Emergency Management Degrees: U.S. University Excellence Centers
Emergency Management Degrees: U.S. University Excellence Centers
Aug 21, 2010 Shelley Aylesworth-Spink
The Centers began with the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Combined, Centers are found across the country with each designed to increase American’s understanding of various aspects of dangerous threats, such as explosives and biological attacks.
Since creation, the work of the Centers has grown into a range of degree programs and research endeavors related to homeland security and emergency management.
Homeland Security University Degrees Aim to Reduce Threats
The Center for Maritime, Island and Port Security, led by the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, works to strengthen maritime awareness and safeguard populations and properties unique to U.S. islands, ports, and remote and extreme environments.
At the University of Southern California, the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events develops advanced tools to evaluate the risks, costs and consequences of terrorism.
The Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment, at the Michigan State University and Drexel University and established jointly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, examine gaps in risk assessments for decontaminating microbiological threats, such as plague and anthrax.
The National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense, led by Texas A&M University, protects against the introduction of foreign animal and zoonotic diseases, which are those diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
Emergency Management University Degrees at Centers Focus on Personal Safety
The National Center for Food Protection and Defense, at the University of Minnesota, defends the safety and security of the food system.
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The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, led by the University of Maryland, informs decisions on how to disrupt terrorists and terrorist groups.
The National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response, at Johns Hopkins University, works to prepare the U.S. for natural or man-made disasters.
The Center of Excellence for Awareness & Location of Explosives-Related Threats, led by Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Rhode Island, develops new means and methods to protect the U.S. from explosives-related threats.
The National Center for Border Security and Immigration, led by the University of Arizona in Tucson and the University of Texas at El Paso, are developing technologies, tools and advanced methods to balance immigration and commerce with border security.
Emergency Management Education Related to Natural and Man-Made Disasters
The Center for Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure, and Emergency Management, led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, examines how to safeguard populations, properties, and economies as it relates to the consequences of catastrophic natural disasters.
The National Transportation Security Center of Excellence is found at seven universities with each specializing in areas intended to research, develop or provide professional security training, including the training of transportation employees and transportation professionals.
The Center of Excellence in Command, Control and Interoperability, at Purdue University and Rutgers University, creates the scientific basis and technologies needed to analyze massive amounts of information from multiple sources in order to more reliably detect threats.
The 12 Centers of Excellence in the United States related to homeland security and emergency management are now a strong force of providing university degrees and advanced research across the country.
Copyright Shelley Aylesworth-Spink. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.