Jump to page content

Find a College

Sign Up

My Organizer

Create a free account.



Home > Find a College > Majors & Careers Central > Profiles > Major: Emergency Management/Homeland Security

Major: Emergency Management/Homeland Security

New York’s firefighters were hailed for their heroic efforts on 9/11. But all levels of government -- from the White House to the mayor of New Orleans -- were attacked when Hurricane Katrina hit. Why didn’t the government respond faster? Why wasn’t the area better protected against floods? Why were so many left stranded? These are the kinds of questions you’ll consider if you choose this major.

Students in this major learn the techniques and develop the leadership skills they need to protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Did You Know?

  • To work in this field, you may need to be a citizen and pass a background check.

Are You Ready To...?

  • Study the law surrounding homeland security
  • Practice analyzing intelligence
  • Write up a case study of a real-life disaster
  • Put together an emergency plan
  • Assess the risks to a building or neighborhood
  • Explore the psychology of suicide bombers
  • Learn how to secure borders and airports
  • Identify weapons of mass destruction

It Helps to Be...

Committed to the safety of others and cool-headed in an emergency.

College Checklist

  • Does the program lead to an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree?
  • Will you have the chance to specialize in, for example, business continuity or aviation security?
  • Are internships available in your area of interest?
  • Do professors bring real-world experience to the table?

Did You Know?

  • Government jobs are plentiful, but you can work in the private sector, too.

Course Spotlight

You’ll start getting the lay of the land in an introductory emergency management course. Here you’ll learn how to identify risks and work to prevent them or lessen their impact. Other topics include the history and legal issues of the field, terrorism, the cooperation of different government agencies, and the art of communicating with the public.

Expect to be graded on exams, presentations, and research papers. You might, for example, be asked to analyze how well FEMA or the Department of Homeland Security handled a past national disaster.