Skip to content
Kansas Wesleyan University

Online Program
Emergency Management

Build a career serving on the frontlines.

Home Academics Programs Emergency Management
Department of Behavioral Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The Emergency Management major at Kansas Wesleyan, the only one of its kind in Kansas, can be taken completely online, on campus or in a combination hybrid program. Kansas Wesleyan’s expertise in this field is gaining national attention, with numerous groups recognizing KWU’s hybrid program.

We have articulation agreements set up with a pair of community colleges as well, Frederick Community College and Garden City Community College. Our alumni can also go on to pursue master’s degrees in the discipline.

 

This program is offered:

  • LOGO
    On Campus
  • LOGO
    Online

Why Major in Emergency Management?

An Emergency Management major prepares students to help organizations and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. Students study crisis communication, disaster planning, risk management, and public safety strategies.

Graduates find opportunities in government agencies, healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, emergency services, and private industry. The program develops leadership and decision-making skills that are essential during times of crisis.

Why Get a Minor in Emergency Management?

An Emergency Management minor prepares students to plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. Students explore risk assessment, crisis communication, preparedness planning, and disaster response strategies.

This minor complements majors in criminal justice, business, healthcare, public administration, and social work. Graduates gain skills that are valuable in organizations responsible for protecting people, resources, and communities.

Program Information

Mission Statement

The mission of the emergency management major at Kansas Wesleyan University is to give students the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and the sense of duty necessary to help save lives and property from the devastating impact of disasters.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to understand and apply administrative management, community risk, leadership skills, ethics, managing projects, people and change, inter/intra-agency coordinating, collaborating, and networking/team building.
  2. Students will be able to consider legal issues and concerns; Stafford Act and Patriot Act; legal environment and disaster laws, complex systems and risk governance.
  3. Students will be able to use critical thinking skills, employ professional ethics, and be continual learners in the field of emergency management.
  4. Students will be able to utilize scientific knowledge to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions; geographic literacy related to geographic configurations of hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks; sociocultural literacy, which will provide a lens to.
  5. Students will design ideas that result in behaviors and practices that promote social justice and equity. Diversity in ideas explored in alternate/competing theories and dissenting opinions.

Course Requirements and Descriptions

All course requirements and descriptions for KWU’s Emergency Management program can be found in the most recent version of the course catalog.

View Course Catalog

Crisis City

Kansas Wesleyan University is located near Crisis City, operated by the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM), an unrivaled world-class, multi-discipline, multi-agency training environment developed to enhance the state’s capability to defend against terrorism threats and respond to disasters and emergencies.

The university enjoys strong partnerships with local, regional and national Emergency Management experts and organizations.

Program Contact

For more information, contact Bernard Botson, assistant professor of Emergency Management, or call 785-833-4360. You may also reach out to the KWU Admissions Office at 785-833-4305.

Meet the Faculty

The Emergency Management program is part of the Department of Behavioral Sciences. A full listing of departmental faculty can be found here.

Headshot of alum

Kansas Wesleyan’s Emergency Management program game me the opportunity to pursue a unique and high-demand degree. Through this program, I learned how to navigate challenging situations with composure and positivity. Emergency Management prepares students for diverse career paths, but one thing remains constant: those who join this program develop adaptability, resilience, and confidence to succeed in whatever they do.

Aiden Kendall ’24, Enertech

More Student Resources

Students walking on campus

Admissions
Group of graduates in cap and gown in front of Pioneer

Pay for College
Casey with cheerleaders

Student Life

Kansas Wesleyan University

100 E. Claflin Avenue
Salina, KS 67401

785-827-5541

Kansas Wesleyan University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© 2026 Kansas Wesleyan University