We live in a world filled with uncertainty. As America's population has increased and there are greater threats from abroad, the importance of being prepared for both manmade and natural disasters and emergencies has become evident. Our nation has placed great emphasis on emergency preparedness over the past decade. This is especially evident in the emergency management degree programs that are now available through many colleges and universities. If you want to be involved with emergency management, then a degree in this field is what you need.
With a degree in emergency management, you are trained in emergency management when disaster strikes. You learn how to respond to people's needs quickly, assist in evacuations, food distribution, medical care of injured individuals, and specific disaster management techniques. This can include what to do in a terrorist attack, earthquake, flooding, bio-attack, or chemical spill. Some of the courses offered in an emergency management program might include: emergency risk assessment, strategic planning, crisis management, disaster communication, and organizational skills.
Job Outlook is Excellent in Emergency Management
Those going into the field of emergency management have a terrific job outlook. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is estimating that this career field will have at least an 18 percent job growth between now and 2018, which is much faster than the growth expected in other career fields. Some of this growth will be caused by those retiring in the emergency management field and a need to fill their open positions. Also, as more communities and organizations put emergency plans into action, the need for trained emergency management specialists will increase.
Great Salary Potential for Emergency Management Graduates
The field of emergency management is ripe with great salaries. As of 2009, the average salary in the United States for an emergency management specialist was around $56,000 annually. The bottom ten percent employed in this field made under $28,000 annually. The top ten percent employed in this field made over $90,000 annually. This information was gathered from the Occupational Employment Statistics website.
Excellent Degree Programs Available in Emergency Management
Colleges and universities in the United States have created some excellent emergency management degree programs to help fill the need for skilled and trained employees in this important field. Many of these emergency management programs are available online, allowing students the flexibility of creating their own course schedules, according to their own time and needs.
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