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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Safety

School of Public Service Leadership

Emergency Management specialization

With natural and man-made disasters stretching the capacity of responding agencies throughout the nation and around the world, the need for leaders in the field of emergency management has never been greater. This Emergency Management PhD specialization is designed to create scholar-practitioners with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to oversee emergency organizations, teach tomorrow's leaders, and consult on the effective management of complex emergency situations, including proactively eliminating or mitigating crises before they happen. Courses include case studies from Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) incidents and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and opportunities for your own doctoral research to advance the field of emergency management.

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Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 48 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Admission Requirements Icon indicating PDF
Next Start Date: June 4, 2012
Quarter - Coursework: $4,596 §
Up to 3 courses per quarter
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $4,125 §

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§ New prices may apply July 9, 2012. Icon indicating PDF

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Residency requirements: Three 4-day weekend experiences

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
In addition to your online courses, you will complete 3 residential colloquia, each of which includes a 4-day weekend experience, at specific stages in your program. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond.

Doctoral colloquia each have 3 steps:

Step 1: Colloquium Courseroom (opens approximately 2 weeks prior to Weekend Experience)
Step 2: Weekend Experience (4-day residency)
Step 3: Colloquium CourseroomAssessment and evaluation (completed the week after the Weekend Experience)

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each colloquium is $1,495 (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment), but doesn't include costs for evening meals or travel. You'll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Learn more about residency requirements.
  • Get more detailed information and learn how the residency experiences will enrich your learning at Capella University. Speak with an enrollment counselor at 1.877.269.7780.
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Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:
    • Fire Service Administration
    • Forensics
    • Health Policy and Management
    • Homeland Security
    • Public Administration
    • Public Health
    • Public Policy and Management
    • Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Core Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSF8003 - Emergency Management Research, Theory, and Practice
  • PSF8601 - Contemporary Public Safety Leadership
  • PSF8603 - Management and Leadership Theory
  • PSF8606 - Diversity Issues in Public Safety
  • PSF8634 - Public Safety Incident Command Paradigms
  • PSF8106 - Epistemology of Practice Knowledge
  • PSF8100 - Fundamentals of Social Science Research*
  • HS8122 - Quantitative Research Methods in Public Service*
  • HS8123 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Public Service*
  • HS8124 - Advanced Study in Research Methods in Public Service*

Specialization Courses (each course 4 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSF8620 - Principles of Organization Theory and Practice
  • PSF8626 - Stress Management in Public Safety Organizations
  • PSF8630 - Critical Incident Stress
  • PSF8631 - Case Studies in Critical Incident Management
  • PSF8635 - Theoretical Constructs of Emergency Management
  • PSF8609 - Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
  • PSF8612 - Emergency Management Operations
  • PSF8615 - Global Issues of Disaster Management
  • PSF8638 - Business Continuity for Emergency Management
  • PSF9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • PSF9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
  • PSF9921 - Dissertation Research 1* - 5 quarter credits
  • PSF9922 - Dissertation Research 2* - 5 quarter credits
  • PSF9923 - Dissertation Research 3* - 5 quarter credits
  • PSF9924 - Dissertation Research 4* - 5 quarter credits

Five Elective Courses

  • Choose any graduate course(s).
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

Course Descriptions

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If you plan to lead, teach, or consult in public safety areas such as law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, criminal justice, or corrections, Capella offers a PhD specialization in Public Safety Leadership. You might also consider our PhD specialization in Criminal Justice if you're interested in pursuing a high-level position in higher education, research or consulting, a public policy group, or other criminal justice-related organizations.


We also offer a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a Health Management and Policy specialization for individuals interested in pursuing management or director positions in government, private, or community-based public health organizations.



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You Can Do It

July 8, 2010Debi I am a 52 year old who has completed a year towards my PhD at Cappella. As many other learners, I work full-time and I am raising an 8 year old. Capella has afforded me the opportunity to return to school by providing me support necessary to accomplish this goal. Capella has been with me every step of the way. If I can do it, you can do it!!

Capella Provides Affordable and Achievable High Quality Education to the Busy and Older People

August 2, 2010Shu In my fifties, and in my second year of studies, I am about midway in obtaining my PhD from Capella University. Capella provides affordable high quality education to every one including the very busy and older folks. Capella also provides tremendous support tools and mechanisms to learners, enabling even the very busy individuals to be able to work full time and cope with family while enrolled as full time student at Capella. Making the decision to get started is the difficult part but once enrolled, the realization becomes "I can do it".

My Thoughts

August 5, 2010Jose Capella is a great institution. The Emergency Management Program is good, I want to change majors. I was unemployed for a year and my Emergency Management studies did not help in finding a job.

Emergency Management

November 23, 2010Oliver I want to share that my experience with Capella Unversity was challenging, something that I am familiar with and enjoy accepting. I am 30 years old, an active U.S. Marine stationed in DC and have completed the Masters programs in 2 years. It is possible and the reward is amazing, but more importantly I think it is up to the individual to take the challenge and the road less taken. You will be challenged, but you will appreciate the work and feel proud when you graduate. Nothing is easy as most of know, but you will succeed and the instructors will guide you every step of the way. Good luck!

How long to complete PhD in Emergency Management

December 29, 2010Tom Hello, I am looking at the various options to complete a PhD in Emergency Management having now completed my military service and gained an MA. If I were to work full-time with no quarters off..what is a reasonable expectation to complete the program? If 100 students enter the program: - How many make it to the comprehensive exam? - How many successfully complete the exam? - How many complete the dissertation and get a PhD? - Why does Capella keep this info a secret? Nobody spends $60,000 without wanting to succeed. How many, on average, do not?

Emergency Management

February 11, 2012Chanda I'm currently getting my Master's in Emergency Management. Does the Ph. D program in Emergency Management require residencies or a defense of your dissertation?
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