Forbes Ranks JSU Among Nation's Best Online Emergency Management Programs

03/13/2024

Forbes recently named Jacksonville State among the 10 Best Online Emergency Management Degrees in the country, recognizing the university for preparing students for disaster mitigation careers in all levels of government, as well as the private sector.

Being recognized by such a prominent magazine is further validation of how valued JSU’s emergency management program has become. Currently, it's the only program in the US that offers degrees and certificates at all three levels - bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. It's also home to the only Doctor of Science in Emergency Management in Alabama.

“We have about 500 students in all of our programs, which makes us possibly the largest emergency management program in the country as well,” said Dr. Tanveer Islam, professor and head of the Department of Emergency Management and Public Administration. “We also have a nationally awarded student chapter of the International Association of Emergency Managers."

The department offers a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Public Administration with an emergency management concentration and a Doctor of Science in emergency management. Additionally, it offers a graduate certificate in emergency management, an undergraduate micro-credential in cybersecurity, and undergraduate minors in homeland security, public safety telecommunications and emergency management for non-majors. 

JSU’s emergency management faculty members perform top-quality research, having received federal grants from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service.

“We have excellent partnerships with many local, state and federal agencies,” Dr. Islam said. “We host the Division G Emergency Operations Center at Ft. McClellan for Alabama EMA, and we recently renewed our partnership with FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness until 2032." 

In addition to Forbes, the program has been recognized for having the No. 3 Best Online Master's Degree in Emergency Management in the US by Intelligent.com and No. 8 Most Affordable Online Master's Program in Emergency Management in the US by OnlineU.com.

“I was elated to see the news, but not really surprised,” Dr. Islam said of the Forbes ranking. “We have been consistently ranked No. 1 on Intelligent.com for the past several years, as well as other websites, so the Forbes's recognition was nothing unusual.”