When disaster strikes, communities need leaders who can act — people trained to coordinate emergency response, protect critical infrastructure, and keep others safe under pressure. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management at Southern Arkansas University prepares you for that role.
The program is designed for two kinds of students: new undergraduates who want to build a career in homeland security, emergency management, or public safety leadership; and working professionals in fire service, law enforcement, EMS, or the military who are ready to move into leadership, administration, or policy roles and need a bachelor’s degree to get there.
Topics Covered
Coursework blends theory with hands-on application across the major subject areas of modern emergency management:
- Incident Command and Incident Management — the national ICS framework used by federal, state, and local responders to coordinate during disasters and large-scale emergencies.
- Homeland Security and Counterterrorism — domestic security policy, threat assessment, and the study of terrorism.
- Critical Infrastructure Protection — safeguarding energy, water, transportation, communications, and public health systems.
- Technology in Emergency Management — GIS, crisis communications, cybersecurity, and emergent technology applied to disaster response.
- Cyber Crime and Cybersecurity — investigation and prevention of digital threats that intersect with public safety.
- Ethics, Law, and Multiculturalism — the legal, ethical, and cross-cultural foundations of public safety leadership.
Who This Program Is For
The program is a strong fit for:
- Students entering college straight from high school with an interest in public safety, homeland security, or government service
- Adult learners and career-changers who already hold credentials or associate degrees in related fields and want to complete a bachelor’s to advance
- Military veterans transitioning to civilian emergency management or public safety leadership roles
- Working professionals in fire, police, or EMS seeking the degree required for promotion to chief, captain, or command-level positions
Consider this program if you want to lead emergency response and recovery operations at the community, state, or federal level; work in homeland security, counterterrorism policy, or critical infrastructure protection; transition from an active first-responder role into administrative or command leadership; or prepare for a graduate degree in public administration, homeland security, or a related field.
Curriculum
University Requirement (2 hours)
GSTD 1002 – Freshman Seminar
General Education (32 hours)
Note: 3 hours of social science requirements are included in the major. CHEM 1013 /1011 , CHEM 1023 /1021 , or CHEM 1133 /1131 are recommended to fullfil the physical science requirements.
Emergency Management/Homeland Security (45 hours)
CRJU 2023 – Introduction to Emergency Management
CRJU 3003 – Multiculturalism
CRJU 3033 – Criminal Investigations
CRJU 3103 – Ethics in Criminal Justice
CRJU 3193 – Technology in Emergency Management
CRJU 3233 – Cyber Crime
CRJU 4113 – Study of Terrorism
CRJU 4133 – Homeland Security
CRJU 4153 – Critical Infrastructure Protection
CRJU 4163 – The Incident Command System and Incident Management
CRJU 4213 – International Law
12 hours of upper-level Criminal Justice or Emergency Management electives
Other Requirements (24 hours)
FIN 2003 – Personal Finance
IS 2053 – Business Information Systems
PSCI 2003 – American Government: National
PSCI 2013 – State and Local Government
PSYC 2003 – General Psychology
SOC 2003 – Introduction to Sociology
SPCH 1113 – Introduction to Public Speaking
3 hours of Chemistry electives
Electives (17 hours)
17 hours of unrestricted electives
Total Hours – 120
Admissions
Admission to the Emergency Management program follows Southern Arkansas University’s standard undergraduate admission requirements. There are no additional prerequisites specific to this major.
SAU accepts applications on a rolling basis — you can apply and enroll up through the 11th class day of any semester.
Transfer and adult students are welcome. If you’re coming from a fire science, criminal justice, EMS, or related associate-degree program, courses completed with a grade of C or higher may transfer toward your SAU degree, subject to evaluation. Students 25 or older may be admitted without ACT or SAT scores. Review SAU’s full transfer policy for details, and contact the program coordinator to discuss how your existing coursework may apply.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the Emergency Management program are prepared for roles including:
- Emergency Management Director or Coordinator
- Emergency Preparedness Specialist
- Disaster Response and Recovery Officer
- Homeland Security Analyst
- Command leadership in fire service, law enforcement, and EMS — Chief, Captain, Battalion Commander, Shift Commander
- Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist
- Incident Commander within the Incident Command System used during disasters and large-scale emergencies
- Business Continuity Planner
- Federal, state, and local emergency management agency staff
Examples of the kinds of organizations that employ emergency management graduates include federal agencies such as FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security; state-level offices such as the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management; county and municipal emergency management departments; hospital and healthcare system emergency planning teams; school district and university safety offices; and private-sector disaster response and risk management firms. Demand is projected to grow as climate-driven disasters, cybersecurity incidents, and infrastructure risks continue to rise.
