Emergency Management Essentials, Certificate
Add a specialized credential to your primary degree which centers on public safety and crisis leadership. It layers focused emergency management essentials onto the academic path you are already pursuing.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Emergency Management Essentials undergraduate certificate description
The emergency management essentials certificate program equips you with the skills and knowledge to prepare for, respond to and recover from a wide variety of emergencies and disasters. This program covers the essential principles of emergency management, including risk assessment, disaster preparedness, response coordination and recovery planning. You gain practical experience in managing crises, coordinating with public safety agencies, and developing effective emergency plans to mitigate risks and protect communities.
The program is designed for you, whether you are pursuing a career in emergency management, public safety or disaster response; you are a community leader or government official looking to enhance your crisis management capabilities; you are a public or private sector employee responsible for organizational emergency preparedness and risk management; or you come from the various fields interested in understanding the strategies and systems needed to manage emergencies and protect communities.
Why earn an emergency management essentials undergraduate certificate at ASU?
Study within ASU's School of Public Affairs, nationally recognized for public management and leadership. Its faculty bring deep expertise in urban governance and public policy, giving you a public service perspective on emergency management.
Additional details
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions houses the Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The Emergency Management Student Association, an ASU student organization sponsored by the center, identifies hands-on experiences for students interested in disaster management, operations, preparedness, response and homeland security. It also teams with agencies such as the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management, the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, the International Association of Emergency Managers, FEMA, Arizona's Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, and the city of Phoenix to open 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
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate requires 18 credit hours. A grade of "C" or better is required in all courses. |
||
|
PAF 112 Public Service and American Democracy
(AMIT)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
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 |
|
Upper Division
PAF Elective
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
This certificate is available to current ASU students, as well as students not currently enrolled at ASU in a degree program.
For admission to the university to pursue this certificate, students must apply to the university and meet university admission requirements. Students not currently attending ASU who wish to pursue the certificate should contact an academic advisor in Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at spa@asu.edu or 602-496-1658 for admission procedures.
Current degree-seeking ASU students can request to add the certificate via the "Add a Certificate" button.
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 essentials undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates possess the knowledge and skills required for entry-level positions in the public sector at the local, state and federal levels, as well as for other opportunities in the commercial and nonprofit sectors. Graduates will have a significant advantage in the coming hiring boom within the field in response to the upcoming wave of retirees in the public sector and increasing demand for public services, especially at the federal level. For those who already possess relevant knowledge and experience, the program provides complementary knowledge valuable for promotion in the field. Graduates also may choose to further their education in graduate programs in emergency management, public policy, law or public administration.
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
|
UCENT 400
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450
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.
