M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management

NSU's Disaster and Emergency Management program offers one of the most 
flexible curricula available, with more than 30 courses and five 
optional concentrations: public health in disasters, cybersecurity in 
emergency management, environmental hazards, maritime safety and 
security, and criminal justice. Students may also take up to six 
credits from NSU's National Security Affairs or Master of Public Health 
programs, and may have opportunities to participate in international 
medical outreach experiences with a disaster management focus.

NSU's M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management includes six required 
core courses and six electives, giving students the flexibility to 
build a degree that aligns with their career goals. This structure 
supports a wide range of professional paths within the emergency 
management field.

Students choose from five concentration tracks: public health, cybersecurity, criminal justice and law enforcement, environmental hazards, or maritime safety and security. Half of all coursework 
is dedicated to the chosen concentration.

Yes. NSU's M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management is delivered 
100% online with no required on-campus attendance. Courses include 
live Zoom sessions several times throughout the semester, providing 
direct interaction with faculty and classmates while maintaining full 
scheduling flexibility.

Tuition for NSU's M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management is $687 
per credit hour for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program is 36 
total credits. Financial aid is available to students enrolled in at 
least six credit hours per semester.

Yes. Students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester are 
generally eligible for financial aid. Enrollment can be adjusted 
semester to semester based on personal needs, though taking fewer 
courses may affect eligibility.

Yes. Most students in NSU's DEM program work full-time while enrolled. 
Live class sessions are held in the evening and last approximately one 
hour. Discussion boards, papers, and research projects can be completed 
on your own schedule, making the program accessible for working 
professionals.

Most students complete NSU's M.S. in Disaster and Emergency Management 
in approximately two years, taking two courses per semester. Students 
may adjust their pace based on personal and professional commitments, 
with up to three years — nine semesters — allowed under university 
policy.

No entrance exam such as the GRE is required for NSU's DEM program. 
However, students without an qualifying exam score will be required to 
maintain a 3.0 GPA for their first nine credits. A 3.0 GPA is required 
for graduation regardless.

NSU's DEM students come from diverse professional backgrounds including 
healthcare, emergency management, law enforcement, fire services, 
military service, meteorology, public health, and government. This 
diversity enriches class discussions and professional networking 
throughout the program.

NSU's Disaster and Emergency Management courses combine live 
interactive Zoom sessions with independent coursework. Classes are 
discussion-based, focusing on real-world applications, case studies, 
and lessons learned rather than traditional lecture-style instruction.

Students may transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours into 
NSU's DEM program if the courses were completed at the graduate level 
with a grade of B or better within five years of matriculation. 
Transfer requests require official transcripts, a course syllabus, 
and catalog description, and must be approved by the DEM Program 
Director in writing.

Some courses in NSU's DEM program require textbooks; others do not. 
Many required texts are available electronically through the NSU 
library at no additional cost. When electronic versions are 
unavailable, students may need to purchase or rent materials.

Contact Cal Futterman, M.Ed., Assistant Director of Graduate 
Admissions, at cf1095@nova.edu or call (954) 514-0265.

Questions about the program? Cal is here to help.