Master of Public Health (MPH)
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management
Prepare to Lead When It Matters Most.
Build the public health, leadership and emergency preparedness skills to protect communities before, during and after a crisis. WSSU’s fully online Master of Public Health prepares you to assess risk, strengthen preparedness, coordinate response and help communities recover.
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$450
Per Credit Hour (In-State*) $540 Per Credit Hour (Out-of-State)
100%
Online, Asynchronous
$0
No Application Fee
No
Additional Fees
NO GRE/GMAT
No test scores required
Overview
Build the Skills to Protect Communities
WSSU’s online Master of Public Health with a focus on emergency preparedness and disaster management prepares you with a broad understanding of public health while developing specialized expertise in emergency management, epidemiology, environmental health, policy, communication and community resilience. The result is a practical foundation for leading across the organizations and communities that respond when people need them most.
Our MPH Students
Are ready to LEAD WHEN IT MATTERS
You may already work in public health, health care, government, emergency response or community service. Or you may be ready to bring experience in psychology, sociology, social work, communications, business, the humanities or another field into work that serves a broader community. WSSU’s online MPH helps you build on the experience you already have with advanced public health knowledge and specialized training in emergency preparedness and disaster management.
The curriculum goes beyond public health fundamentals to develop skills for real-world response. You’ll learn to assess threats and vulnerabilities, plan for disasters, communicate during crises, coordinate across organizations and make evidence-based decisions that help communities prepare, respond and recover.
Built for working professionals and recent graduates, the 100% online program gives you the flexibility to keep moving forward while you build your expertise. Complete 42 credits in about two years as a full-time student and prepare for opportunities in public health, emergency management, health care, government and community resilience.
Skills You’ll Gain
- Threat, vulnerability and risk assessment
- Public health research and applied biostatistics
- Crisis and risk communication
- Leadership and cross-sector coordination
- Health policy, management and advocacy
- Emergency logistics and resource mobilization
- Community resilience and sustainability
- Evidence-based public health decision-making
- Population health and health systems analysis
- Planning for diverse and at-risk populations
Broad Perspective on Issues
Understand how disasters, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and other crises affect communities and population health — and how stronger planning can help reduce their impact.
Built for Real-World Response
Prepare for an all-hazards environment that can include natural disasters, disease outbreaks, environmental contamination, bioterrorism, resource shortages and more.
Skills to Lead Through Crisis
Develop the communication, analytical, organizational and leadership skills communities need to coordinate people, resources and organizations through complex situations.
Supportive Attention
You’ll benefit from small classes, real-world faculty, and a mentor culture that extends beyond graduation — it’s the full WSSU experience, offered in a fully online format.
CAREER OUTLOOK
Prepare for Careers that Save lives
With an MPH in Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management, you’ll be prepared to bring advanced public health knowledge to organizations responsible for anticipating risk, protecting populations, coordinating response, communicating during crises and helping communities recover. Explore potential career options and field data below.
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator or Manager
Public Health Program or Project Manager
Medical and Health Services Manager
Disaster Preparedness and Response Specialist
Public Health Research or Surveillance Specialist
Crisis or Risk Communication Specialist
Emergency Management Roles
$93,840 Per Year
The annual median wage in North Carolina for emergency management directors¹
19% Job Growth
National projected growth for employment of occupational health and safety specialists, 2025–20352
1. North Carolina Department of Commerce, 2026
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2026
“My job is to be in your corner while you do this — to help you push through the hard weeks and remind you how far you’ve come. When someone lands a new role or earns their degree, I feel that too.”
Adorah M., Flight Path Success Coach
Curriculum & Courses
Prepare for the Challenges Ahead
The Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management from Winston-Salem State University is a 42-credit graduate degree offered through the School of Health Sciences. You can review the current list of coursework in our catalog.
When you earn your emergency management degree online, you’ll build practical knowledge across public health, emergency preparedness and disaster management. Develop skills in areas like emergency response, risk assessment, crisis communication, epidemiology and community resilience while preparing to lead across public health and emergency management settings.
The curriculum brings those topics together through applied learning experiences that give you the opportunity to connect what you learn to real public health challenges. Apply your learning through a supervised, practice-based experience designed to help you demonstrate key public health competencies. Upon graduation, you’ll have produced a high-quality written project that demonstrates your ability to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively with different audiences.
Students complete the program in eight academic terms, with the potential to finish in about two years when enrolled full time. Up to 8 graduate-level Students complete the program in eight academic terms, with the potential to finish in about two years when enrolled full time.
Coursework includes:
- Public Health Foundations
- U.S. Healthcare Systems
- Health Communications and Leadership
- Applied Biostatistics
- Policy Management and Advocacy
- Foundations of Emergency Management
- Disaster Policy and Politics
- Public Health Preparedness and Response
- Community Resiliency and Sustainability
- Vulnerability Analysis and Hazard Mitigation
- Threat and Crisis Risk Management
- Logistic Management for Disaster
- Organization Management and Crisis Communication
Applied Practice Experience
Apply what you’ve learned through a supervised, practice-based experience designed to help you demonstrate key public health competencies.
Applied experiences may include practicum or internship activities, service learning, course-based work, or other approved approaches based on your professional and educational goals.
Integrative Learning Experience
Bring together the knowledge and skills you’ve developed throughout the MPH by addressing a real-world public health challenge related to emergency preparedness and disaster management.
You’ll produce a high-quality written project that demonstrates your ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively with different audiences.
Accreditation
Winston-Salem State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Winston-Salem State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of Winston-Salem State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Admissions & Transfer
Graduate Admissions &
Transfer Credit Criteria
WSSU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or ability. The information below is a high-level overview of current WSSU Online policies. Official requirements and final determinations are governed by WSSU. For full details and program exceptions, visit the main WSSU graduate admissions page.
3.0 Minimum GPA
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required.
Bachelor’s Degree
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Official Transcripts
Submit official transcripts documenting your conferred bachelor’s degree and other required academic history.
3 Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required. Typically, these are written by professors, research mentors, or work supervisors.
Graduate Application
Complete WSSU’s graduate application and submit all required materials and the applicable application fee.
No GRE Required
No GRE or other standardized graduate admissions test is required.
TRANSFER CREDIT NOTES
- Up to eight (8) graduate credit hours may be eligible for transfer. Accepted courses are recorded on a student’s transcript; grades and grade points are not calculated.
- WSSU does not accept transfer credit from challenge examinations or for coursework graded pass/fail.
- Degree requirements must be completed within six years.
Tuition for North Carolina Residents
To qualify for in-state tuition rates, North Carolina residents must first confirm their in-state status by completing an application through the Residency Determination Service (RDS). To learn more about how to apply for NC residency, please refer to the North Carolina Residency page.
We’re ready to start when you are
You don’t have to wait for fall to start. Five term starts per year mean you can begin when you’re ready — not when a traditional calendar says so.
Fall Term 1
August
Fall Term 2
October
Spring Term 1
January
Spring Term 2
March
Summer Term
May
School of Health Sciences
A Graduate Education Grounded in Health, Leadership, and Service
WSSU’s Master of Public Health is housed within the Department of Public Health in the School of Health Sciences. The program builds on WSSU’s established strengths in preparing health professionals to improve the lives of the people and communities they serve, while creating opportunities to connect public health with healthcare, nursing, research, leadership, and community engagement.
It’s graduate education with a purpose — and a clear connection to WSSU’s enduring commitment: Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve.
Program FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The MPH requires 42 credit hours. A student following the full-time degree plan can complete the program across eight academic terms, or approximately two years, including summer coursework.
Questions? Let’s Talk.
Get answers from someone who knows the process. The short form takes less than three minutes to fill out, and after, an admissions representative will reach out personally.
Destinee N.
WSSU Admissions Representative
A lot of my students are suprised by how manageable the process feels once they understand the steps.
Jordan F.
WSSU Admissions Representative
A quick phone call or email can do more for your progress than you think.
Elizabeth G.
WSSU Admissions Representative
Every students situation is different. That’s why I start with conversations, not assumptions.