Mr. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator was the Keynote Speaker at the IAEM Conference in Orlando, FL where I spent a week to network, meet new colleagues and discuss Emergency Management degree programs, and training. Here are some new links and information:

There is a new course: Intergovernmental Affairs of Emergency Management taught by Dr. Christine Gibbs Springer, Director of the Executive Masters of Science in Crisis and Emergency Management at UNLV which focuses on intergovernmental relations, memorandums, and networking with local, regional and federal governmental agencies.

There are emergency management internships and students participating in service learning, volunteering with agencies such as Red Cross, CERT, and Civil Air Patrol where they gain free training and are players in exercises. This adds a "hands on" component to the degree program and assists students in learning and experiencing work first hand through a variety of opportunities.
IAEM has this link for job postings which includes internship information.

Emergency Management Magazine hosts a tab for job opportunities in related fields.

On another note, as of January 1, 2010 the IAEM Certification in Emergency Management (CEM) will require a four year degree. Get your packets in before 12/31/2009. There is an updated study guide.

Registration deadline is November 23, 2009 for the December 4, 2009 CEM Exam Prep Course.

 
The uniformed services and military included a large contingency of Certified Emergency Managers present at IAEM who are actively pursuing degrees in the emergency management specialty track and career field, from services including the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, and Army. The post 9/11 G.I. Bill will reimburse those service members who are eligible, for obtaining the CEM.

If you have additional ideas or information you would like to share about your emergency management degree programs please contact me through my name on the header.