COD offer new emergency management certificate
College of DuPage will offer a new Emergency Management Certificate this fall to train students for positions in homeland security, law enforcement, emergency management and private security.
The 15-credit program will address the proactive aspects of planning and strategy and the reactive aspects of crisis management and organizational continuity.
“Emergency management has been around for a long time,” said Theo Darden, coordinator and associate professor of Criminal Justice. “The concept was first used by fire personnel. During the mid-1970s and early ‘80s, police started addressing emergency operations in terms of emergency management.
“Now emergency management is in the private sector. Risk management personnel are seeking certification so they can develop emergency plans and responses for the businesses they work for.”
The certificate includes three new courses: Continuity of Operations, Critical Incident Management, and Disaster Management and Response.
“In Critical Incident Management, students will examine case studies to see what went well and what went wrong,” Darden said. “Students also will receive help developing concepts on how to prepare for disasters, whether it's something like Hurricane Katrina or 9/11 or the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals.
“In Continuity of Operations, students will learn how different government agencies handle a man-made or natural disaster and how they communicate with each other.”
The College's Board of Trustees approved the new certificate at its January meeting, and the certificate is currently being reviewed by the Illinois Community College Board, which has already approved the new courses.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, emergency management job growth is expected to be much faster than average through 2018. Darden said the certificate is ideal for people already employed in the field.
“We already have interest from people who want the additional knowledge that will enhance their careers or help them get promoted into management careers,” he said.
For more information on the Emergency Management Certificate, call (630) 942-2989 or e-mail darden@cod.edu.