Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration (code OCSTMS01)

This new program was recommended by the Academic Senate on October 3, 2002,
approved by the President on October 30, 2002 and
approved by the Chancellor's Office on September 18, 2003.

The Master of Science (MS) in Emergency Services Administration is designed to provide :students with the conceptual foundation and managerial communication and analytical skills required for designing, testing and implementing an effective response to workplace and community emergencies. Such emergencies may involve the potential loss of human life and property due to fire, explosion, the release of hazardous chemicals, structural failures, natural calamities, and terrorist acts. The program has two major purposes: 1) to provide an understanding of the administration and management of emergency services with an emphasis on the roles and job expectations of emergency managers, and 2) to prepare students for leadership roles in emergency and disaster administration by stressing independent research, communication and writing skills, exposure to experts, and practical experiences of respected emergency services and disaster organizations. The intended audiences are practitioners from the public and private sectors who are engaged in the delivery or coordination of emergency services. The program is offered in the traditional classroom setting, and is enhanced with a careful blend of technology-assisted instruction.

Admission Criteria

1. Obtain admission to graduate standing by completing and forwarding the official CSULB graduate admission forms and fees to the University and the Graduate Advisor, Occupational Studies Department, CSULB. Each applicant for graduate standing shall have completed an appropriate baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.

2. Request that official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be forwarded to the graduate advisor, Occupational Studies Department, CSULB.

3. Have at least a 2.50 grade-point average in the last 60 semester units attempted.

Be accepted by the Occupational Studies program and the graduate advisor for admission to the graduate program,

Program Description

The Master of Science Degree in Emergency Services Administration is designed for individuals who work or'wish to work as administrators in one of the areas of emergency administration. These areas include police and fire administration, public utilities, dispatch, and emergency (disaster) operations. The degree will equip students with a broad knowledge of the activities and the relationships of the emergency services to each other, to the community, and to other public and private entities that are affected by emergency services. Students may specialize in program development and evaluation, training, personnel, budgeting, or inter-agency relations.

Requirements

1. OCST 502, 505, 650, 696, PPA 535; PPA 542 or PPA 577.

2. Completion of 30 units of approved upper division and graduate courses and a thesis (OCST 698) and an oral presentation of the thesis approved by the Department Graduate Committee; or 36 units of approved upper division and graduate courses and a written comprehensive examination.

The graduate program consists of three parts. The first part is an 18-unit set of required core course work as indicated in (1) above. The second part is the elective component or area of specialization consisting of 18 units if the Comprehensive Examination option is chosen or 8 units for the Thesis option.

Electives from the 400, 500, or 600 series are selected in consultation with a faculty advisor. The third part is to complete a thesis (OCST 698) or take a comprehensive examination.

Code: OCSTMS01
College: 15
Career: GR
IPEDS (Major) ERSS: 21992
IPEDS (Degree) ERSD: 21992