Emergency planning and management
Certificate, graduate
Overview
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Emergencies and disasters can disrupt communities, critical infrastructure and essential services with little warning. The graduate certificate in emergency planning and management from University of Idaho prepares professionals to plan for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters by building expertise in emergency preparedness, response coordination, hazard assessment and organizational resilience. You’ll develop skills in emergency planning, hazard assessment, protective actions and emergency management principles and practices. Elective courses allow you to specialize in areas such as accident investigation, risk assessment, chemical hazards and homeland security, providing practical knowledge for today's complex emergency management challenges.
Through interdisciplinary coursework, you'll study emergency management principles, community preparedness, risk assessment and incident response strategies while learning how organizations coordinate resources, communicate effectively and maintain continuity during crises. The program emphasizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS), two widely recognized frameworks used by emergency management professionals throughout the United States.
The 15-credit curriculum includes coursework in National Incident Management Systems, emergency management and planning, and community emergency planning. You can further customize your studies through electives that focus on homeland security, chemical hazards and biological hazards, allowing you to align the certificate with your professional interests and career goals.
View the online emergency planning and management graduate handbook
Customize your certificate, enhance your career prospects and gain a competitive edge for promotion and new job opportunities.
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Want to develop advanced skills in emergency planning and management.
- Are interested in preparing for leadership roles in emergency response and disaster preparedness.
- Want to strengthen your knowledge of hazard assessment, risk management, and emergency planning principles.
- Work in or are pursuing a career in public safety, government, healthcare, private industry, or emergency management.
- Want to learn how to plan for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and disasters.
Be ready
Curriculum
The emergency planning and management graduate certificate is a 15-credit program that helps build specialized expertise, complement your degree and develop skills in emerging fields to enhance your career opportunities.
Explore program courses in the University Catalog
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this certificate, you will be able to apply emergency management principles, develop comprehensive emergency plans and evaluate strategies for responding to complex incidents. You will gain knowledge of national incident management systems, community emergency planning and hazard mitigation. Through specialized coursework in areas such as homeland security, chemical or biological hazards, you will be prepared to assess risks and support effective emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
Program format
The graduate certificate in emergency planning and management consists of 15 credit hours of coursework designed to provide focused, advanced study in emergency management practices. You’ll complete required courses in national incident management systems, emergency management and planning and community emergency planning. You will also select elective coursework in areas such as homeland security, chemical hazards, or biological hazards to tailor their learning experience. All coursework must be completed with a grade of B or better.
Faculty expertise
Work alongside faculty in with expertise in:
- Engineering management and leadership
- Project management and process improvement
- Technology management and innovation
- Nuclear engineering and energy systems
- Cybersecurity, robotics and AI applications
- Engineering systems and infrastructure
- Safety, risk and decision-making
- Industry and government collaboration
Related clubs and organizations
Our college offers 20+ clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.
Learn about clubs related to your major:
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (ASABE)
- American Nuclear Society (ANS)
- Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA)
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCCHE)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Career outcomes
Current job openings
2,444 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Emergency Management Directors
$105,143 - Regulatory Affairs Managers • Loss Prevention Managers
$102,264
* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Costs and funding
Students pursuing a graduate certificate as a standalone program are not eligible for financial aid. However, students enrolled in a separate U of I graduate degree program may apply their financial aid or graduate funding toward a graduate certificate if they are pursuing both simultaneously.
For more information or to explore funding options, visit Financial Aid or contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.
Contact information
Have questions about the program, research opportunities or the graduate student experience? Connect with our program team for personalized guidance about curriculum, faculty mentorship, application requirements and graduate funding opportunities.
Nuclear and Industrial Management contact:
Indrajit Charit
icharit@uidaho.edu
Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001
Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.
Application information
Program availability
- Semester intake: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Not eligible for international applicants who require F-1 status
- Deadlines: General application deadlines
- Start dates: View the academic calendar to see start and end dates
University requirements
- Education level: Bachelor's degree in a similar or related field from an accredited or recognized institution (earned or expected before the start of the graduate program)
- Transcript Requirements: Bachelor’s degree transcript, along with any graduate-level transcripts, are required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for the initial admission review and admission offer. Official transcripts will be required upon admission. View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.
- GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose: A Statement of Purpose may be required for applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 or whose undergraduate degree is in a significantly different field from the graduate program to which they are applying
- Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential)
- English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).
- Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.
- Application fee: $30
Application and Admission Process
Applications are submitted online and are specific to the program and term selected. Applicants seeking admission to multiple programs must submit a separate application for each program.
Before submitting an application, applicants must provide personal and academic information from all post-secondary institutions attended, and their intended program and start term.
- For new international graduate certificate applicants:
- International applicants must meet University of Idaho’s English proficiency language requirement.
- International students may pursue graduate certificate programs either as standalone degrees or as part of a concurrent curriculum with another graduate program. Students enrolled in a certificate program as a standalone option are not eligible for F-1 visa status.
- For current University of Idaho graduate students:
- Submit a change of curriculum form to add the certificate to your current course of study.
- Obtain department approval and return the form to the College of Graduate Studies.
- For current U of I undergraduate students:
- Must have senior standing and a 3.0 GPA to take graduate-level courses.
- To reserve credits for the graduate transcript, please submit a Credit Reservation Form to the College of Graduate Studies. This form must be signed by your academic advisor.
- After earning a bachelor’s degree, apply as a graduate certificate-seeking student to complete the program.
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Have questions?
Have questions about the program? Connect with our program director or request more information to learn about curriculum, faculty advisors, research opportunities, graduate funding and career outcomes.