Emergency Management and Disaster Relief
Common Career Paths
- Hazard mitigation planning
- Procedure/Policy development
- Preparedness training
- Response
- Mitigation and recovery
- Crisis management
- Evaluation/Assessment
- Emergency field coordination
- Industry specialization
- Hazardous materials operations
- Fundraising/Grant writing
- Volunteering and volunteer coordination
- Homeland security
- Consultation
- Teaching
Employers
- Local and state government:
- Emergency response agencies
- Emergency management agencies
- Federal government:
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Military
- Peace Corps
- Healthcare organizations:
- Hospitals
- Educational institutions:
- Universities and colleges
- Public health organizations
- Port authorities and airports
- Industries:
- Emergency management consulting companies
- Manufacturing
- Retail and travel
- Software and equipment providers
- Community relief organizations:
- Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD)
- American Red Cross
- Salvation Army
- CORE
- International organizations:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Development Programme
- World Bank
- Private businesses
Strategies
- Take courses with disciplines relevant to various emergencies. Consider courses in leadership, communication, geospatial science, public health, public policy, psychology, law, environmental science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and anthropology – disasters, displacement, and human rights.
- Certificate programs are available to students who seek a shorter program focused on career development or knowledge of a specific discipline. Many certificate programs are available online to specialize in bioterrorism preparedness, disaster preparedness, or homeland security.
- Emergency management is a competitive field, and related work experience is essential. Consider obtaining Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and certification or work in a healthcare-related field.
- Volunteer with your local emergency management or disaster relief organization. Seek training with your local American Red Cross (ARC) chapter.
- Develop strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Learn to handle stress.
- Keep up to date with current legislation and issues of concern for emergency management professionals.
- Join a professional association such as the National Emergency Management Association or the International Association of Emergency Managers.
- Many employers, especially in the public sector, require certification in the National Incident Management System. Courses to get certified can be taken online.
Environmental/Sustainability
Common Career Paths
- Sustainability officer
- Sustainability consulting
- Environmental health and safety operations
- Environmental management
- Environmental compliance
- Environmental emergencies operations
- Disaster recovery
Employers
- Local and state government:
- Law enforcement
- Sustainability offices
- Planning and safety offices
- Federal government:
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Military
- Peace Corps
- AmeriCorps
- Healthcare organizations:
- Hospitals
- Public and private sector businesses
- Non-profit environmental organizations
- International organizations:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Development Programme
- World Bank
- Private businesses
Strategies
- Consider taking coursework that ties to sustainability or environmental issues of interest. Consider courses in environmental science, soil science, environmental engineering, geology, geography, sociology, biology, conservation, sustainability, natural resource management, ecology, policy, planning, plant science, animal science, non-profit management, business administration, social work, and agriculture.
- Learn about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disaster Management principles to understand the importance of sustainability with emergency responses.
- Develop strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
- Keep up to date with current sustainability practices, environmental issues, and legislation.
- Join student organizations related to sustainability, environmentalism, or public policy.
- Gain experience within a university, city, or county sustainability office.
Getting Started and Advancing in Major
- There is not one clear path for working in emergency management. A wide variety of programs exist, including undergraduate and graduate degree options. It is important to research programs fully to find the best fit.
- Typically, a bachelor’s degree is required to secure an entry-level position. Consider majors in public administration, environmental science, political science, sociology, cybersecurity, and business, if not enrolled in an emergency management program.
- The field of emergency management and disaster relief overlap with varied career areas such as law enforcement, nursing, and social work. Consider related occupations and explore all your options.
- Be proactive when job searching. Emergency management positions can be difficult to find and are not always called emergency management.
- Gain experience through internships or volunteer work.
- Emergency management can be good preparation for graduate study in public administration, international affairs, management, and homeland security.
- Learn about government application processes. Contact your campus career center for assistance.
Professional Associations
- International Association of Emergency Managers
- National Emergency Management Association
- United States Sustainability Alliance