Banner Image

Bachelor's in Emergency Management

Advance Your Skillset in Emergency Management

Moreno Valley College is proud to introduce California's first public Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management. Offered through MVC’s School of Public Safety, this groundbreaking degree meets a vital need in the growing field of emergency management and is a direct response to state and regional workforce demands.

At a Glance

  • Total Degree Units: 120
    • Lower Division Major Units: 31–32
    • Upper Division Major Units: 45
    • Double-Counted Units: 9–10
    • General Education Units: 34
    • Elective Units: 18–20
  • Capstone or Internship required for Graduation, ensuring real-world experience

Why choose MVC?

  • Only public emergency management bachelor’s degree in California

  • More affordable pathway to a four-year degree

  • Stackable with MVC associate degrees and certificates

  • Designed for working professionals and students entering the field

  • Meets future job qualifications as required by California legislation (AB-89)

  • High market demand for graduates

A safety professional in a vest talks on a radio

Want to Learn More?

Subscribe to our interest list to receive updates on admissions, program launch dates, tuition details, and upcoming information sessions.
Share Your Interest

Start planning for your fall 2026 BSEM admission

Are you interested in being part of the initial fall 2026 bachelor's of science in emergency management cohort? Start planning for your admission now. To apply to the program, you will need these prerequisites completed:

  1. Completion with a “C” or better at least 60 lower division semester units, including: 
    • Meet California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) requirements as listed in the college catalog
    • HLS-1 Introduction to Homeland Security and Terrorism
    • HLS-101 Introduction to Emergency Management
  2. At least 9 additional units selected from: 
    • HLS-2 Preparedness for Emergencies, Disasters and Homeland Security Incidents
    • HLS-3 Response to Emergencies, Disasters and Homeland Security Incidents
    • HLS-4 Recovery in Emergencies, Disasters and Homeland Security Incidents
    • GEG-8 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Lab
    • BUS-77A Introduction to Project Management
    • SOC-1/SOC-1H Introduction to Sociology/Honors
    • Statistics Course (choose one):
      • STAT-C1000/H Introduction to Statistics/Introduction to Statistics/Honors
      • PSYC-48/SOC-48 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

Apply to MVC View the Class Schedule

Industry Endorsement

MVC's Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management is designed around real-world standards and built in collaboration with leading emergency response agencies.

  • Association of Riverside County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff (ARCCOPS)
  • California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
  • California Emergency Services Association (CESA)
  • Region 9 – International Association of Emergency Managers
  • Riverside County Emergency Management Department
  • Riverside County Fire Department
  • Riverside County Fire Chiefs Association
  • Riverside County Fire Training Officers Association
  • San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services
  • Southern California Tribal Emergency Management and Homeland Security Project

Prepare for a Leadership Role

 
Photo of hazmat commanders in high visibility vests

Required Learning

Over 80% of California’s public agencies require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level emergency management roles. MVC is one of the few public institutions offering a four-year degree path focused on this field.
Photo of a binder labeled as emergency response plan

Flexible Career Options

Whether you’re advancing from MVC's associate programs or entering directly into upper-division study, this bachelor’s degree will open the door to high-growth careers across government, healthcare, public safety, and private industry.
Photo of a technical worker using emergency response information systems

Training from the Ground Up

MVC's stackable credentials in emergency management allow students to enter at any stage—from beginner to working professional—and continue building toward a meaningful, impactful career in emergency management.

Curriculum Highlights

MVC offers comprehensive courses and training in a wide range of emergency management topics, covering advanced planning to disaster recovery, security, leadership and ethics, policy, technology, and more.
  • Identify and assess natural, manmade, and technological threats
  • Demonstrate leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
  • Effectively prepare for and manage disaster scenarios
  • Understand the professional scope and ethical responsibilities of emergency managers
  • Evaluate how social, political, and cultural dynamics impact emergency response
  • Apply research and data to improve emergency management strategies
  • Master communication skills vital to crisis response and interagency coordination
  • Design and assess emergency exercises to improve readiness and response
  • Project Management
  • Leadership and Ethics in Public Safety
  • Crisis and Public Communications
  • Writing for Government
  • Public Health and Disasters
  • Science of Natural Disasters
  • Information Systems in Emergency Management
  • Grants Management
  • Human Resources in Public Safety
  • Whole Community Response
  • Research Methods and Data Analysis
  • Emergency Exercise Design and Evaluation
  • Public Policy and Administration

 

MVC graduates

Ready to become a Mountain Lion?