EMHS Program Offers Gateway to Graduate Degree

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Rebecca A. Eckland

Are you the kind of person who wants to make the world a safer place? In a post-9/11 environment, having specialized skills and knowledge in Emergency Management and Homeland Security can enable you to do just that. “The program has been a huge help,” said recent TMCC BAS graduate Rebecca Knapp. “I have taken the lead on certain Emergency Management (EM) related tasks within my division as a Dispatch Supervisor, as well as built relationships with other EM staff throughout the state... The program has been an amazing foundation for what I hope will be a successful future in EM.”

TMCC’s Bachelor of Applied Science program, which just completed its second year of student and graduate success, has more good news to report. While a bachelor’s degree provides students with a well-rounded foundation to pursue entry-level positions with competence, a graduate degree enables students to hone and specialize their focus within this growing and important career field.

Now students like Knapp can continue their professional development at the graduate level. Thanks to an articulation agreement with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), graduates of TMCC’s BAS program can continue their education without changing their home address.

The Master of Security and Disaster Management Program

UAF’s Master of Security and Disaster Management (MSDM) program offers several benefits for potential TMCC graduates, including in-state tuition rates, no application fee, and transfer of two 400-level courses which can be taken at TMCC and transferred to the MSDM reducing the number of credits to be taken at UAF from 30 to 24.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students graduating with a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in EMHS to further their education by obtaining a graduate degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), “ said EMHS Program Coordinator and Instructor Jeff Whitesides. “This agreement we’ve entered allows our students to enroll and take classes in the UAF graduate program with in-state tuition cost.”

The program, which builds upon the experience and education of those within this highly interdisciplinary subject, provides a high-quality graduate-level education, which focuses on the operational to strategic requirements of the homeland security and emergency management enterprise. The program also helps students to build multiple avenues to careers in this field.

“Education is a value-added proposition,” said EMHS Program Director Darryl Cleveland. “Opportunities like the MSDM program enable students to develop a ‘back-up’ plan if they become injured while in the line of duty. Or, it can give students options for their post-retirement years as well.”

The Master’s program requires students to synthesize information and research from multiple disciplines, to apply critical thinking skills and analysis to real-world problems, and to apply theories and concepts in homeland security and emergency management in analyzing case studies and current challenges. These skills in combination with excellent oral and communication skills are required for leaders and managers in homeland security and emergency management.

Additional benefits of the MSDM Program include:

  • 100% online
  • In-state tuition for TMCC graduates
  • Instructors who are recognized scholars with real-world, hands-on experience
  • Member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Higher Education Program
  • Member of Department of Homeland Security University & Agency Partnership Initiative (UAPI)
  • The application is... free!

MSDM Application Tips and Tricks

If you’re thinking of pursuing a BAS in EMHS, check out this incredible opportunity to pursue a graduate degree that is both logistically stress-free and cost-effective. To make it even easier for you, we gathered some useful tips and tricks to ease the application process:

  • Apply to the UAF graduate school and the MSDM program, and be sure to use the fee waiver so it is no cost to you to apply!
  • You will need to obtain copies of your official transcripts before you apply. You can apply with your unofficial transcripts only if you are still working on your degree program (i.e.: you’re currently enrolled and have not completed the EMHS BAS program or are in your final semester.)
  • There is no cap on the number of graduates that UAF will accept, so students who are accepted are guaranteed placement in the program and in the required courses.
  • Check out the FAQs for additional program information.

For more information about the new Articulation Agreement with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, contact the EMHS program at 775-336-4270.