Disaster & Emergency Management, Fire Science Track, B.S.

Program Chair: Matthew Collins, Ph.D

Available in the Online Program.

The Columbia College Disaster and Emergency Management program provides a strong educational foundation for work in disaster and emergency management. The program prepares students to be leaders in improving preparedness, building capabilities, and coordinating response and recovery resources in public and private-sector settings.

The Fire Science Concentration provides courses in fire science as well as management, policy, and administration. The concentration supports career advancement and development in leadership, analytics, and management.  The curriculum is modeled on the federal Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE)-recommended course learning outcomes.  

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will explain the human, ethical, fiscal, and legal dimensions of emergency management.  
2. Students will evaluate the consequences of disasters and the utility of emergency plans and measures.  
3. Students will demonstrate knowledge of resources, response and recovery capabilities, and mitigation measures appropriate for addressing disasters.  
4. Students will articulate effective leadership roles and responsibilities for effective management of emergency agencies and emergency services organizations, to include ethical and legal responsibilities.  
5. Students will describe fire behavior and apply principles, standards, and practices of fire service and fire safety/prevention.