**[Western Illinois University-Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency
Management]{.underline}**

The B.S. in Emergency Management was approved August 15, 2006 and
courses were first offered January 2007. Revisions to the program were
approved in April 2008. The program is designed to educate students
about disaster response and emergency management coordination
activities, preparation of emergency plans and procedures for disasters
and bioterrorism situations, and effective emergency management
networking skills. The program prepares students as emergency management
professionals in local, state, and federal government settings, with
emphasis on emergency response agencies (e.g., law enforcement, fire,
public health, offices of emergency management services, and voluntary
agencies such as the American Red Cross) as well as private sector
organizations. Admission to Western Illinois University may be made
online through the main website: <http://admissions.wiu.edu/>.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 hours comprised of 43 hours of
General Education courses, 33 hours of core courses, 12 hours of
directed electives, as well as General Chemistry I, Introduction to
Computers I, Personal Health Promotion , Introduction to Weather and
Climate, an approved minor, and 6 hours of open electives. Core courses
include:

EM 276 Hazards and Disasters in Emergency Management

EM 304 Principles of Emergency Management

EM 305 Dimensions of Disaster

EM 323 Emergency Preparedness and Response

EM 324 Legal Aspects of Emergency Management

EM 401 Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Recovery

EM 420 Research Applications in Emergency Management

EM 460 Weapons of Mass Destruction in Health Science

EM 491 Emergency Management Internship

Directed electives can be chosen from a list of courses in
community/public health, emergency management, emergency medical
technician training, environmental health, geography, microbiology, or
occupational safety. Suggested minors include Chemistry, Communications,
Community Health, Fire Science, Forensic Science, Geographic Information
Systems, Law Enforcement, Management, Microbiology, and Public
Administration.

The professional internship provides students with 360-480 contact hours
of work experience in an emergency management work setting. The
professional internship is a vital element of the program and provides
students with appropriate experience and training to support employment
and career development.

Western Illinois University is accredited by The Higher Learning
Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools.

For more information:

> Contact: Nancy Parsons, Ph.D., MPH, CHES
>
> Department of Health Sciences
>
> Western Illinois University
>
> 1 University Circle
>
> Macomb, IL 61455
>
> Phone: (309) 298-1746
>
> Fax: (309) 298-2076
>
> Email: <NP-Parsons@wiu.edu>
>
> Additional Information: Website: <http://www.wiu.edu/health>
>
> Additional Phone: (309) 298-1076
>
> Updated: 1/14/09

**"Please note: Some of the Web sites linked to in this document are not
federal government Web sites, and may not necessarily operate under the
same laws, regulations, and policies as federal Web sites."**