Academic Catalogs

Emergency Management/Homeland Security, Associate of Arts Degree

Banner Code: 3_AA_EMGT

Control Number: 19515

Financial Aid Eligible


The Emergency Management/Homeland Security (EM/HS) program prepares students to enter the emerging profession of homeland security and disaster management. Our curriculum is designed to provide the learner with a foundation of technical and professional knowledge needed by emergency and security workers to meet local, state and national safety responsibilities, both in the public and private sectors. Our program emphasizes an All-Hazard approach to emergency planning and security management, with courses in preparedness planning, risk mitigation, emergency response, and disaster recovery. In addition, we offer homeland security course content in terrorism studies, information security, and critical infrastructure resiliency, consistent with the National Response Framework. Coastline’s EM/HS program advances students by broadening core competencies in intelligence analysis, disaster planning, leadership development, and communications theory. Students who successfully complete the program will gain entry-level employment in the fields of law enforcement, fire service, urban planning, security management, information security, business continuity, and other service-related occupations.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Recognize the types of hazards that can negatively impact a community and assess the variables that impact this type of hazard exposure.
  2. Distinguish some of the fundamental roles and responsibilities of the professional emergency manager established by the Emergency Management Institute.
  3. Demonstrate effective skills using well established problem-solving, communication and interpersonal techniques.

Associate Degree Requirements

Unit Requirement

Complete at least 60 units of acceptable college work with a minimum of 12 units completed in residence at Coastline. Earn an overall grade point average of 2.0 or higher from all colleges attended and a 2.0 or higher grade point average at Coastline.

*Students must be in good academic standing (not on probation and/or disqualification) during the semester graduation is petitioned.

Program of Study

Complete the required courses in one of the programs as detailed In the Requirements for the Major section of this catalog. All coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher.

General Education

Complete one of the three General Education options below (visit the General Education page for details):

Option 1 — AA/AS Local Degree GE: designed for students pursuing an Associate degree and who may or may not be planning to transfer to a four-year university. The degree is transferable to many colleges and universities.

Option 2—CSU GE Breadth: designed for students who are planning to transfer to a university in the CSU system. It may also be appropriate for transfer to some independent colleges and universities.

Option 3—IGETC: designed for students who are planning to transfer to a university in the CSU or UC system. It also may be appropriate for transfer to some independent colleges and universities.

Global and Multicultural Studies Requirement

Complete at least 2.5 units from any Global and Multicultural Studies courses. See what courses fulfill the Global and Multicultural Studies Requirement.

Course Title Units
Required Core
Complete the following:
EMGT C101Introduction to Emergency Management3
EMGT C102Introduction to Homeland Security3
EMGT C105Emergency Preparedness3
EMGT C110Emergency Response3
EMGT C120Disaster Recovery3
EMGT C130Hazard Mitigation3
Elective Courses
Select two of the following:6
Crisis Response for Responders (CRR)
Crisis Management of Special Populations
Introduction to Public Information Officer (PIO)
Intelligence Analysis and Security Management
Transportation and Border Security
Work Based Learning
Units Required for Major24
Requirement Units
Local General Education, CSU General Education, or IGETC pattern Varies
Electives to satisfy unit requirement Varies
Total Degree Units 60

Emergency Management Degree Program Map

This program map is a recommended example of all major (program) requirements as well as general education requirements for two-year completion or transfer. This path may be altered to fit your individual academic needs. This two-year program map was created by program faculty and counselors and demonstrates a recommended path to completion. Students are advised to meet with a Coastline Counselor for individualized program planning.

Your Path to Success

Follow this path to earn your degree in Emergency Management in 2 years.

Don’t forget to consult a counselor for an education plan!

See a graphic of the Emergency Management/Homeland Security Associate Degree roadmap.

Course Title Units
1st Semester
EMGT C101Introduction to Emergency Management3
CMST C110Public Speaking3
ENGL C100Freshman Composition4
ART C100Survey of Art: Prehistory through Late Gothic3
COUN C105Strategies for College Success3
2nd Semester
EMGT C102Introduction to Homeland Security3
EMGT C110Emergency Response3
MATH C100Liberal Arts Mathematics3
ENGL C102Critical Reasoning, Reading, and Writing3
PSCI C180American Government3
SOC C185Analysis of Social Problems3
3rd Semester
EMGT C105Emergency Preparedness3
EMGT C120Disaster Recovery3
EMGT C150Crisis Management of Special Populations3
ASTR C100Introduction to Astronomy3
ASTR C100LAstronomy Laboratory1
PHIL C100Introduction to Philosophy3
4th Semester
EMGT C130Hazard Mitigation3
EMGT C140Crisis Response for Responders (CRR)3
MRSC C100Introduction to Marine Science3
HIST C170United States History to 18763
SOC C233Racial and Ethnic Relations in America3