Emergency Management, Certificate
Build foundational knowledge in emergency management and homeland security through a program ranked No. 2 in the nation and No. 9 for Public Affairs graduate school by U.S. News & World Report (2026). Learn how communities and organizations prepare for and respond to disasters.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Emergency Management undergraduate certificate description
In the undergraduate certificate program in emergency management, you gain the skills and knowledge to understand and manage natural and human-made threats and execute complex projects in response. Coursework covers risk assessment, homeland security, cross-boundary collaboration and rapid resource mobilization.
Why earn an emergency management undergraduate certificate at ASU?
If you're a military-affiliated student, you can enter this certificate through the U.S. Naval Community College pathway.
Additional details
Watts College houses the ASU Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security, which sponsors the Emergency Management Student Association. This ASU student organization helps you find hands-on experiences in disaster management, operations, preparedness, response and homeland security. EMSA partners with agencies such as the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, the International Association of Emergency Managers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Arizona's Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, and the City of Phoenix to identify training and professional development opportunities.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 18 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in emergency management consists of 18 credit hours of coursework.
|
||
| Core Courses | ||
|
PAF 160 How to Survive the 21st Century
(SUST)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 261 Hazards and Risk Management
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 360 Emergency Management I
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 424 Emergency Management II
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 461 Homeland Security
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PAF 468 Planning and Exercises
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Understand emergency management and homeland security organizations.
- Draw connections between emerging risks and vulnerabilities in society related to emergency management challenges.
Understand emergency management and homeland security organizations.Enrollment requirements
Students must be accepted to the U.S. Naval Community College to be admitted to this program.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this emergency management undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for careers in emergency management, community resilience, disaster recovery and risk prevention at the local, state and federal levels.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Public Affairs
|
USE 138
CISAmilitaryVet@asu.edu
480-965-4464
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
