Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Graduate Certificate

This certificate is designed for students who wish to work, or currently work, in the field of emergency management and homeland security. The program applies an interdisciplinary approach to education, emphasizing high-level skills of critical thinking, learning, adaptation and policy analysis.

The Program at a Glance

School: School of Public Affairs Campus: CU Denver Classroom: Online and on campus classes Recommended completion time: 1 Year Credits required for completion: 12 Maximum transfer credits: 0 Maximum credits per year: In most cases, students wishing to take more than 18 credit hours per semester (12 in the summer session) must have the overload approved by the dean. Application deadline: Fall: August 1; Spring: December 1; Summer: May 1

The Details

Students completing the Graduate Emergency Management and Homeland Security Certificate will have the knowledge and skills necessary to assess and manage a broad range of hazards and disasters and to understand the policy environment in which emergency management occurs.

Students interested in obtaining a concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security within a Master of Public Administration or Master of Criminal Justice program must apply and enroll in one of these programs within the School of Public Affairs and must adhere to all master degree program requirements.

Review CU Denver's Academic Policies.

Program requirements

  • The Graduate Emergency Management and Homeland Security Certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework.
  • Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of B- in each course.

Required courses

Students must complete the following course, for a total of 3 credit hours:

  • CRJU/PUAD 5650 - Public Service in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3 credit hours)

In addition, students must complete another course from the list below for a total of 3 credit hours:

  • CRJU/PUAD 5655 - Principles of Emergency Management (3 credit hours)
  • CRJU/PUAD 5720 - Public Policies for Hazards and Disasters (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6645 - Disaster and Climate Change Planning (3 credit hours)

Elective courses

Additionally, students must complete two elective courses for a total of 6 credits. View the program completion plan for a list of approved electives. Other electives may be taken with approval from the concentration director. The elective courses may be drawn from the student's particular area of interest, such as policy and management, spatial analysis and quantitative assessment, or public safety. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.

  • CRJU 5510 - Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement (3 credit hours)
  • CRJU/PUAD5644 - Environmental and Hazards Law (3 credit hours)
  • ENVS 6200 - Risk Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5080 - Introduction to GIS (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5710 - Disasters, Climate Change, and Health (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5130 - Collaboration Across Sectors (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5271 - Managing Conflict and Change (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5320 - Public Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5350 - Program Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5440 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5631 - Seminar in Environmental Politics and Policy (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5632 - Seminar in Environmental Management (3 credit hours)

Admissions Requirements

View the admissions requirements for the School of Public Affairs.