Emergency Management (Doctor of Science)
The Doctor of Science degree requires a total of 60 semester credit hours. Required coursework includes 42 hours in administration and policy, practice areas, and research methods and statistics, plus a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credit. In addition, applicants must hold a master’s degree in emergency management or a related field from a regionally accredited school. While courses are delivered online, students are required to participate in a week-long seminar on campus once each academic year, for the first three years of their program. All Emergency Management programs are only offered online. International students must remain in their home country to be eligible for admission to these programs.
Admission
The application and admissions schedule* for the 2025 fall semester cohort of students is as follows:
- March 31, 2025 Deadline for submission of all application materials
- April 14 - 30, 2025 Admissions Committee Review
- May 15, 2025 Applicants notified of decision
Admission materials include a completed application, a Statement of Purpose setting forth career goals and research interests, a resume, minimum one graduate reference form (up to three can be submitted; preference will be given to at least one academic reference with substantive detail), official transcripts, and a Writing Sample (e.g. master's thesis, journal article, published essay, policy paper, technical document, capstone project or research papers). If you do not have such a sample available, submit a paper written in an academic setting, with a minimum length of five pages. (Please note the GRE requirement on the Graduate Catalog has been waived).
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Tanveer IslamDepartment Head, Emergency Management & Public Administrationtislam@jsu.edu
*Applicants should consult the Graduate Catalog for future dates related to application and admission.
Integrative Seminar 2025
Cohorts 2023, 2024 and 2025 August 11-15, 2025
Potential Careers
Emergency Management is a fantastically diverse career-field with a favorably projected future job growth. There are a variety of opportunities in public service at all levels of government and in a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare and private business.
- Emergency Management Director (FEMA, State, local, non-profit, private sector)
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Disaster Program Manager
- Emergency Planner
- Information/Cyber Security Analyst
Median Annual Salary
| Emergency Management Director (FEMA) | $162,930 |
| Emergency Management Director (Private Sector) | $128,500 |
| Information/Cyber Security Analyst | $102,600 |
| Emergency Management Director (State and Local) | $76,730 |
| Emergency Management Faculty | $76,710 |
| Intelligence Analyst | $72,692 |
| Emergency Management Director (Nonprofit) | $69,090 |
| Anti-Terrorism Specialist | $79,000 |
| Emergency Management Specialist | $64,500 |
| Disaster Program Manager | $47,900 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $46,670 |