

Q: Is this a self-paced program?
A: No, JSU operates on a semester system. Online courses follow the University calendar just as traditional, on campus offerings.

Q: How will I access my online courses?
A: The online classes are administered through a program called Blackboard. To view system requirements and login information for this program, please go to http://www.jsu.edu/distance/blackboard

Q: What types of assignments can I expect?
A: Course requirements will vary from instructor to instructor; however, you can expect such things as Discussion Board postings, Virtual Class sessions, research paper requirements, exams, and/or group projects to name a few. The first day of classes, a syllabus is provided to you so that you will know what your professor will require and when these requirements will be due.

Q: What about transfer credit?
A: If applicable to your situation, you may find it helpful to know that only the JSU Registrar has the authority to determine transfer credit. Generally speaking, if you took courses for academic college credit at a regionally accredited institution, courses should be accepted; however, it will depend on what courses were taken and, for courses that do get accepted, how they transfer as to what specific degree requirements may or may not be met for this program at JSU. Once admissions receives all of your transcripts from institutions previously attended, they will be forwarded to the Registrar for evaluation for potential transfer credit. Once this evaluation is complete, notice is then provided to the student. Once the evaluation is complete, the academic advisor can assist you with identifying which degree requirements may or may not have been met. Again, the Registrar is the only authority who can determine whether courses will transfer in and how. That Department can be reached at 800-231-5291 ext. 8270.

Q: Can I get work experience credit?
A: Once a student has earned 18 hours of residency credit at JSU, they are eligible to apply for potential work experience credit if they have worked or works in the field of emergency management or public safety telecommunications. Depending on position(s) held and time in full-time position(s), a maximum of 18 hours may be possible in either EM or PST work experience credit. Work experience credit that is awarded is considered non-traditional credit subject to non-traditional credit rules and limitations. To view information about non-traditional credit, please refer to the undergraduate catalog in the academic regulations section. If awarded, work experience credit can be used towards Area V elective or general elective categories only. Work experience credit that is awarded cannot count toward major or minor requirements.

Q: What about military financial aid?
A: If you will be using military financial assistance, you need to contact JSU's Office of Veterans Affairs for assistance (800-231-5291 ext. 5892). The Bursar's Office can be reached at 800-231-5291 ext. 5458 or Fax/256-782-8067 for military tuition paperwork submission.

Q: What if my employer pays tuition for my class(es), but payment will not be made by the tuition deadline?
A: The employer should fill out the Emergency Management Scholarship form and return to JSU's Department of Emergency Management. The scholarship form can be requested by emailing iep@jsu.edu

back to top

MS Emergency Management, Emergency Management Certificate, Emergency Management concentration under the Master of Public Administration

Q: Is JSU accredited?
A: Yes. JSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Q: Is there a residency (on campus) requirement?
A: No, our program can be earned 100% online.

Q: What are the tuition rates?
A: Tuition rates

Q: Which program should I pursue, the MS Emergency Management or MPA with an Emergency Management concentration?
A: We typically recommend students that are interested or anticipate careers in Emergency Management consider the MS-EM program unless their career path specifically requires an MPA. The MS-EM is a 30-hour program consisting of emergency management coursework and a comprehensive exam. The MPA may be appropriate for the individual who anticipates a career in the public sector or non-profit areas as a primary goal, though, possibly in an emergency management-related capacity.

Students interested in the MPA should contact the Director of the MPA program, Dr. Dan Krejci, in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration ( dkrejci@jsu.edu or 256-782-5687).

Q: Is there a comprehensive exam?
A: Yes, passing of the comprehensive exam is required for graduation from the degree programs.

Q: Is there a thesis option?
A: There is no thesis option for the MS Emergency Management program.

Q: How long do I have to finish my degree?
A: Students have up to six years to finish the program.

Q: Can JSU EM certificate courses be used toward my degree?
A: Students that have been admitted to pursue the MS Emergency Management degree program by the College of Graduate Studies after having been awarded the Emergency Management certificate can use the emergency management courses completed for the EM certificate towards the MS Emergency Management degree requirements - as long as all program requirements are completed within six years.

Q: How do I apply?
A: If you are interested in pursuing the MS in Emergency Management, your first step is to apply to Graduate Studies. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Kelly Smith or Tonna Hammett; they handle the admissions process for that Department (800-231-5291, ext. 5329). Generally speaking for degree programs, an application, a $30.00 application fee, three references (a form is available online through Graduate Studies to assist with this process), official transcripts from every college you have attended (ensuring at least one has a Bachelor's Degree posted), and satisfactory scores on either the GRE or MAT must be supplied. EM Certificate applicants need only provide the application, application fee, and an official transcript from the college or university that granted the Bachelor's degree. If you received a bachelor's degree from a non-accredited school or an institution outside of the U.S., additional admissions information is required.

Students seeking admission to the MPA program should contact the Director of the MPA program, Dr. Dan Krejci, in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration ( dkrejci@jsu.edu or 256-782-5687).

Q: Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in emergency management to apply?
A: No special area of study at the undergraduate level is required for admissions to the MS Emergency Management or Emergency Management Certificate programs. In most cases, Graduate Studies allows a student to register for one term while the admissions process is completed.

Students seeking admission to the MPA program should contact the Director of the MPA program, Dr. Dan Krejci, in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration ( dkrejci@jsu.edu or 256-782-5687).

Q: How will I access my online courses?
A: The online classes themselves are administered through a program called Blackboard.

To view system requirements, a demo course and login information for this program, please go to http://www.jsu.edu/distance/blackboard/.

Q: What types of assignments can I expect?
A: Course requirements will vary from instructor to instructor; however, you can expect such things as Discussion Board postings, Virtual Class sessions, research paper requirements, exams, and/or group projects to name a few. The first day of classes, a syllabus will be provided to you so that you will know what your professor will require and when these requirements will be due.

Q: What about transfer credit?
A: To be considered, courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university for graduate level academic credit. Ultimately, the Dean of Graduate Studies makes the final decision regarding whether or not transfer credit is to be accepted. Students that wish to have graduate level coursework considered for potential transfer to the program would need to submit a "Transfer Credit Request Form" to the office of the College of Graduate Studies, as a first step. Transfer credit that is accepted is applicable to the six-year rule specifying all program requirements must be completed within six years. Additional rules and limitations of transfer credit are summarized in the Academic Regulations section of the Graduate Bulletin. A maximum of 6 hours of transfer credit can be considered for 30-hour programs. A maximum of 12 hours of transfer credit can be considered for 36+ hour programs.

Q: Can I get work experience credit?
A: Work experience credit is not awarded at the graduate level.

Q: What about military financial aid?
A: If you will be using military financial assistance, you need to contact JSU's Office of Veterans Affairs for assistance (800-231-5291 ext. 5892). The Bursar's Office can be reached at 800-231-5291 ext. 5458 or Fax/256-782-8067 for military tuition paperwork submission.

Q: What if my employer pays tuition for my class(es), but payment will not be made by the tuition deadline?
A: The employer should fill out the Emergency Management Scholarship form and return to JSU's Department of Emergency Management. The scholarship form can be requested by emailing iep@jsu.edu

back to top