Emergency Management, Master of Science
Program Director: Professor Lucia Velotti
The Master of Science in Emergency Management Program prepares students for responsible positions and leadership in public, non-profit, and private organizations. The program includes preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating future losses from the broad range of threats including natural and public health hazards and man-made or technological events. The program includes courses in emerging technologies, legal and organizational frameworks, and necessary knowledge to design and implement effective programs to reduce the toll that disasters and other emergencies take on individuals, organizations, and society in complex urban environments. This program is consistent with John Jay College's long-standing mission in public safety and graduate emergency management courses offered at the college since 2001.
This program may be completed fully online or in a hybrid format.
Admissions. General admissions information for John Jay's graduate programs can be found under the Admissions section of this bulletin along with any Program-specific admissions requirements.
Emergency Management Advising: lvelotti@jjay.cuny.edu
Program Codes: IRP Program Code: 37712; HEGIS Code: 2010.00; CIP Code: 43.0302
Credits. 36
Additional Information. Students who enrolled in this program in September 2026 or thereafter must complete the program in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2025-26 Graduate Bulletin.
Degree Requirements
The program requires 36 credits of coursework. Students may elect to follow the Emergency Management General Track or Thesis Track.
General Track - Comprehensive Exam/Project
All students on the general track must pass one of two examinations. The first option is a comprehensive examination designed to evaluate students’ understanding of key knowledge and their ability to formulate responses to conceptual and practical applications of theories and practices taught in the program, and to express themselves effectively in writing for a professional audience. The Comprehensive Exam/Project is offered once every Fall and Spring term.
Students can take the comprehensive exam a maximum three times. Students who do not obtain a passing score in three attempts will be dismissed from the program.
The second option is to take and pass the written certification examination portion of the International Association of Emergency Managers Associate Emergency Manager (AEM)/Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) program. Students must fulfill the application and other requirements for AEM process, including payment of any fees to IAEM. Upon successful completion of the examination, proof of completion must be submitted to the Program Director. Completion of the second option is taken at the student’s time and expense. This option is not intended as an alternative for students who fail the comprehensive exam.
Thesis Track
Permission from the program director is required in order to select the thesis track, which is available to students who meet the following criteria:
- Completed at least 12 credits with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Earned a grade of B+ or higher in SEC 715 Analytical Methods in Protection Management
Note: The thesis track fulfills 6 credits of the elective requirements.
Part One. Required Courses
| PMT 711 | Introduction to Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 760 | Emergency Management: Mitigation and Recovery | 3 |
| PMT 763 | Emergency Management: Preparedness | 3 |
| PMT 764 | Managing Response to Large-Scale Incidents | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Part Two. Required Management and Analytic Courses
| PMT 715 | Analytical Methods in Protection Management | 3 |
| PAD 705 | Organization Theory and Management | 3 |
| PAD 744 | Capital and Operational Budgeting and Fiscal Management | 3 |
| PAD 748 | Project Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Part Three. Electives
Select four courses:
Note: Students in the Thesis Track fulfill 6 credits of electives with their thesis.
| CRJ 744 | Terrorism and Politics | 3 |
| CRJ 746 | Terrorism and Apocalyptic Violence | 3 |
| PAD 714 | Organizational Performance Assessment | 3 |
| PAD 740 | Public Sector Inspection and Oversight | 3 |
| PMT 701 | Introduction to Protection Management Systems | 3 |
| PMT 703 | Analysis of Building and Fire Codes | 3 |
| PMT 712 | Theory and Design of Fire Protection Systems | 3 |
| PMT 720 | Geographic Information Systems for Public Safety and Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 725 | Seminar in Emergency Management and Response | 1 |
| PMT 761 | Technology in Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 762 | Business Continuity Planning | 3 |
| PMT 770 | Climate Change Impacts and Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 780 | Public Health Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 781 | Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention | 3 |
| PMT 785 | Special Topics in Emergency Management | 3 |
| PMT 789 | Human and Social Vulnerability and Disaster | 3 |
| PMT 794 | Independent Study | 3 |
| PMT 797 | Faculty-Mentored Research in Protection Management | 3 |
| SEC 730 | Private Security: Function and Role in Homeland Defense | 3 |
| SEC 731 | Risk, Threat and Critical Infrastructure | 3 |
| SEC 740 | Safety and Security in the Built Environment | 3 |
| SEC 753 | Theory and Design of Security Systems | 3 |
| SEC 760 | Information Technology and Cybercrime | 3 |
| SEC 798 | Faculty Mentored Research in Security Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 36