Criminal Justice 415

CRJU 415: Emergency Management

Prerequisites: CRJU 100, or permission of instructor

Credit Hours: (3)

L (Applied Learning) Area

Explores fundamental concepts related to the management of crisis and disaster situations. Topics include: types of hazards; emergency planning; crisis communication; strategies for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery; continuity of business operations; human behavior in disaster situations; and principles of incident command system structure. Course will emphasize analysis of scenarios and exercises illustrating application of course material.


Detailed Description of Course

Topics to be discussed in the course may include, but are not limited to, the following:  Introduction and history of emergency management; risk analysis in emergency management; local, state, and federal frameworks for emergency management; types of hazards; hazard mitigation, emergency operations, and continuity of operations planning; behavior in emergency situations; use of the incident command system; emergency communication; emergency exercises; hazard mitigation; preparedness; response; and recovery.      


Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course will be structured in a lecture-discussion format.  To supplement presentation of theoretical material, the course may also include active learning strategies, including:  Processing and discussion of case studies; participation in tabletop simulation exercises; group projects and presentations; analysis of hypothetical scenarios; and guest speakers.  


Student Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students in this course will:

1. Explain the fundamental principles of emergency management, including:
        A. the nature of hazards and risk assessment;
        B. emergency planning processes;
        C. behavior during emergency situations;
        D. the incident command system and response structures;
        E. crisis communication;
        F. emergency preparedness;
        G. hazard mitigation;
        H. emergency response;
        I. disaster recovery; and
        J. continuity of operations.

2. Apply the fundamental principles of emergency management in developing responses for emergency scenarios.

3. Evaluate emergency incidents to prepare after-action analyses and to make recommendations for improving policy and practice.

4. Effectively apply skills associated with emergency management practice, including:
        A. written and oral communication;
        B. teamwork;
        C. evaluation of emergency incidents.


Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Tests
2. Quizzes
3. Case study papers
4. Research papers
5. Book review papers
6. Group projects and presentations
7. Individual projects and presentations
8. In-class exercises
9. Debates
10. Tabletop exercises


Other Course Information

The course will draw heavily on a case-based approach, utilizing teaching cases to illustrate theoretical principles on a regular basis.



Review and Approval

2012

June, 2023