The Advanced Certificate in Disaster and Emergency Management covers theory, legal structure, local, state, and federal doctrine, planning, and practice of disaster and emergency management. The program is designed to provide individuals with the conceptual and technical knowledge needed for positions related to disaster and emergency management in public agencies, nonprofit organizations, private businesses, or international humanitarian agencies.
The program totals 15 credit hours that includes four core courses (12 credit hours) and one elective (3 credit hours). Transfer credit may be given for the one elective course.
If a student that completes this program wishes to continue their education to earn a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) at SUNY Buffalo State, all course credits completed in this graduate certificate program, where the student earns a grade of C or better, may be used toward to the completion of the MPA degree. For students matriculated in the Graduate Certificate and wish to enter the MPA program, please contact the Department Chair, Dr. Atta Ceesay, to discuss your plans.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or graduate level course credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale). Exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, which may include an interview.
In addition, all applicants should review the Admission to a Graduate Program section in Buffalo State's Graduate Catalog.
Required Courses (12 credit hours)
PAD 505 - Introduction to Disaster & Emergency Management
PAD 606 - Disaster Response & Recovery Management
PAD 608 - Intergovernmental Relations
PAD 609 - Disaster & Emergency Management Planning
Electives (3 credit hours)
PAD 500 - Introduction to Public Administration & Policy
PAD 502 - Administrative Law
ECO 524 - Applied Econometrics
GEG 525 - Fundamentals of GIS
PAD 646 - Strategic Planning for Public & Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 647 - The Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector
PAD 648 – Nonprofit Grants Management & Funds Development
PAD 688 - Leadership in Public & Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 701 - Administrative Ethics
PAD 712 - Program Evaluation
Students may substitute other graduate level courses for these electives by permission of the Graduate Certificate Coordinator, Dr. Jason Rivera.
