Main Content

Online Graduate Certificate Disaster Management Biological Sciences

About the Certificate

Build the expertise to lead before, during, and after disasters with Missouri S&T's Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management. Explore evidence-based strategies for emergency response, risk assessment, security, and resilience in the face of evolving threats such as wildfires, climate-related hazards, and complex emergencies. Designed for working professionals, this flexible program prepares you to coordinate effective disaster planning and response efforts that protect communities and strengthen recovery.

This certificate provides advanced and practice-focused training for professionals who are seeking to strengthen their capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. Grounded in evidence-based approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives, the program equips students with essential skills in risk assessment, disaster planning, security, and community resilience. Designed for working professionals in public safety, government, non-profit, and humanitarian sectors, the certificate offers a flexible curriculum that prepares graduates to emerge prepared to navigate multidimensional disaster environments, coordinate multi-agency responses, and strengthen community resilience.

The Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management is open to all persons holding a B.S degree or are currently accepted into a graduate degree program at Missouri S&T. Once admitted to the program, the student must take the four designated courses (provided in the curriculum section). To receive a Graduate Certificate, the student must have an average cumulative grade point of 3.0 or better in the certificate courses.  Once admitted to the program, a student will be given six years to complete the program. Students admitted to the Disaster Management Graduate Certificate Program will have non-degree graduate status; however, they will earn graduate credit for the course they complete. Students who do not have all the prerequisite courses necessary to begin the courses in the Disaster Management Graduate Certificate Program will be allowed to take ''bridge" courses at either the graduate or undergraduate level to prepare for the formal certificate courses.

For online students applying to a graduate certificate program. (No GRE/GMAT required.)

Certificate Applicant 

The following are the courses offered in the program. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed. 

Total Courses: 4 (12 credit hours)

Required courses:  
ENV SCI 6667
Disaster Management in Changing Climates  
ENG MGT 5312
Advanced Risk Assessment and Reduction  
     
Choose two courses from the following:  
ENG MGT 5316
Safety Engineering Management  
POL SCI 4500
Geopolitics and International Security  
PSYCH 5710 Advanced Human Factors  
GEO ENG 4321
Drone Mapping and Photogrammery  
GEO ENG 5144
Remote Sensing Technology  
GEO ENG 6146
Advanced Remote Sensing and Image Processing  

Course availability may vary by semester (see course listings). Students should consult their academic advisor for appropriate alternatives or substitutions if needed.

Please refer to the Biological Sciences section of the graduate catalog for more information.

This program is 100% online: no campus visits required.

Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes per semester and finish the program in one year.

  • Delivery: 100% online
  • Calendar system: Semester-based 
  • Typical program length: 1-2 years
  • Typical course load: 1-2 courses a semester (fall and spring)

Courses are offered asynchronously, meaning they do not have regular meetings. They may consist of various media and content — such as online discussions, videos, quizzes and recordings — that students review and complete at the time of their choice.

Learn more about our graduate programs at Missouri S&T by attending one of our virtual information sessions.

Attend Info Session

Pathway to a Master's Degree

Are you a working professional who wants to earn your master's degree, but you don’t have time to take the GRE/GMAT? Then start in a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificates were designed as a pathway to a master's degree.* The admission requirements are more relaxed and credit earned will count toward your degree. Once you successfully earn your graduate certificate, you can continue with the corresponding master's degree without having to take the GRE/GMAT.

*Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply.

Questions?

Missouri S&T Online Education

We are here to answer any of your questions about Missouri S&T’s online education programs.

Email Us  Request Info

Sylvia Skouby
Associate Director for Online Admissions

573-341-6903  |  stgrad@mst.edu

Biological Sciences

Robin Verble, PhD
Professor and Director of the Environmental Science Program

573-341-7274  |  verbler@mst.edu
Department Website: biosci.mst.edu

Tealetha Buckley
Business and Graduate Programs Support

573-341-4831  |   tbuckley@mst.edu