Master of Science in

Emergency Services
Administration

Information Handbook

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY,

LONG BEACH

School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and

Emergency Management
California State University, Long Beach
Updated 06/15/2023 pgk
 Emergency Management Program

Dear Friend of CSULB,

Thank you for your interest in the Emergency Management program at California State University,
Long Beach. This Information Handbook is designed to provide you with details about enrolling in the
program and the requirements necessary for receiving your Master of Science degree in Emergency
Services Administration. The EMER program is in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and
Emergency Management in the College of Health and Human Services.

Our first-rate faculty is comprised of teacher-scholars who enjoy national reputations in their
respective areas of expertise. A supporting group of part-time faculty members who are dedicated,
highly knowledgeable professionals assist in the delivery of a curriculum that combines the best of
theory, policy, research, and practice. And our comprehensive internship program allows all students
to integrate their classroom-based knowledge with practical, applied experiential learning that, in
turn, helps students make informed decisions about employment and/or further educational
opportunities. Graduates enter careers in policing, corrections (including probation and parole), the
court system, emergency management, social service agencies, private security, juvenile justice,
investigations, and in research and/or policy divisions of numerous governmental agencies.

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) offers degrees, certificates, and programs in a
wide range of disciplines. Through our richly diverse and highly qualified faculty, we strive to be a
leader in connections to the community, collaboration with other universities, research, community
service, number of active centers, and number of students seeking professional careers. Our
academic programs collaborate with community partners to create a student-centered learning
environment that reflects dynamic societal needs. Our many departments, programs, and research
centers create an environment where academic excellence can thrive and our students can prepare
to serve the community.

California State University, Long Beach is a diverse, student-centered, globally-engaged public

university committed to providing highly valued educational opportunities through superior teaching,
research, creative activity and service for the people of California and the world. We are committed
to being an outstanding teaching-intensive, research-driven university that emphasizes student
engagement, scholarly and creative achievement, civic participation, and global perspectives.

We thank you for your interest in our Emergency Management Program. Please contact us if you
have any questions or need additional information.

Very truly yours,

Brenda Vogel
Brenda Vogel, Ph.D.
Director and Professor, Emergency Management Program
School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management
College of Health and Human Services
California State University, Long Beach

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 Emergency Management Program

Contents

Program Description 2
EMER Program Goals 2
Program Learning Outcomes 3
Admission Requirements 3
General Admission Criteria 3
Application Deadlines 4
Application Process 4
University and Program Regulations 6
Grade Point Average Requirements 6
Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement 6
Program Unit Requirements 7
Required Course Titles, Units, and Prerequisites 8
Advancement to Candidacy 10
Culminating Activity 11
Timelines and Deadlines 11
Registration and Enrollment 12
Commencement 12
University Regulations Governing the Master’s Degree 12
Concurrent Master’s Degree 14
Second Master’s Degree 15
The Program 15
Election of Regulations 16
Theses and Projects 16
Thesis Committee Chairs 16
Thesis and Dissertation Office 16
Academic Warning 17
Other Post Baccalaureate Students 18
Waiver of Course Requirements 18
Graduate Studies 700 18
Academic Load 19
Graduate Credit Earned as a Senior 19
Senior Enrollment in Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit 19
Appendixes
A. Program Outline and Course Descriptions 20
B. Frequently Asked Questions 23
D. Directory of Faculty and Staff 27
E. Program Plan and Advancement to Candidacy 28

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration (EMER) degree program at
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is an entirely online program that will help you
develop the leadership and critical thinking skills needed to build stronger organizations and
disaster-resilient communities. The program will educate you in the interdisciplinary research
and theory of disaster management as you create a project that directly strengthens and
benefits your organization or community.

In recent years, emergency services professions have become extremely competitive, with
demands for personnel to further their education to attain promotion and keep up with technical
advances. Those in the following fields are well-suited for this program:

▪ Firefighters
▪ Law enforcement
▪ Emergency medical services personnel
▪ Military personnel
▪ Emergency managers
▪ Public health practitioners
▪ Public administrators
▪ NGO administrators
▪ Private business disaster planners
▪ Other professionals with a strong interest in how disasters influence their field

EMER PROGRAM GOALS

University faculty researchers from disciplines across campus, in cooperation with emergency
services personnel from many agencies, have developed the EMER program to meet the needs
of emergency services professionals. This team has generated the following goals, which focus
on following best practices in emergency management and organizational operations:

▪ Provide Subject Matter Expertise. The program is taught by faculty from a wide range
of professional fields and academic disciplines. Students and faculty critically examine
multiple theoretical and research perspectives of historical, existing, and expectable
disaster risks and community vulnerabilities across all phases of disaster management.
▪ Maintain Subject Matter Currency in a Rapidly Changing World. Students will be
confident and competent in the use of all methods of library research and Internet-based
electronic technologies and software to gather information from wide-ranging disciplines
and resources. These competencies can be used to find solutions to complex problems
in real time, or they can be used to operate proactively to generate long-range planning
materials.
▪ Provide Organizational and Community Leadership. Students will develop new skills
that can be used to manage individuals, resolve conflicts, and build efficient teams, as
well as to move diverse communities forward as engaged contributors to solve problems
or build strong interdependent support systems.
▪ Advance the Emergency Management Discipline through Action-Oriented
Research. Students will develop their abilities to integrate multidisciplinary emergency
management theory, research, and practice into their work. They will strengthen their
leadership skills and the daily operations within their organizations and across
communities. Students will also learn to anticipate and prepare for problems across all
phases of disaster management.
▪ Create Cultural Diversity and Global Awareness. Building effective emergency
management systems and resilient communities requires leaders to view diversity as an

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inherent strength in all operational efforts. Students will learn to identify, critically
examine, and apply models of effective disaster management that have been tested by
communities throughout the world.
▪ Managing Resources. As resources become more limited, effective emergency
services professionals must be able to identify, procure, and create strategies that are
necessary to build sustainable and effective operations. Students will learn risk-reduction
analyses and implementation skills for developing resources through grant-writing,
human and social capital, and public and private community resource development.
▪ Communicate Across Stakeholders. Communication – both written and oral – is
critical to managing groups and advancing the discipline of disaster management. The
program continuously challenges students to develop critical communication skills.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this program, students should be able to:

1. Act consistently to expand personal knowledge, gather information from reliable sources,
write with a clear purpose, and allow ideas to be challenged and modified.
2. Synthesize the emergency management principles in addressing the present hazard,
risk, and vulnerability conditions, anticipating how their interactions may evolve.
3. Summarize information flows within and between organizations to create strategies for
involving diverse stakeholders on the disaster risk issue.
4. Promote the value of including diverse community voices in pre-disaster capability
building and effectively communicate multifaceted disaster risk problems.
5. Participate in team-building and mutual-learning processes, incorporating ethical
principles and public value into the discourse.
6. Form arguments from evidence, identify an appropriate research design, and use
analytics to evaluate a disaster risk emerging from the interactions between the social,
built, and physical environments.
7. Apply ethical scientific concepts and processes to problem-solving, decision-making,
assessing appropriate technology application, and policy development.
8. Independently research an issue thoroughly: ethically gather information from a wide
range of sources, and reliably identify critical patterns, trends, and relationships in the
data.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The University’s Office of Enrollment Services and the program’s Applicant Review Committee
make decisions about admission to the program. The following sections provide information
about general admission criteria, required documentation, deadlines, and other requirements. If
you will be applying to the program, please follow these directions closely.

General Admission Criteria

The following admission criteria pertain to the program.
▪ You must complete an official CSULB graduate admissions form online using Cal State
Apply and pay the appropriate application fee.
▪ You must have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
institution before the first semester of your graduate studies. You can learn if your
institution is regionally accredited by visiting CollegeSource.org and searching by name.
▪ You must submit a current professional resume.
▪ You must include a one- to two- page statement that specifically details why you are
seeking a Master’s degree in Emergency Services Administration through this program.

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In your statement, include information about your preparedness to undertake graduate

studies and career plans after graduation.
▪ You must include three recommendations from people able to testify to your academic
ability, professional ability, and/or character. Once you have identified a recommender,
an email request will automatically be sent to the individual on your behalf. Please
advise your recommenders to look for this email in their inboxes, as well as their spam
or junk-mail folders, as emails do occasionally get filtered out. Recommenders may
upload a letter on your behalf or complete a Likert-scale questionnaire, or both.
▪ You must have earned at least a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units attempted. An
applicant whose GPA is less than 3.0 but greater than 2.5 may be considered for
admission under special circumstances. These applicants should present acceptable
evidence of professional potential in their admission statement. For help in determining
your GPA, see CSULB’s Understanding Grades and Grading web page.
▪ The EMER Program does not currently require tests for admission, such as the GRE or
GMAT.
▪ All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose native
language is not English and whose preparatory education was principally in a language
other than English, must demonstrate competency in English. For more information
about this requirement, see the University Catalog.
▪ You must be accepted by both the University and the Program’s Applicant Review
Committee for admission.

Application Deadlines
The EMER program admits students for fall semesters only. The application deadline for fall is
usually June 1st. Admission deadlines are subject to change. You are strongly encouraged to
submit materials early. In addition, we suggest that you confirm receipt of your application and
receipt of your materials by contacting the program staff the week before the deadline.

Application Process
Applying to the Master’s program in Emergency Services Administration at CSULB requires
several steps as outlined below.

Step 1: Apply using the online Cal State Apply Graduate Application Form. Cal State
Apply is the California State University’s online resource to help you quickly and easily
apply for graduate admission online. By applying online, you can start, stop, and save
your application information throughout the process. You do not have to complete the
entire application during one session. For example, you can save your work and revisit
your application to add or change information when convenient. Please make sure that
you meet application deadlines. Note the following as you complete your online
application:
o Select Apply Now from the Cal State Apply home page.
o Sign in if you are a returning user.
o Select Create an Account if you are a first-time Cal State Apply user. This will
start your application process.
o Enter your name, contact information, username, and password as requested.
Agree to the terms and conditions.
o Complete your profile. Indicate that you are seeking graduate-level education.
Select “Master’s degree or higher” from the drop-down menu under Education.
Respond to all other questions and save changes. Resume your application after
you have saved these changes.

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▪ Keep your previous academic information on hand when you apply. You will be asked to
submit information about the colleges you have attended (including community college).
You will need the name of the college(s), dates attended, units completed, major,
honors, and GPA. IMPORTANT: For each institution that you identify on the application
form, you will need a corresponding transcript sent to the CSULB Office of Admissions
and Records.
▪ On the application form, identify CSU Long Beach as the University campus you wish to
attend. Select online for the location field and delivery format. Select spring or fall for the
start term.
▪ Select “Show Available Programs” and Long Beach Extension “Emergency Services
Administration” MS Degree.
▪ Select “I am done, review my selections.” Select “Continue to my application” when your
selection has been saved. You will be presented with the CSU Application Dashboard.
▪ Submit information on the application form as requested. You may wish to collect this
information before you apply for admission. You’ll be asked to identify (a) colleges
attended, (b) personal information, (c) academic history, (d) supporting materials, and (e)
program materials.
▪ The EMER Program at CSULB does NOT require standardized tests. Select “I am not
adding any standardized tests” in this section of the application process. The absence of
test scores will not affect your application to the EMER program.
▪ You will need to include a brief statement. The statement tells us why you want to enroll
in the program. You may wish to prepare this statement before applying. Then, copy-
and-paste or type your statement into the application form when prompted.
▪ When complete, submit your application and pay the application fee. You can pay by
credit card online.

Step 2: Arrange for your official transcripts to be sent directly to the Office of Enrollment
Services at CSU Long Beach. Departments and campus offices often receive requests from
applicants for an e-mail address that colleges/universities can use to submit electronic
transcripts to CSULB. To better serve both departments and applicants, Enrollment Services
has created the following e-mail address for this purpose: [email protected]. For
transcripts sent by U.S. Mail, transcripts should be sent directly to CSULB Enrollment
Services. Do not send transcripts to the Department or to any specific individual on campus
because they will be returned. You should arrange to have official transcripts sent to CSULB
Enrollment Services at about the same time that you submit your application using Cal State
Apply. If you have college transcripts at home, keep them in the official sealed envelope.
Send (or arrange for your transcripts to be sent) to the following address:

Office of Admissions and Records, Enrollment Services

California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840-0106

Once your transcripts are received by CSULB, they will be posted digitally to allow for easy
access by the program’s Applicant Review Committee. You will be informed by email if
documents are missing before an admissions decision is made.

Step 3: Wait for your University admissions decision. You will be sent a note by email from
CSULB’s Enrollment Services indicating whether your application for admission to the
University and program was approved. These emails are sent within 3 to 5 business days

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after a final decision is made by both CSULB Enrollment Services and the Programs
Applicant Review Committee.

Step 4: Once admitted, you will be sent additional information directly from the program
about how to register for classes. Before enrolling in any courses during your first
semester, please wait for specific instructions and information from the program staff,
including the Graduate Advisor. We usually admit applicants well into July; thus, you
might not receive enrollment information until early August. You will be asked to enroll in
specific course(s) during your first semester. You must be enrolled in at least one course
(specifically EMER 500) to remain in the program. You may enroll in more than once
course if desired. CSULB does not defer admission to future semesters. In semesters
thereafter, you may enroll in classes of your own choosing, although we will continue to
recommend a sequence of classes each semester.

Step 5: Register for classes and begin your graduate program. Contact the Graduate
Advisor for the Emergency Services Administration Program, Dr. Peter Kreysa, and
specifically ask for information about developing an approved Program Plan of your
graduate studies and the requirements for Advancement to Candidacy. A Program Plan
is provided in the appendix of this booklet.

Peter G. Kreysa, Ph.D.

email: [email protected]

UNIVERSITY AND PROGRAM REGULATIONS

The following sections provide important information about University and program regulations.
See the University Catalog for detailed information.

Grade Point Average Requirements

The following grade point average (GPA) requirements must be met by students:

▪ You must maintain an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 (B) while enrolled at the University. If
your GPA falls below 3.0 for two semesters in a row, you will be academically dismissed
from the University and you will not be allowed to continue in the program. To regain
admission, you will be required to take other graduate-level courses elsewhere and you
will be required to apply for re-admission. Re-admission is not guaranteed. In addition,
you must pay all associated fees for re-admission. If your GPA consistently remains
below 3.0, you will be permanently dismissed from the University and you will not be
allowed to continue your studies at the University.
▪ No course with a grade lower than a “C” may be applied toward your degree
requirements.
▪ An incomplete grade not otherwise resolved will automatically revert to the letter grade
indicated on the “Requirements for Assigning an Incomplete Grade” form. Incomplete
grades must be resolved before graduation and usually within one year of the close of
the semester in which the Incomplete Grade was originally assigned.
▪ Your Cumulative Graduate Grade-Point Average shall be calculated on all upper-division
and graduate-level coursework attempted at CSULB after completion of a baccalaureate
degree. This is true even for courses you may take outside of the Department, and
which may not be related to Emergency Services Administration. For example, if you
enroll in an upper-division undergraduate physical education course and fail that course,
that failing grade will be calculated in your University Cumulative Grade-Point Average
even though that course may not be related to emergency management. Make sure you

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earn a grade of “B” or better in every class you take at CSULB. We do not encourage
students to take courses outside of the program’s requirements or electives, without
obtaining prior approval to do so by the EMER Graduate Advisor.
▪ Graduate students cannot repeat-and-delete courses either for credit or to improve their
grade-point average. But you may repeat courses in which a grade of “D” or “F” is
earned. The grade for a repeat attempt of a course does not negate the first attempt. In
other words, graduate student grades at CSULB forever remain on student transcripts
and are forever used in the calculation of the Grade Point Average. Thus, it is important
to earn grades of “B” or better in each course attempted.

Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)

CSULB no longer has a writing requirement for graduate students. The GWAR will no longer be
required to advance to candidacy. International graduate students are not required to fulfill the
GWAR.

Program Unit Requirements

You must complete a minimum of 32 units, including transfer units. The following tables provide
examples of a sequence of courses students complete in the program if they wish to complete
the program within two or three years. Students must complete the program within 7 years, else
courses begin to expire.

Suggested 2-Year Program

Semester 1 Fall Semester 2 Spring Semester 3 Summer
Course Units Course Units Course Units
EMER 500 3 EMER 530 4 Elective 3
EMER 506 3 EMER 548 3 Elective 3
EMER 540 3
Total 9 Total 7 Total 6
Semester 4 Fall Semester 5 Spring
Course Units Course Units
EMER 661 3 EMER 694 4
EMER 671 3
Total 6 Total 4

Suggested 3-Year Program

Semester 1 Fall Semester 2 Spring Semester 3 Summer
Course Units Course Units Course Units
EMER 500 3 EMER 530 4 Elective 3
EMER 506 3 EMER 548 3
Total 9 Total 7 Total 6
Course Units Course Units Course Units
Semester 4 Fall Semester 5 Spring Semester 6 Summer
EMER 540 3 EMER 661 4 EMER 698* 2
Elective 3 EMER 671
Total 6 Total 4 Total 2
Course Units Course Units Course Units
Semester 7 Fall
EMER 694 or 4
EMER 698 2

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*EMER 698 is the Thesis and is a total of 4 units, but units can be divided among semesters.

Required Course Titles, Units, and Prerequisites

EMER 500, Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for Emergency Management
(3 units)
EMER 506, Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3 units)
EMER 530, Applied Research Methods and Analytical Techniques (4 units); Prerequisite is
EMER 506
EMER 540, Emergency Management Organizations: Constructs for Influencing Complex
Systems (3 units)
EMER 548, Risk, Crisis, and Inter-Agency Communications (3 units); Prerequisite is EMER 500
EMER 661, Emergency Management Leadership Across the Megacommunity (3 units);
Prerequisites are EMER 500, EMER 506, EMER 540, and EMER 548
EMER 671, Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in Emergency Services Administration
(3 units); Prerequisites are EMER 500, EMER 506, EMER 530, EMER 540, and
EMER 548
EMER 694, Project: Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in Emergency Services
Administration (4 units); Prerequisites are EMER 671 and Advancement to
Candidacy
EMER 698, Thesis (4 units); Prerequisites are EMER 671 and Advancement to Candidacy

Miscellaneous Regulations and Rules

▪ It is your responsibility to read, know, and meet all University policies and deadlines.
Visit the CSULB website frequently for information about policies and deadlines, which
may change periodically.
▪ You must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA. You may not use courses in your program in
which you receive a grade lower than a “C.” Resolve all incomplete grades by the
deadline specified by your instructor (usually within one year). The University does not
“repeat-delete” graduate courses. All grades earned will remain on your transcript
forever and will be calculated toward your GPA. If your GPA falls below 3.0 you will be
sent an academic warning and dropped from the program for a repeat academic
warning.
▪ Refer to the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) Schedule of
Classes and enroll in courses that apply to your Program of Studies. For example, enroll
in the required courses listed on the program plan and take electives when required
courses are not available. Most students enroll in two courses each semester.
▪ Take only approved 500-level or 600-level courses. At least 70% (23/32 units) of your
courses must be at the 500/600-level AND completed as a matriculated (admitted and
enrolled) student at CSULB.
▪ You may request that transfer courses be placed on your CSULB Program Plan. Do not
make this request unless the courses meet University requirements as follows: Courses
taken before your admission are considered transfer courses even if taken at CSULB
through CPaCE. A total of 6 units of relevant coursework may usually be transferred into
the program. Transfer courses must be graduate-level courses successfully completed
at a regionally accredited institution of higher education and must appear as graduate-
level courses on an official transcript sent to CSULB Enrollment Services. The courses
must not have been used previously to obtain any other degree, they must not be
extension courses (other than CSULB extension), and they must be appropriate courses
subject to Department and Graduate Advisor approval. For example, graduate-level

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leadership and budgeting courses might be appropriate to the EMER Program, but
courses in dance or art would not be appropriate. The final approval of transfer courses
will be made by Enrollment Services after you submit a Request to Graduate. If transfer
courses do not meet University requirements, they will be removed from your Program
Plan even after you Advance to Candidacy and/or attend commencement ceremonies. It
is your responsibility to ensure that you meet University requirements for the use of
transfer courses.
▪ You must be enrolled in the first semester after admission, or you will be dropped from
the program and required to re-apply for admission and again pay fees. CSULB does not
defer admission to a future semester. Re-admission is not guaranteed.
▪ No waiver of course requirements, credit by examination, or credit earned by
correspondence may be used to satisfy degree requirements.
▪ Effective summer 2022, CSULB no longer has a writing requirement for graduate
students (GWAR). The GWAR will no longer be required to advance to candidacy.
International graduate students are not required to fulfill the GWAR.
▪ If you are completing the Project Option, you must successfully complete EMER 694
Project for 4 units.
▪ If you are completing the Thesis Option, you must take four units of EMER 698 (thesis).
You may also be required to complete Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements by
completing several forms at the beginning of your thesis work. After you have completed
four units of EMER 698, you may register in GS-700 with Departmental approval to
maintain enrollment until graduation. Students must be continually enrolled each
semester (except summer sessions) until graduation. Once you have completed EMER
698 and received a grade of RP (Reported Progress), you are committed to writing a
thesis. You may not later switch to the Project Option. Most students in the EMER
Program complete a Project.
▪ You must Advance to Candidacy at least one semester or summer session before the
semester in which you expect to graduate. Advancement to Candidacy occurs at the
time you receive formal approval of your Program Plan. To Advance to Candidacy, you
must (a) have completed a minimum of 6 units within the program, (b) have a 3.0 GPA,
(c) Advance to Candidacy at least one semester before graduation, and (d) be enrolled
in the semester or summer session in which advancement occurs. Contact the Graduate
Advisor when you want to Advance to Candidacy. You may not both Advance to
Candidacy and graduate in the same semester, so please plan accordingly.
▪ You must be enrolled in the semester in which you graduate. You may enroll in GS-700
(Graduate Studies 700) with Departmental approval to meet this requirement if you have
completed all your coursework. GS-700 involves a one-unit course fee.
▪ You must complete a Request to Graduate using your Student Center on your
MYCSULB account long before the semester in which you wish to graduate. The
deadline for submitting this request for spring or summer graduation is usually mid-
October. The deadline for submitting this request for fall graduation is usually early
March. Visit the CSULB website for updated and specific deadline information and to
order a cap and gown if you plan to attend the commencement ceremony.
▪ To change your graduation term, you can submit a Request to Change Graduation Term
- Graduate Students (DocuSign). Visit the Student Center on your MYCSULB account
(Single-Sign-On) to change your graduation term.
▪ You must be continually enrolled each spring and fall semester until graduation. If you
are not enrolled each spring and fall semester you will be dropped from the program and
you will be required to re-apply for admission and pay all application fees. If you are
dropped from the program, your re-admission is not guaranteed. If you cannot remain
continually enrolled each semester, you may request Educational Leave for one year by

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completing and submitting a request for Educational Leave using your Student Center
on your MYCSULB account. Late requests for leave require a fee. Write to the Graduate
Advisor if you are having difficulty with this request.
▪ You must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years to receive your
degree. If you do not meet this requirement, your coursework expires after seven (7)
years. This includes transfer courses. Taking Educational Leave does not stop the clock
on the seven-year requirement to complete degree requirements.
▪ To graduate, you must have no outstanding financial obligations to the University.
Contact Student Accounting Services in Brotman Hall Room 170-A or call (562) 985-
8280 to verify that your financial obligations have been met.

Advancement to Candidacy
Advancement to candidacy signifies approval of a plan of study by the student’s graduate
program and college. The requirements for advancement to candidacy are:

1. Attainment of classified status as a student in a graduate program at CSULB;

2. Approval by the student’s department and college of a program of study (see above);
3. Completion with a minimum GPA of 3.0 of at least six units of courses required on the
student’s program of study;
4. A cumulative, graduate, grade-point average of at least 3.0 calculated on all upper-
division and graduate-level coursework attempted by the student at CSULB after
completion of a baccalaureate degree;
5. Satisfactory completion of any assessments of competence that the program may
require.

A student must be enrolled in the semester or summer session in which advancement to

candidacy takes place, and this must occur no later than one semester or summer session prior
to completion of course requirements. A department or college recommends a student for
advancement to candidacy when the above requirements have been successfully completed. In
most instances, advancement to candidacy should occur no later than the end of the second
semester of matriculation and must occur no later than one semester or session prior to the
semester or session in which the student expects to graduate. It must occur prior to a student
filing a request to graduate with Enrollment Services. Normally, a student is eligible and should
file for advancement to candidacy for the semester immediately after fulfilling the requirements
for advancement to candidacy listed above. The graduate student receives an email notification
from the Office of Enrollment Services once the student has officially advanced to candidacy.

All students must consult with their Graduate Advisor regarding advancement to candidacy as
well as to determine any program requirements to graduate from CSULB.

An approved graduate student program remains in effect so long as a candidate is making

satisfactory progress and does not withdraw from CSULB. If a student does not maintain
adequate Academic Standing (i.e., GPA below 3.00), then advancement to candidacy will be
rescinded and the student must readvance once good Academic Standing is re-achieved.

A student entering military service after having been admitted to candidacy for an advanced
degree will be considered as not having withdrawn from candidacy, provided that the student is
enlisted or called to active duty during a semester in which they are enrolled or not more than
one semester thereafter and then enrolls in courses toward their degree within one calendar
year of the date of their release from service.

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Students who have advanced to candidacy and take an educational leave will be considered as
not having withdrawn from candidacy for an advanced degree, provided the terms of the
educational leave are fulfilled.

Culminating Activity
Students graduating with an MS degree in Emergency Services Administration from CSULB are
required to complete either a project or a thesis. The project and the thesis are used to
represent and determine students’ final assessment of the competencies they have achieved
through the program. We expect both the project and the thesis to represent the quality and
rigor of work that students would be proud to present to their professional communities. A thesis
is developed to add to the research body of knowledge while a project represents applied
research to translate knowledge into practice. The CSULB University Catalog details the
differences between a thesis and a project, as defined by the Trustees of the California State
University system.

EMER students choosing to complete a thesis must enroll in EMER 698, Thesis, and complete
4 units. The guidelines and requirements for thesis students are available from the EMER
Graduate Advisor and follow the same requirements and procedures as discussed in the
CSULB University Catalog. The EMER Project/Thesis Guide differentiates the thesis and
project, providing guidance for each option. The formal definition of a project is presented below
directly from the University Catalog:

“A project is a significant undertaking appropriate…to professional fields. It evidences

originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and a rationale.
It is described and summarized in a written abstract that includes the project’s
significance, objectives, methodology, and a conclusion or recommendation. An oral
defense of the project may be required.” A project is to be equivalent in challenge, rigor,
and significance to a thesis, and equivalent in its value to a student’s learning or
contributions to the field. Regardless of whether you choose to complete a project or a
thesis, you are required to enroll in EMER 671, Strategic Planning and Integrative
Practices in Emergency Services Administration. This 3-unit course is designed to
prepare you for either the project or thesis, and it will provide you with guidance in the
development of your proposal. You should enroll in EMER 671 in the semester
immediately before you undertake your project or thesis.

More information about the thesis and project is provided later in this handbook.

Timelines and Deadlines

You must complete all the requirements for your degree within seven (7) years of the date your
first course was completed on your program of studies. This is a University requirement and it
includes transfer work. For example, if the first course you are using in your program of studies
was completed at the end of fall 2020, you must complete the program by the end of fall 2027.
We expect all students to enroll with the intent of graduating within 2 to 4 years of admission.
Adjustments to semester course loads can be made for work or family emergencies. Thus, you
may take longer than 4 years to complete your degree. However, it is your responsibility to keep
track of your timeline and meet all deadlines. You must be enrolled during the semester in which
you graduate.

Your approved program of studies remains in effect so long as you are making satisfactory
progress. To ensure minimum satisfactory progress toward your degree, you must be
continually enrolled each fall and spring semester and complete all degree requirements. If you

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break enrollment without completing and submitting a Leave of Absence Form (Educational
Leave) you will be required to re-apply for admission to the University and you will be required
to pay all associated fees for re-admission. Re-admission is not guaranteed. According to the
University Catalog, the maximum Educational Leave you may take is one year, with the
opportunity for an extension to two years maximum. Students on Educational Leave do not
receive many University services, such as online library access.

Deadlines change each semester. It is your responsibility to know and meet all deadlines.
Please do not rely upon your classmates, departmental staff, faculty, or the EMER Graduate
Advisor to keep you informed of deadlines. Instead, you should visit the CSULB website
periodically for up-to-date information about deadlines and note them in your calendar. Below is
a partial list of deadlines you need to know and meet.

Registration and Enrollment

See the Schedule of Classes online for registration and enrollment deadlines. You can register
for courses using your Student Center on your MYCSULB account. Some registration and
enrollment deadlines that you must be aware of include:

▪ Last day to use MyCSULB: After this deadline, you must use a late registration form for
registering or adjusting your schedule
▪ Last day to register late (includes a late fee, signatures on forms from the department
and faculty)
▪ Last day to drop a class
▪ Last day to withdraw from a class
▪ Last day to pay financial obligation

Commencement
Although students may graduate at the end of the spring, fall, winter, and summer terms, official
commencement ceremonies take place only in May. You must apply to graduate long before the
semester in which you wish to graduate. For example, if you plan to graduate in May, the
deadline for submitting this form is usually October 1 the year before. If you plan to graduate in
December, the deadline for submitting this form is usually March 1. You must be enrolled in the
semester in which you graduate. You can apply to graduate using your Student Center on your
MYCSULB account. If needed, you can also change your expected graduation term using your
Student Center on your MYCSULB account. Visit the CSULB website for more information
about graduation deadlines and commencement. For example, if you intend to participate in the
commencement ceremony, you must order your cap and gown by the published deadline. You
must take responsibility for knowing and meeting these deadlines. Submit your request to
graduate early to avoid delays, missing deadlines, and late fees.

UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE MASTER’S DEGREE (2023-2024 CATALOG)

The following regulations apply to all graduate degree programs. Specific academic and
curricular requirements of individual degree programs are given in the departmental listings of
the catalog. In addition to whatever additional requirements a particular degree program has, all
candidates for a master’s degree must complete the requirements listed below:

1. Maintain a cumulative, graduate, grade-point average of 3.0 calculated on all upper-

division and graduate-level coursework attempted by the candidate at CSULB after
completion of a baccalaureate degree. Exceptions to the 3.0 cumulative, graduate,
grade-point average may be made only on the recommendation of both the

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departmental faculty offering the degree and the college dean or designee and approval
by the Dean of Graduate Studies or designee.
2. Maintain at least a 3.0 average in all the courses listed on the program of study.
3. Obtain a minimum grade of C for a course to count in a program of study. Academic
unit(s) granting the degree(s) may require higher minimum grades for specifically
indicated courses. A student may retake a course once to achieve a minimum grade. A
grade for a course taken the second time may satisfy a minimum grade requirement but
shall not replace the grade previously earned in the course on the student’s transcript.
All courses graduate students complete are calculated in the GPA. Graduate students
cannot repeat courses designated non-repeatable if they already earned a passing
grade in the course. Graduate students cannot earn more than the maximum units
allowed for a course.
4. Make progress towards timely completion of the degree as determined by any
milestones that the academic unit granting the degree may have established in writing
and communicated to its students. Students failing to make satisfactory progress may be
placed on administrative academic warning. Department Chairs or Associate Deans
must notify students in writing or via e-mail that they have been placed on administrative
academic warning.
5. Complete all required courses on the program of study, which must contain a minimum
of 30 units in upper-division and graduate courses. Some degree programs require
additional units. Student teaching may not be included in any master’s degree program.
6. Complete at least seventy percent (70%) of the required units in the degree program at
CSULB in matriculated status or as approved graduate credit earned as a senior. At the
option of the department offering a master’s degree, a graduate student may use credit
taken at CSULB in non-matriculated status or approved transfer credit toward up to thirty
percent (30%) of the units of the program of study. Units applied towards a previous
undergraduate degree cannot be transferred for credit towards a master’s degree. The
academic unit granting the degree may waive units and course requirements provided
the minimum thirty-unit requirement is met in accordance with Title V.
7. Complete at least seventy percent (70%) of the minimum units required for the program
of study in courses at the 500 and 600 levels, including double numbered courses
(400/500). At least fifty percent (50%) of the units required for the degree shall be in
courses organized primarily for graduate students.
8. Complete a thesis or project subject to all requisite approvals or pass a final,
comprehensive examination. Some programs require both a final comprehensive
examination and either a thesis or project. Others allow students a choice between a
thesis option and a non-thesis, comprehensive examination option. Failure of either the
comprehensive examination or thesis/project requirement is failure of both options. In
other words, a student failing the comprehensive examination may not proceed to the
thesis or project option or vice versa. Once a student has completed a semester of
enrollment toward fulfillment of either the comprehensive examination or thesis option,
the student may not change from one option to the other without the approval of the
graduate advisor, the department chair, and the appropriate dean or designee, and the
Dean of Graduate studies or designee.
9. Complete all requirements of the degree program within seven (7) years of the date the
student initiated the program (i.e., the date [semester] when the student first completed a
course appearing on the student’s program of study). The Dean of Graduate Studies or
designee may grant an exception to this requirement if warranted by individual
circumstances and if the student re-validates the outdated work by re-taking the course,
passing a comprehensive examination in the relevant course or subject field work, or

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fulfilling such other demonstrations of competence as may be prescribed by the

department in its approved policy on revalidation.
10. Maintain continuous enrollment every spring and fall semester by registering in a course
or in GS 700 or having received an approved educational leave. Registration in GS 700
is restricted to graduate students who have completed all coursework, have been
advanced to candidacy, and have departmental approval. Registration in a course or in
GS 700 also is required in winter or summer session if that is when a student plans to
graduate. Registration in GS 700 is CR/NC only.

Concurrent Master’s Degree

Currently matriculated, post-baccalaureate students may enroll concurrently in a second
master’s degree program. Rather than sequentially completing one degree first and then the
other, the student’s time and the university’s resources may be conserved by arrangements that
permit the student to proceed in a coordinated way toward completion of the two graduate
degree programs simultaneously. The two degree programs may reside in separate academic
units or the same academic unit. To protect the integrity of the university’s degrees, the following
conditions must be satisfied to award concurrent master’s degrees:

1. The student must complete all prerequisites for the concurrent master’s degree prior to
seeking approval to declare that concurrent master’s degree;
2. A student wishing to pursue a concurrent master’s degree must first seek the approval of
the graduate academic unit granting the student’s first master’s degree program to
declare the additional master’s program;
3. If the student’s current graduate academic unit agrees that the additional master’s may
be appropriate and feasible the academic unit(s) granting the degrees would collaborate
to develop a plan to allow completion of both degrees;
4. Each degree in a concurrent program must meet the 30 unique unit minimum. Units
beyond the 30 unique unit minimum may be shared between concurrent degrees.

If the academic unit(s) granting the degrees are successful in developing a plan to allow
completion of both degrees, the Dean of Graduate Studies or designee(s) must approve the
plan before the student can begin work on the additional master’s degree while still enrolled in
the initial degree program. The decision whether to approve the student’s request should be
based on:

1. The extent to which the additional master’s program would form a coherent intellectual
whole with the initial program;
2. The number of units already completed in the initial master’s degree program and
student’s academic performance in that coursework;
3. The feasibility of the plan to complete the degrees in a timely manner (i.e., without
violating either the “seven-year rule” or any timely completion policies of individual
master’s degree programs);
4. Any additional criteria the Dean of Graduate Studies finds relevant to the decision in any
particular case.

The student is considered formally admitted only to the initial master’s degree program. If the
student wishes to discontinue the initial program in favor of the added program they must
reapply to the university and the plan to complete both degrees would no longer be valid.

Regardless of the number of units approved for “sharing” between two master’s degree
programs, students must complete distinct culminating activities for each degree (e.g., a

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comprehensive exam for each of the two degrees; two different theses or projects; one
comprehensive exam and one thesis or project).

Academic units that believe pursuing concurrent master’s degrees would be beneficial to their
students may establish formal cooperation agreements with the approval of the Dean of
Graduate Studies. Students would still need to fulfill the requirements listed above, but the
process for entering the additional master’s program would be streamlined.

Second Master’s Degree

Students who have graduated with or who are about to graduate with a master’s degree from
CSULB or any other regionally accredited university may apply for a second master’s degree in
a different program. CSULB will grant advancement to candidacy for the second degree only
after the first degree has been awarded. All candidates for a second master’s degree must meet
the following requirements:

1. Submit a new application to CSULB and the academic unit granting the degree and
meet all admission requirements of CSULB and the academic unit granting the degree;
2. Complete all general requirements for a master’s degree at CSULB not already
completed as well as all specific requirements for the new degree program. Units applied
towards a previously completed degree cannot be transferred for credit towards a
second master’s degree. The academic unit(s) granting the degrees may waive units
and course requirements provided the minimum 30 unique unit requirement is met.
3. Earn, after the awarding of the first master’s degree, a minimum of 21 units of graduate
residence credit at CSULB, including the minimum of 500 and 600 series units
mandated by the academic unit in which the student is earning the second master’s
degree.

The Program
A student must consult with the Graduate Advisor for the degree program to review program
requirements.

Many departments will assign the student a faculty advisor with whom the student must also
consult about preparing a program of study; other departments utilize their graduate advisors for
this purpose. Either the faculty or graduate advisor will assist the student in preparing a program
of study. Many departments will also require a special committee to advise a student, especially
when either a thesis or project is involved. The program of study must be approved by the
student’s department and either the college dean or designee. Once approved, a student’s
program of study may not be changed without the express consent of all parties involved. A
program of study is required for advancement to candidacy. The student program must list the
following:

1. Courses required for preparation for graduate study (e.g., prerequisite course);
2. All courses taken prior to advancement to candidacy which are to apply toward the
30.unit minimum;
3. Required courses;
4. Elective courses;
5. Culminating activity requirements.

The official student program, when approved, serves as the basis for the Office of Enrollment
Services’ graduation audit which is required before the degree can be granted. Students may

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utilize the online Degree Planner to plan enrollment, and the online Academic Requirements
Report to monitor their progress.

Graduate student programs may be revised as the student advances toward the degree. Such
revisions must be recommended by the faculty advisor and approved by the departmental
graduate advisor and the College Dean or Director of Graduate studies.

Election of Regulations
Graduate students will be held responsible for the regulations governing master’s degrees in
effect at the time of admission. A change in master’s degree objective or readmission to a
graduate degree program following withdrawal requires that a new student program be filed
under the current graduate policies as published in the latest edition of the catalog.

Culminating Activity: Theses and Projects

A student may enroll for thesis or project units (courses usually numbered 698 or 699) only
when that student has attained candidacy status for the degree or when advancement to
candidacy will occur in the semester of initial enrollment in thesis or project units. CSULB will
award a minimum of three and a maximum of six semester units for the successful completion
of a thesis or project.

All thesis or project units must be specified as RP status, with grade given only in final semester
by the department. If a department selects the letter grade option, the student must earn at least
a B. Theses and projects submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate
degree at this University shall meet the following definitions established by the Trustees of the
CSU.

A thesis is a written product of the systematic study of a significant problem. It clearly identifies
the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets
forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes the data, and offers a
conclusion or recommendation. The finished product evidences originality, critical and
independent thinking, appropriate organization and format, and thorough documentation.
Normally, an oral defense of the thesis will be required. A thesis is completed by an individual
student.

A project is a significant undertaking appropriate to the fine and applied arts or to professional
fields. It evidences originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and
a rationale. It is described and summarized in a written abstract that includes the project’s
significance, objectives, methodology, and a conclusion or recommendation. An oral defense of
the project may be required. A project is completed by an individual student or a group.

Students are responsible for understanding the definition of a graduate thesis as outlined above
and must follow the format guidelines prescribed by the University and department in which the
thesis is completed.

Thesis Committees
A student’s thesis committee shall consist of at least three members qualified in the areas
relating to the thesis. At least two shall be full‑time faculty members at CSULB, one of whom
must be tenured or tenure‑track. The chair of the thesis committee must be a tenured or
tenure‑track faculty member from a department authorized to offer a graduate degree. The
thesis committee must be approved by the department chair and the graduate or thesis advisor.
Normally the chair of the committee also serves as thesis director, but this is not necessarily so.

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The thesis director must be a person qualified in the specific area of the thesis but need not be
a tenured or tenure‑track faculty member. The committee shall be responsible for the guidance
of the student throughout the thesis effort. Any change in the composition of the committee
requires justification and must be approved by the appropriate department graduate advisor and
College Associate Dean or Director of Graduate Studies. Thesis committee members will advise
and direct students in their thesis work and ensure that the thesis meets the standards and
definition of a thesis specified above.

Thesis committee members will determine the grade to be awarded for completion of the thesis;
and by signing the thesis signature page, thesis committee members certify that they have
determined that the thesis meets the required standards of scholarship, format, and style of the
discipline. When the thesis committee includes a thesis director who is not the chair of the
committee, this person may be identified on the thesis approval page as “Thesis Director.”

Thesis Committee Chairs

Thesis committee chairs will determine that the student has the proper preparation in terms of
course work and research skills to pursue the proposed thesis. In departments where this
function is not carried out by graduate advisors, thesis committee chairs will advise the student
in the selection of other members for the thesis committee, ensuring that the other members are
appropriate to the proposed thesis effort.

▪ Thesis committee chairs will be the major contact point with the student and will oversee
the other committee members’ work with the student.
▪ Thesis committee chairs will assure that the editorial and format standards appropriate
to the mechanical preparation of a thesis are followed.
▪ Thesis committee chairs will establish guidelines for the student and timetables to be
followed to ensure completion of the thesis in a reasonable time.
▪ Thesis committee chairs will arrange for the oral defense of the thesis when required.
▪ The thesis committee chair is responsible for canvassing the committee and reporting
the grade agreed upon by its members.

Thesis and Dissertation Office

All theses must be acceptable for deposit as determined by the Thesis and Dissertation Office.
The Thesis and Dissertation Office (located in the University Library) will verify that each thesis
meets the format criteria prescribed by the department or degree program and by the University
and that it meets all University procedural requirements for theses. Students should consult the
University Thesis and Dissertation Office for information, advice, and assistance on the
mechanics of preparing a completed thesis and should go to the Thesis and Dissertation Office
website for guidelines on University Thesis and Dissertation formatting. The Thesis and
Dissertation Office accepts presubmissions for feedback and conducts periodic workshops on
how to prepare a thesis or dissertation at CSULB.

Academic Warning and Disqualification, Graduate Students

For purposes of determining eligibility to remain at the University, both quality of performance
and progress toward the student’s objective will be considered. Eligibility will be determined by
use of grade points and grade‑point average.

Students who are enrolled in a graduate degree program in conditionally classified or classified
standing will be subject to academic warning if they fail to maintain a cumulative grade‑point
average of at least 3.0 in all units attempted subsequent to admission to the degree program.

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Every graduate student who has been advanced to candidacy must maintain a cumulative
grade‑point average of 3.0 and a grade‑point average of 3.0 in all courses applicable to the
degree. Candidacy for an advanced degree may be revoked if a student’s cumulative
grade‑point average falls below 3.0 at any time. Students who become subject to dismissal from
an advanced degree program will be notified of the action taken by the College Associate Dean
or the Dean of Graduate Studies or designee.

Graduate and post-baccalaureate students are subject to disqualification if while on academic

warning they fail to earn grades of sufficient quality to remove themselves from warning status.
Disqualification will bar such students from any further enrollment at CSULB.

Other Post Baccalaureate Students

A post-baccalaureate classified student who fails to maintain a cumulative grade‑point average
of 2.5 on all units attempted at the University will be placed on academic warning. A student on
academic warning who, prior to the beginning of the next term, fails to attain a cumulative
grade‑point average of 2.5 on all units attempted at the University will be disqualified. A student
who is disqualified because of scholastic deficiency may petition the appropriate program
authority for readmission only after an absence of two semesters or upon successful completion
of summer session courses which increase the grade point average.

Petitions for readmission must indicate the reason for requesting readmission and must include
a statement of any academic work successfully completed since disqualification or of any other
activity which gives evidence in support of the petitioner’s belief that readmittance is warranted.
An application for admission and required transcripts, as well as the petition, must be submitted
to the Office of Enrollment Services before the dates established by the University for filing
applications.

Waiver of Course Requirement and Credit by Examination

No waiver of course requirements or credit by examination may be used to satisfy master’s
degree requirements. However, the following rules govern course waivers or credit by
examination in satisfying prerequisites for advancement to candidacy in any master’s degree
program.

Any candidate for a master’s degree who believes that previous training has provided adequate
preparation in a certain area may request a waiver from the department concerned.

A candidate may also apply for course credit by examination, but only for prerequisite courses
and not to satisfy any of the requirements for the master’s degree. Requests for such
examinations must be made to the department concerned and approved by the department
chair. Credit by examination is restricted to courses published in the current CSULB Catalog.
Please see Credit by Examination in the General Regulations section of this catalog.

All course credit by examination will be recorded as CR (Credit) and will not be included in
calculation of grade‑point averages; such credit may not be used to remove a grade of “D” or “F”
in a course already attempted, nor may course credit by examination be granted for any course
which is a prerequisite to one for which credit has already been received.

Graduate Studies 700 (GS 700)

Graduate students who have advanced to candidacy and completed all other coursework but
who need to complete the culminating activity for their program (thesis, project or

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comprehensive exam) must maintain continuous enrollment every spring and fall semester by
registering in a course or in GS 700 or having received an approved educational leave.

Registration in a course or in GS 700 also is required in winter or summer session if that is

when a student plans to graduate. Although no unit credit is added to the student’s program or
transcript, GS 700 is considered as one unit of concurrent enrollment credit for fee payment
purposes, payable online within the first 2 weeks of the semester, or at the College of
Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) after the first 2 weeks of the semester.
Registration for GS 700 constitutes enrollment in the university, including for scholarship
eligibility purposes.

Graduate student enrollment in GS 700 must be approved by department graduate advisors,

chairs, or when they are not available the Associate Dean or the Graduate Director for the
College. After registering for four semesters of GS 700, students will be subject to a registration
hold. Prior to registering for any subsequent semester of GS 700, the department graduate
advisor must confer with the student and with the Associate Dean of the College about an
appropriate course of action for the graduate student. Colleges/departments may hold students
to a stricter timeline than outlined here.

Students who wish to enroll in additional semesters of GS 700 will be required to obtain the
approval of their department and the associate dean of their college.

Academic Load
For financial purposes, eight units per semester is the academic load for a full‑time graduate
student engaged in study toward a master’s degree. The maximum load for graduate students
working toward a master’s degree is 18 units per semester. Students who are employed
full‑time should not exceed six units per semester.

Graduate students who wish to register for more than one unit of credit per week of attendance
during the summer session must secure advance approval from their graduate advisor and
College Associate Dean or Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Credit Earned as a Senior

Graduate credit usually may not be earned in advance of the baccalaureate degree. Seniors may,
however, be granted approval to earn a maximum of 12 units of course work in the 400 and 500 levels
designated as acceptable for graduate credit and taken at this University toward their prospective
graduate programs (based upon faculty recommendation, academic performance (in general a
grade‑point average of 3.0 (B) in the major), and promise of academic achievement in post‑graduate
study). Approval is subject to the following conditions: (a) the course work must be in addition to that
required for the undergraduate major; and (b) the undergraduate student must have an approval from the
departmental graduate advisor and the department chair prior to enrollment. (PS-92-08). In addition, any
graduate units must be specifically reserved for inclusion in a future graduate degree. In those areas in
which graduate credit is for a credential only, approval must be obtained from the appropriate department
in the College of Education. Requests submitted after completion of course(s) will not be approved.
(Source: http://catalog.csulb.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=148&hl=reserved&returnto=search)

Senior Enrollment in Graduate Courses for Undergraduate Credit

Under special conditions, seniors who have a 3.0 grade‑point average or better in their major and who
have adequate undergraduate preparation in the subject may enroll in up to 12 units in the 500‑599 series
to fulfill the elective requirements of the bachelor's degree. The course work may not be applied to the
units of 500‑600 level course work required by the department or college for the master's degree. The
student must have approval from the instructor and department chair before registration in the class(es) is
permitted. (PS 92-09)

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APPENDIX A
PROGRAM OUTLINE

Satisfactory completion of 32 units of approved graduate courses to include:

1. Take all of the following courses (22 units):

▪ EMER 500 - Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for Emergency
Management (3 units)
▪ EMER 506 - Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3 units)
▪ EMER 530 - Applied Research Methods and Analytical Techniques for Decision
Support and Innovation (4 units)
▪ EMER 540 - Emergency Management Organizations: Constructs for Influencing
Complex Systems (3 units)
▪ EMER 548 - Risk, Crisis, and Inter-Agency Communications (3 units)
▪ EMER 661 - Emergency Management Leadership Across the Megacommunity (3
units)
▪ EMER 671 - Proposal: Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in Emergency
Services Administration (3 units)

2. Take two additional elective courses selected in consultation with a faculty advisor (6
units).

3. Completion of the Culminating Activity. To satisfy the culminating activity requirement

(thesis or project), students must satisfactorily complete 4 units of thesis or 4 units of
project.
▪ Project Students take the following course: EMER 694 - Project: Strategic Planning
and Integrative Practices in Emergency Services Administration (4 units)
▪ Thesis Students take the following course: EMER 698 - Thesis (2-4 units)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
The following are required and elective course descriptions in the program.

EMER 500. Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for Emergency Management (3)
Prerequisite: Open to EMER graduate students only. Research processes and methods for retrieving
emergency management information. Writing preparation for academic and professional documents in
emergency management. On-campus and free-source e-learning technologies to interface with program
content, student and faculty communications, and course projects and evaluations. Construction of
webpages. Letter grade only (A-F). Not open for credit to students with credit in EMER 502 or EMER 504.

EMER 506. Emergency Planning and Management (3)

Prerequisite: Open to EMER graduate students only. Broad foundation for current practices and theory in
emergency management and homeland security. Principles and components of a comprehensive risk
management program are assessed. Topics include mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery,
resilience, vulnerability, and multi-sectoral roles. Letter grade only (A-F). Same course as PPA 542. Not
open for credit to students with credit in EMER 542.

EMER 530. Applied Research Methods and Analytical Techniques for Decision Support and
Innovation (4)
Prerequisites: EMER 506; Open to EMER graduate students only. Critical analysis of interdisciplinary
research, theory and multi-methods appropriate for application within emergency services and
management are examined using quantitative and qualitative analysis. Letter grade only (A-F).

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EMER 540. Emergency Management Organizations: Constructs for Influencing Complex Systems
(3)
Prerequisite: Open to EMER graduate students only. Historical events, policies, and complex
organizational settings that shape emergency management organizations. Critical reviews of modern and
post-modern organizational theories associated with complex systems. Strategic improvements in
emergency management organizations. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 545. Disaster Mental Health Issues in Emergency Management (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500; Open to EMER graduate students only. Theories and practical applications of
emergency mental health and self-care for those responding to, or managing response to, widespread
natural and human-induced disasters. Letter grade (A-F).

EMER 547. Continuity of Operations, Recovery, and Emergency Management (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500 and EMER 506; Open to EMER graduate students only. Development and
maintenance of comprehensive emergency management programs for business and industry. Plan
development and implementation, vulnerability analysis, hazard identification, life safety, property
protection, communications and community outreach. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 548. Risk, Crisis, and Inter-Agency Communications (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500; Open to EMER graduate students only. Theory and practical applications of
emergency communications for those responding to or managing response to widespread natural and
human-induced disasters. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 601. Technology, Cybersecurity, and Emergency Management (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500 and EMER 506; Open to EMER graduate students only. Role of technology in
effective emergency management. Exploration of Internet, disaster simulation software, and geographic
tools such as GIS, GPS, and direct and remote sensing devices through case study analyses and in-class
simulations. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 605. Public Health Issues in Emergency Management (3)

New course title effective fall 2021: Population Health Constructs for the Emergency Services
Sector (3)
Prerequisites: EMER 500; Open to EMER graduate students only. Roles and responsibilities of the public
health system in emergency management. Structure of public health systems, management tools, public
health intervention strategies, communication, collaboration, and ethical considerations. Role of public
health regarding assessments following disasters and maintaining public health standards. Letter grade
only (A-F).

EMER 631. International Emergency Administration Systems: Comparative Analysis (3)

Prerequisites: EMR 500; Open to EMER graduate students only. Comparative analysis of international
emergency management systems and structures. Implications of emerging threats and disasters in an
increasingly interdependent world. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 650. Graduate Seminar (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500 and EMER 506; Open to EMER graduate students only. Students will undertake
literature reviews and/or research to explore emerging issues, trends and research in the field of
emergency services administration. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 661. Emergency Management Leadership Across the Megacommunity (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500, EMER 506, EMER 530 and EMER 540; Open to EMER graduate students
only. Competencies of professional emergency management defined through the megacommunity.
Models of strategic leadership in all phases of disaster management, with often competing professional
organizations and networks, across culturally and economically diverse constituencies, and for natural or
human-made disasters. Letter grade only (A-F).

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EMER 671. Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in Emergency Services Administration (3)
Prerequisites: EMER 500, EMER 506, EMER 530, EMER 540, and EMER 548; Open to EMER graduate
students only. Capstone course focusing on all phases of disaster management of selected disaster case
studies, a natural disaster and human-made event, using existing research literature, Internet-based
simulation software, and post-incident evaluation techniques.
Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 690. Selected Topics in Emergency Management (1-6)

Prerequisites: EMER 500 and EMER 506; Open to EMER graduate students only. Group investigation of
selected topics. Letter grade only (A-F). May be repeated to a maximum of 6 units with different topics in
the same semester. Topics announced in the Schedule of Classes.

EMER 694. Project: Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in Emergency Services Admin. (2-
4)
Prerequisites: EMER 671 and Advancement to Candidacy; Open to EMER graduate students only.
Capstone course synthesizing research in emergency services management and research methodologies
leading to the development and implementation of a project designed to provide solutions to a problem
within the emergency services meta-community. May be conducted individually or in a group. Letter grade
only (A-F).

EMER 695. Independent Study (1-6)

Prerequisites: Open to EMER graduate students only. For students who wish to focus their studies on a
specific area of emergency services administration which coincides with a faculty member's research or
practical expertise. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 697. Directed Studies (3)

Prerequisites: EMER 500, EMER 506, and EMER 530; Open to EMER graduate students only. Research
in an area of specialization under the direction of a faculty member. Letter grade only (A-F).

EMER 698. Thesis (1-4)

Prerequisites: EMER 671 and Advancement to Candidacy; Open to EMER graduate students only.
Planning, preparation, and completion of a thesis. Letter grade only (A-F).

Additional Elective Courses

The following are additional elective courses permitted in the program not regularly offered through the
EMER Program.

CRJU 604, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Criminal Justice (3 units) – Set against the
background of our global community, an examination of the relationship between the historical and
contemporary motivations and goals of terrorism, United States Homeland Security and select aspects of
the United States criminal justice systems. Letter grade only (A-F).

GEOG 558, Hazards and Risk Management (3 units) – Broad overview of hazards and disasters,
whether natural or technological, emphasizing the physical and social dynamics that interact to produce
hazard, the spatial

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APPENDIX B
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the EMER program?

The MS in Emergency Services Administration degree program (EMER) is an entirely online 32-
unit graduate program. Courses are 3-4 units and will generally run for 15 weeks during the fall
or spring semesters. If offered during summer terms, the courses run for 12 weeks. There are
currently no winter session EMER courses available. The program uses team-focused projects.

What makes EMER unique?

EMER is an interdisciplinary program delivered exclusively online that prepares students for
leadership responsibilities in emergency services administration and disaster management.
Through the systematic study of the emerging discipline of emergency management, students
will learn to more effectively analyze complex disaster management problems and develop
strategic planning skills which encourage greater coordination and collaboration across all
stakeholders within any disaster management community.

Who is EMER designed for?

EMER was designed to bring together students representing many different emergency services
professionals living and working throughout the state, country, and world. EMER seeks students
who recognize that to advance in their career and to attain better leadership skills, they must
become a more educated professional. Upon completion of this program you will be more
skilled in effectively creating interagency collaboration to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen
disaster resilience within the communities you serve.

Who should apply?

The EMER Program is appropriate for the following professionals.

▪ Firefighters
▪ Law enforcement
▪ Emergency medical services personnel
▪ Military personnel
▪ Emergency managers
▪ Public health practitioners
▪ Public administrators
▪ NGO administrators
▪ Private business disaster planners
▪ Other professionals with a strong interest in how disasters influence their field

What are the EMER program requirements?

The EMER program requires a total of 32 graduate-level units. Of this total, 27 units of
coursework are required of all students, while 6 additional units may be taken as electives.
Since we look for students to come from many different backgrounds, with varied professional
experience, we provide a strong set of foundational required courses and allow students to
generate in their electives a path of study that can strengthen a specific set of competencies in
emergency management, their professional organization, or as their own career leadership
development dictates.

Many of the EMER courses are specifically designed to support students’ development of their
projects or theses. The problems tackled in these culminating projects can be sanctioned
through students’ senior administrators within their own organization, through EMER’s

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collaborative partnerships with multiple agencies throughout the world, or generated by the
student.

EMER examines emergency management research and theory with a constant “eye” to
practical application in the real world. EMER requires students to complete a project or thesis as
a final assessment of their studies. We want all of our graduating students to know they will
make a positive difference in the lives of those they serve and in the organizations they have
been educated to lead.

Who teaches the EMER courses?

CSULB full-time faculty teaching in the EMER program currently come from eight different
programs/departments on campus with part-time faculty practitioners representing emergency
services, public health, and private industries directly involved in emergency management.

What will I study?

Required courses focus on developing competencies in:

▪ Leadership skills
▪ Writing and critical thinking skills
▪ Emergency management and planning
▪ Gathering information and research data for making more informed and strategic
decisions
▪ Interagency risk and crisis communications
▪ Public health issues
▪ Homeland security
▪ Business continuity
▪ International emergency management
▪ Grant writing and administration
▪ Finance and budgeting
▪ Hazards and risk management
▪ Strategic planning and integrative practices in emergency services administration
▪ And many more

Where are the classes held?

The EMER program is delivered entirely online in an asynchronous format.

How and where is the advising done for EMER?

Advising is conducted using web-based technology and by email or telephone.

When are the classes held?

Classes are held in fall, spring, and summer terms. All classes are offered entirely online
asynchronously. Most faculty have developed their courses to offer intensive study and
discussion of course topics in weekly lessons, which can be delivered in real time or through
content made available online. Content delivered in real time is usually recorded and made
available later to students unable to participate in the initial online discussions. Using the latest
digital technologies, faculty and students can study all phases of disaster management through
lectures and discussions delivered in real time or through weekly lessons designed to
accommodate students’ professional working schedules.

Do I take the same classes with the same students every semester?

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No, EMER does not expect all students to pursue this program in lock-step, as changes in work
assignment and/or family responsibilities frequently have an impact on degree planning.
Students are expected to plan their work and family demands to finish their degrees in a timely
manner. Adjustments to student schedules can be made in consultation with the EMER
Graduate Advisor. All students must complete their degrees within seven (7) years, else courses
expire.

What will my first semester look like?

All students entering their first fall semester must enroll in at least one course, EMER 500,
Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for Emergency Services Administration.
Students may enroll in additional courses depending upon their schedule or needs. EMER 500
introduces students to the functionality of the EMER online technologies, critical writing and
thinking, and library research skills, as well as the foundational principles, competencies, and
research and theory in emergency management. The content and course assignments in these
first semester courses have all been closely integrated to ensure students experience a
successful start to their graduate studies. After the first semester, students may enroll in
additional courses as desired. Students must be enrolled every fall and spring semester until
graduation.

What is MyCSULB?
MyCSULB has been adopted by the California State University system to provide convenient
web service to students, faculty, and staff. At MyCSULB, you can maintain your student records
and receive information that will keep you informed on updates to University policies and
procedures regarding your path from new student to graduation. It is your responsibility to
maintain and ensure accuracy of your student records at all times. Please work with the
Graduate Advisor and review your MyCSULB records frequently throughout your academic
career to ensure accuracy of your records and to avoid problems.

When will I graduate?

Most students graduate within two to three years after starting the program. You must graduate
within seven years.

When is the admission deadline?

Usually June 1 for admission to the fall semester. The EMER Program does not have a spring
or summer admission cycle.

What is the program cost?

Course fees for the EMER program are subject to change. For updated costs, see the Fees
section on the CPaCE website. Costs for books, software, or other course materials are in
addition to the course fees.

What college grants the EMER degree?

The EMER program is housed within the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and
Emergency Management in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) on the campus
of California State University, Long Beach. When you graduate, your diploma will read “Master
of Science in Emergency Services Administration.”

How do I apply?
Every step in the process for applying to the EMER program is detailed in the CSULB University
Catalog and on the EMER website.

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How can I get more information?

For more information, please e-mail the EMER Graduate Advisor, Dr. Peter Kreysa, at
[email protected].

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APPENDIX C
DIRECTORY OF FACULTY AND STAFF

Brenda Vogel, Ph.D. Phone: (562) 985-4455

EMER Program Director Email: [email protected]
School of Criminology, Criminal Justice and
Emergency Management Dr. Steven Jensen, DPPD
Email: [email protected] Lecturer
School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and
Peter Kreysa, Ph.D. Emergency Management
EMER Graduate Advisor/ Associate Phone: (562) 985-4111
Professor Email: [email protected]
Phone: (562) 985-8111
Email: [email protected] Valerie Lucus-McEwen, MS, CEM, CBCP
Lecturer
Shirley Feldmann-Jensen, DPPD, MPH School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and
EMER Program Coordinator, Associate Emergency Management
Professor, School of Criminology, Email: [email protected]
Criminal Justice, and Emergency
Management Christine M. Rodrigue, Ph.D.
Phone: (562) 985-7489 Professor
Email: [email protected] Department of Geography
Email: [email protected]
Joseph Aubele
Librarian/EMER Lecturer, University Doug Weeks, Ph.D.
Library Lecturer
Phone: (562) 985-5321 School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and
Email: [email protected] Emergency Management
Email: [email protected]
Jude Colle, MS
Lecturer, School of Criminology, David McEntire, Associate Professor
Criminal Justice, and Emergency Email: [email protected]
Management Email: [email protected]
Linda Kiltz, Associate Professor
Rai D’Honore, Associate Professor Email: [email protected];
Email: [email protected]
Deborah Kreisberg, Associate Professor
Margaret Gutierrez, MS Email: [email protected]
Lecturer, Advanced Studies in Education
and Counseling

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APPENDIX D
PROGRAM PLAN FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Student ID Number (Not SSN): CSULB Email:

Name (Last, First Middle):
Program Entry Date:i Mandatory Completion Date (7 years maximum to graduate):
Expected Graduation Semester & Year: ii

Units Sem/Year
Course
Course Title 500/600 Completed Grade
REQUIRED COURSES (22 Units)
Note: A grade of “D” or “F” in any one course will likely drop you from the program with no chance of recovery.
CSULB does not “repeat-delete” graduate courses.
Information Literacy and Practical Writing Applications for
EMER 500 3
Emergency Services Administration (Prerequisite: None)
EMER 506 Emergency Mgmt. and Homeland Security (Prerequisite: None) 3
EMER 530 Applied Research Methods and Analytical Techniques 4
(Prerequisite is EMER 506)
Emergency Management Organizations: Constructs for
EMER 540 3
Influencing Complex Systems (Prerequisite: None)
EMER 548 Risk, Crisis, and Interagency Communications 3
(Prerequisite is EMER 500)

EMER 661 Emergency Management Leadership Across the Megacommunity 3

(Prerequisites are EMER 500, 506, 530 and 540)
Strategic Planning & Integrative Practices in Emergency Services
Administration.
EMER 671 (Prerequisites are EMER 500, EMER 506, EMER 530, EMER 540, and EMER 3
548. Send this completed form to the Graduate Advisor at least one semester
BEFORE enrolling in this course. You must check Project or Thesis below.)
Total Required Course Units Earned 22
REQUIRED PROJECT OR THESIS COURSE (4 Units)
Take EMER 694 (Project) or Take EMER 698 (Thesis). Check appropriate box below.
 Project Option: Select Project or Thesis option. Check the box if selecting project option:
Project: Strategic Planning and Integrative Practices in
EMER 694 Emergency Services Administration (Prerequisites are EMER 671 and 4
Advancement to Candidacy. Send this completed form to the Graduate Advisor to
Advance to Candidacy at least one semester BEFORE enrolling in this course.)
 Thesis Option: Select Thesis or Project option. Check the box if selecting thesis option:
EMER 698 Thesis (Prerequisites are EMER 671 and Advancement to Candidacy; complete
all other coursework before enrolling in this course. Send this completed form to
4
the Graduate Advisor to Advance to Candidacy at least one semester BEFORE
enrolling in this course.)
Total Project or Thesis Units Earned 4
SPECIALIZATION or ELECTIVE COURSES (6 Units) iii

Use this section to identify specialization or elective courses you have taken, or will be taking, in your program. If using transfer courses, include
the (a) course prefix, (b) course number, (c) course title, (d) name of institution, and (e) month/year completed. Transfer courses must be relevant
graduate-level courses completed at a regionally accredited institution and no older than 7 years by graduation. Transfer courses may not have
been used previously to obtain any other degree. Courses completed as an undergraduate may not be used as CSULB graduate-level transfer
courses unless they were previously reserved for this purpose. It is your responsibility to know, understand, and follow all policies when
requesting transfer credit below. Advancement to Candidacy does not guarantee approval of transfer courses. Exceptions will not be made.

Total Specialization or Elective Units Earned 6 32 semester units

Total Units Earned in Program 32 required to graduate.

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i You must be continually enrolled each fall and spring semester to remain in the program. If you are not
enrolled each fall and spring semester, you will be dropped from the program unless you complete an
Educational Leave form in the fall or spring semester before taking Educational Leave (else a late fee will
apply). You can apply for Educational Leave using your Student Center on your MYCSULB account.
Contact the Graduate Advisor for more information, or if you are having difficulty.
ii The deadline to apply for graduation is about 6 months before commencement. See the CSULB website

for deadlines and information about commencement.

iii See the Graduate Student Checklist for specific information about using transfer courses in the

program. Exceptions to policy regarding the use of transfer courses will not be made.

[End of Document]