2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Jul 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

Emergency Management (BAS/EM) Course Map


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Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. 

While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements

Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!


Employment Eligibility Information

A criminal history may inhibit your ability to find employment in Emergency Management. In addition, any recent history of drug use, including marijuana, may preclude you from federal employment. If you have any concerns please speak with an advisor.


Admission Requirements

  • Completion of at least an associate degree (or 90 college level credits) with a cumulative GPA for all college-level credits of 2.0 or greater 

  • Completion of CIS 130, ENGL&101, and HSEM 102 with a grade of 2.0 or higher 

  • Completion of 45 college-level general education credits, inclusive of the 5 general education requirement blocks listed below (Communication, Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, including lab) 

  • Completion of the BAS HSEM application and submission of supporting documentation 

  • NOTE: Students lacking any of these requirements are encouraged to speak with the HSEM Program Chair or an HSEM Advisor to determine the best way to meet those requirements, either prior to or after admission to the program.

Graduation Requirements

  • 2.0 minimum grade in all EM and BUS core requirement courses 

  • 1.5 minimum grade in all other courses 

  • 2.0 minimum GPA for program 

  • Minimum of 60 approved college-level general education credits earned at both the associate and BAS levels 

    • Communication skills (10 credits) 
    • Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Skills (5 credits) 
    • Humanities (10 credits) 
    • Social Sciences (10 credits) 
    • Natural Sciences (10 credits) - At least 5 credits in physical, biological and/or earth sciences.  Shall include at least one laboratory course. 
    • Additional general education courses (15 credits) - Remaining general education courses needed to achieve the required 60 credits should be selected from distribution areas listed above 
  • Minimum of 180 college-level course credits

Action Item: Meet with your Advisor

Meet with your advisor to create your degree completion plan. With your advisor, you will make selections that complete any missing general education requirements, and you will choose electives most suited to your career interests.  

Program Code: 96B


Total Credits Required for the BAS-EM: 180


Number of Credits in Map: 90 credits


1. Emergency Management Program Administration


2. History of Emergency Management


3. Risk Assessment and Preparedness


  • Course purpose: In this course you will develop foundational skills to identify, analyze, and evaluate risk in an organization within the context of all-hazards emergency management and develop preparedness measures that account for the risk.  

4. Risk Communication


  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn how to communicate risk to various groups of people in ways that prompt them to take appropriate action. 

5. Continuity Planning


  • Course purpose: In this class you will learn about the Business Continuity Planning Process, Continuity of Operations planning, and Continuity of Government planning, all designed to keep organizations functioning after a disaster. 

6. Risk Reduction


7. Technical Writing


  • Course purpose: In this course, you will learn the process of technical writing and how to create written communications that are required in emergency management work environments. 

8. Leadership


9. Systems Thinking


Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Meet with your advisor to check-in on your degree plan and make sure you’re on-track to graduate. Your Advisor will help you make any necessary changes to your plan. 

10. Project Management 1


  • Course purpose: Project management skills are critical for emergency management professionals. This class will help you learn the planning aspect of project management and is part of the Project Management Short Certificate. 

11. Geographic Information Systems


12. Professional Development


13. Legal Issues


Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. 

Remember to apply for the HSEM BAS degree and the Project Management Short Certificate. 

14. Project Management 2


  • Course purpose: Project management skills are critical for emergency management professionals. This class will help you learn the management aspect of project management and fulfills the final requirement for the Project Management Short Certificate. 

15. Technology and Cybersecurity


16. Research Methods


  • Course purpose: In this class you will learn to read and evaluate research, as well as apply it to practical emergency management settings. You will complete a project in this class that is related either to your upcoming internship or capstone project.  

17. Ethics and Critical Thinking


18. Disaster Recovery and Resilience


19. Culminating Experience


For your culminating experience in the HSEM program, you will either complete an internship or a capstone project, depending on your previous work experience. Your advisor will guide you to the correct course. With permission, you may take both courses if you wish, in lieu of an elective.

Choose one course from the following list.

Number of Credits in Map: 90 credits


Total Credits Required for the BAS-EM: 180


ctcLink Plan Code: CRMHSBAS


Program Code: 96B


Program Outcomes


  1. Evaluate disaster risk in communities and organizations using current scientific, geographic, sociocultural, and technological knowledge, systems, and equipment. 
  2. Design programs that use current principles, processes, procedures, decisions, and activities to engage the whole community and increase their capabilities throughout all disaster phases and mission areas. 
  3. Analyze organizations using the systems theory of management to define outcomes, identify risk, and create performance measures in emergency management settings. 
  4. Critique historical and modern sociocultural constructs that have led to disparities in equity, diversity, and inclusion within the EM profession and delivery of EM programs to the whole community. 
  5. Apply effective multi-modal communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills to emergency management environments. 
  6. Analyze the ethical and legal issues that impact the profession and practice of emergency management. 
  7. Construct a comprehensive capstone project or internship that synthesizes program knowledge into a “real world” application. 

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