**We are not accepting students to this program at this time, but please refer to our other program offerings.

BSHS in Leadership for Emergency Action & Disaster Response

Relief helicopter landing in a desert

The Department of Clinical Research and Leadership (CRL) has a new Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) program in Leadership for Emergency Action & Disaster Response (LEADR), effective Summer 2017.

  • Degree Program is offered for current and former SOF operators and enablers
  • Online courses offered in 8 week terms
  • Tuition is at the TA Rate for Active Duty: $250 per credit (no out of pocket for tuition)
  • Program aligns with competencies required to sit for the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exams 
  • Eligible graduates can sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certifying examination
  • Degree was designed and is taught by former military and SOF members

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the BSHS in Leadership for Emergency Action & Disaster Response, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Leadership: Compare leadership approaches for implementation and execution of complex projects in diverse, interagency environments.
  2. Technology: Analyze methods of technology application in asymmetric conditions.
  3. Resources: Appraise resource utilization and management in emergency and disaster settings.
  4. AEM/CEM: Analyze four phases of the disaster activity (i.e. mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) for all risks (i.e. attack, man-made, and natural), and the role of actors and stakeholders in the cycle.
  5. Management: Synthesize key agency roles and collaboration throughout critical incident responses.
  6. Communication: Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, individually and in group settings, using verbal, written, and electronic modes of communication.

The program weaves together three major themes: action, leadership, and health security. Health Security is part of a significant national and international conversation, integrating disciplines of medicine, emergency management, and public health, among others, in thinking about such topics as humanitarian assistance, disaster response and recovery, and bioterrorism. The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) was endorsed by the G7 in 2014, and includes partnerships with major health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Basic tenants of emergency medicine and public health serve as cornerstones in the curriculum to prepare students to address health security considerations and threats.

With the combination of military experience and academic coursework, we anticipate graduates will be well-prepared for employment opportunities within emergency management and planning arenas, including local, state, and federal governments, related agencies, and corporate venues. The curriculum also aligns with competencies required to sit for the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) exams offered by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), associated with learning outcome #4. Depending on length of prior military experience in the SOF community, and the proposed academic coursework, prepared students should be eligible to sit for the AEM or CEM certifying examination through IAEM. Graduates may seek additional opportunities at the graduate level in public health, and public administration. Furthermore, the capstone course will feature at least 35 hours of project management content, so that eligible graduates can sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certifying examination.