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Business Administration: Emergency Management, B.A.

School of Business

Explore Business Administration: Emergency Management, B.A.

When safety is your business,
The possibilities are endless.

Build on your workplace experience and passion with this Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in Emergency Management.

Designed specifically for current and future first responders (fire, community agencies, etc.) and facility safety managers, courses are designed to provide expansive knowledge and a practical guide to leadership and management.

You will walk away with knowledge in emergency management, disaster, risk, and emergency planning with an option to learn about organizational behavior, marketing, and accounting for managers. You will also obtain various FEMA certifications as part of this emphasis, preparing you for career growth and development.

Some of the FEMA Certifications include such topics as:

  • Leadership and Influence 
  • Continuity of operations 
  • COVID-19 prevention plans
  • Planning for future disasters
  • Earthquake basics; science, risk, and mitigation
  • Public information officer awareness

Program Highlights

  • Choose between face-to-face or fully online program options
  • Cohort groups meet together one night per week
  • Progress through the entire program with a cohort of 12-22 adult students
  • Learn from experienced university faculty and assignments that apply to the field of emergency management
  • Collaborate with students who come from a variety of life stages and cultural backgrounds
  • Dive into innovative course material with practical application for the field, e.g. "Disaster Response and Recovery"

Catalog

Program Director: Sharon L. Starcher, DBA

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in Emergency Management is designed to provide expansive knowledge and a practical guide to leadership and management, within the field of emergency management. Classes such as management, organizational behavior, marketing, and accounting provide the foundation for advanced classes in emergency management. The key to this 18-month program is a consistent focus on participation, application of theories and concepts, and performance. With our bachelor’s degree emphasis in Emergency Management, graduates will complete four courses designed specifically for first responders (fire, community agencies, etc.) and facility safety managers who want to gain knowledge in emergency management, disaster, risk, and emergency planning. Students will also obtain various FEMA certifications as part of this emphasis, preparing them for career growth and development. Threaded throughout the major is an ethical employee and leadership perspective. The major is designed to provide a solid background for graduates to use in seeking responsible employment or promotion. 

Admissions Requirements

  • Application form and fee
  • A minimum 2.4 GPA, below 2.4 can submit a petition
  • Two years’ postsecondary work experience.
    • Need a minimum of 6 transferable units, below 6 units can submit a petition
    • Note: need 60 units before starting the major

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Business Content Knowledge: the student demonstrates mastery of foundational knowledge in general management, organization development, human resource management, managerial accounting, the legal and ethical influences in business, and marketing. USLO Content Knowledge
  2. Critical Thinking: the student evaluates business conditions, identifies problems, and creates solutions within the business context utilizing critical thinking skills. USLO Critical Thinking
  3. Faith Integration: the student recognizes Christian ethics and values, and the student integrates his/her faith-based ethics and values as the student formulates decisions that affect the business community and its environment based on the course focus. USLO Moral Reasoning, Service
  4. Communication: the student conveys researched ideas clearly through professional written and oral communication that utilizes the current language of the business community. USLO Oral Communication, Written Communication
  5. Cultural Awareness: the student applies management practices that demonstrate the student’s understanding and respect for organizational culture, for diverse cultures at large, and for the impact to society and the environment. USLO Perspective
  6. Reflection and Personal Growth: the student integrates advanced self-awareness and interpersonal effectiveness into supportive service as a professional, a team member, and a leader. USLO Reflection 

Emergency Management Emphasis

EM1. Research and Analysis: the student demonstrates the ability to analyze emergency and disaster-related data and derive accurate meaning in the emergency management context. USLO Information Literacy

EM2. Financial Analysis: the student evaluates emergency situations using relevant financial, statistical, and economic analyses and proposes solutions to related problems. USLO Quantitative Reasoning

Credit-Bearing Grades

Students must earn a C- or higher to receive credit for their business administration-emergency management courses. Exceptions: Students may receive credit for BIB-314 and BIB-451, as well as any other general education or elective course, with a D -. 

Program Length

Eighteen-month cohort program

Locations Offered

North Fresno, Visalia, and Merced Campuses, Online

2 Year

BA Business Administration - Emergency Management (DC)  

General Education Requirements

Required for Degree Completion Business Administration majors:

  • BIB 314 - Jesus and the Christian Community Credits 3

  • *BIB 314 should be taken prior to the Biblical Perspectives course, either concurrently with cohort courses or prior to cohort start.

  • BIB 451 - Biblical Perspectives for Leadership Credits 3

Required Courses (33 Units)

  • BUS 434 - Individual in the Organization Credits 3
  • MGT 315 - Principles of Management Credits 3
  • BUS 431 - Organization Behavior Credits 3
  • BUS 438 - Human Resources Credits 3
  • MKT 320 - World of Marketing Credits 3
  • BUS 442 - Ethics and Values in Organizations Credits 3
  • ACCT 301 - Accounting for Management Credits 3
  • EMGT 305 - Introduction to Emergency Management Credits 3
  • EMGT 320 - Introduction to Disasters, Hazards and Risk Assessment Credits 3
  • EMGT 410 - Disaster Response and Recovery Credits 3
  • EMGT 450 - Emergency Planning Credits 3

Electives

Elective units as needed to meet the Bachelor of Arts minimum. This requirement may be met through allowable college coursework, Advanced Placement exams, College Level Examination Program, International Baccalaureate exams, and Military or ACE credit.

Possibilities Await
With an FPU Education

You already have a lot going on in your life, which is why our degree completion programs are designed to meet you where you are. You'll be surrounded by other students who will support and encourage you, by faculty mentors who are invested in your success, by opportunities to connect what you learn in the classroom to the real world, and by connections to the employers who will help you move forward in your career.

First Steps to Admission

  • Submit an application for admission (online or visit campus for a paper application)
    * Admission applications are free, no discount codes required.
  • Request official transcripts from previously attended colleges, universities and high schools and send electronically to trans.evaluator@fresno.edu
    • GED Transcripts OR any AA, AS, AS-T, AA-T from an accredited College or University as proof of High School graduation
    • This includes any military transcripts you may have, along with your military release forms (DD214).​​
  • Complete the FAFSA as early as October 1. (FAFSA Code: 001253)
    Enroll in the minimum number of units per semester to qualify for loans.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Student Financial Services Advisor 559-453-2041 sfs@fresno.edu

Requirements

  • University Admission Prerequisites

    • Minimum 6 transferable baccalaureate-level units
    • Minimum 2.4 GPA
    • 2 years post-secondary experience

  • Program Admission Prerequisites

    • 60 transferable baccalaureate-level units
    • Minimum 2.4 GPA
    • 2 years post-secondary experience 

Transfer Agreements

The following guidelines are used when considering transfer credit:

  • Courses completed at a regionally or ABHE, ATS, TRACS, or AARTS accredited institution
  • Baccalaureate-level courses
  • Grade of C- or better
  • Courses are not duplicate to credit already received
  • All GE and major courses must be taken for a letter grade, not pass/fail
  • No lab is required for Area 5 Physical & Biological Sciences
  • Some majors have lower division prerequisites. Select an institution below to see the school's general education and lower division major requirements

View full transfer policy Find agreements for your school State Fire Training Agreement

*Transfer Agreements are only a tool. Transfer work is not considered official until it has been evaluated by the FPU Registrar’s Office.

Non-traditional Admission

Steps for Re-admission

To reenter into the Degree Completion program within 5 years of last enrollment, the student will need to complete the Degree Completion Re-admission Form. An academic advisor will determine if the student may reenter and if any conditions apply for readmission. The student will be charged at the current tuition rate for any course repeated.

*Note: If student is readmitting after 5 years of last enrollment, the student will need to refer to “First Steps to Admission".

Steps for Non-matriculated Admission

The non-matriculated application is for people who are interested in taking baccalaureate classes through the Degree Completion program, but are not seeking to be admitted into that program. Students must complete this Non-matriculated Application Form only once in order to be qualified to take courses. Applicants must also meet the two-year post-secondary experience requirement to take these courses. Financial Aid is not available, and the course limit is six units per semester with a limit of two semesters total.

For more information, or for help filling out this application, please contact Graduate and Degree Completion Admissions at (559) 453-3690.

Two-year Graduation Guarantee

FPU Degree Completion program guarantees you can complete your degree in just two years. If you meet the qualification requirements, fulfill your responsibilities under the program, and are unable to complete your major in a 2-yr. period, FPU will assume all additional tuition costs needed to complete your undergraduate degree.

Incoming requirements
  • Have at least 60 transferable units 
  • Have at least a 2.4 transfer GPA
Student responsibilities
To qualify for the guarantee students must:
  • Have most of your general education courses complete
  • Enroll in an average of 15 units per semester; not including repeated courses.
  • Remain in good academic standing by maintaining an institutional grade point average of 2.0 or higher
  • Enroll in the required number of consecutive semesters: 3-4 semesters depending on number of units transferred in
  • Make up units for any failed courses during the guarantee period, which may require you to take more than 15 units per semester.
  • Fulfill all graduation requirements, including core curriculum, major/minor requirements, and upper division course work requirements.
    • Two Year Guarantee: complete enough upper division courses to have at least 40 upper division units by the end of the 4-semester timeframe.
    • Take all required courses during the semester recommended by your Academic Advisor.
  • Register for all upcoming courses during the registration period.
* If you are transferring to FPU from the California Community College system with an AA-T or AS-T, your FPU lower-division general education [GE] requirements may be fulfilled. 

Two-Year Transfer Guarantee for ADT Pathways

FPU guarantees a student with an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) from the California Community College system, can complete their degree in just two years. If a student meets the qualification requirements, fulfills the responsibilities under the program, and are unable to complete their major in a 2-year period, FPU will assume all additional tuition costs needed to complete their undergraduate degree at FPU.

Incoming requirements
  • 60 transferable units [grades of C- or better] from the California Community College system with a completed ADT (Associate Degree for Transfer)
  • Selected an ADT matched (similar) pathway from FPU’s undergraduate degree programs
  • Have completed the necessary pre-requisites in the discipline specific to intended major
  • Have at least a 2.4 transfer GPA
Student responsibilities
To qualify for the guarantee students must:
  • Enroll in an average of 15- 18 units per semester; not including repeated courses.
  • Remain in good academic standing by maintaining an institutional grade point average of 2.0 or higher
  • Enroll in the required number of consecutive semesters: 3-4 semesters depending on number of units transferred in
  • Make up units for any failed or withdrawn courses during the guarantee period, which may require you to take more than 15-18 units per semester
    • For TUG you may have to enroll in a summer semester.
  • Fulfill all graduation requirements, including core curriculum, major requirements, and upper division course work requirements.
    • Two Year Guarantee: complete enough upper division courses to have at least 40 upper division units by the end of the 4-semester time frame.
  • Take all required courses during the semester recommended by your Academic Advisor.
  • Register for all upcoming courses during the registration period.
  • Any courses from a Community College with “D+” or lower are non-transferable and require additional courses and semesters to graduate.
  • This guarantee may not apply to students starting in a spring or summer semester start (TUG only).
  • This guarantee is limited to basic graduation requirements: 120 minimum units including general education, upper-level and elective courses sufficient for a single major.

State Authorization

State authorization is a federal requirement in the HigherEducation Act that requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which online programs are offered. Fresno Pacific University works regularly with individual state authorization agencies to meet each state's requirements. Currently, Fresno Pacific University has received authorization to offer online degree programs in all but six states: Georgia, Michigan, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

For the latest updates on the status of FPU's authorization in your state, contact your FPU Admissions representative.

Cost & Financial Aid

The below listed prices reflect the current and upcoming Fall and Spring semesters and do not include any financial aid. Paying for college can be an overwhelming step in education your journey. We can help you find all the possible opportunities to reduce your out of pocket costs.

Tuition & Financial Aid

2022-23
Tuition per Unit Amount
SW, ECD, LA, BM, OL, EMGT, PMGT $530
HCA, RN to BSN, CIS, CRIM, CML $505
General Ed and Electives $530
Other Costs Amount
Student services fee (per semester) $100
2021-22
Tuition per Unit Amount
SW, ECD, LA, BM, OL $520
HCA, RN to BSN, CIS, CRIM, CML $495
General Ed and Electives $520
Other Costs Amount
Student services fee (per semester) $100

* This is an estimate. Costs subject to change. Cost of attendance figures are used for budgeting purposes only and represent an estimate of projected tuition and fees for the coming academic year. Actual tuition rates are approved by the Board of Trustees and may vary. 

Types of aid

Financial aid can refer to scholarships, grants and loans, which are available to you from the government, the university or outside sources. Aid types vary depending on the type of student you are.

Photo of Alexandra Green

Alexandra Green

Mathematics

The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.

Career Opportunities

Threaded throughout the major is an ethical employee and leadership perspective with a solid business background that equips graduates for positions with city, county or state agencies, or private sector organizations in Emergency Management. Those currently employed or desiring to transition to advanced positions in fire, policing, TSA, city management, facility safety managers or other similar careers will benefit from this program.

Career Development Happens Here

The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether your a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.

  • Resume writing classes
  • Career assessments, exploration & planning
  • Job search and networking opportunities
  • and much more

Visit the Career Development Center