General EDHS Department FAQs

The Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems is an academic department in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. The department offers two undergraduate Emergency Health Management tracks in addition to a Paramedic concentration baccalaureate degree. A Master’s degree and two post-baccalaureate certificates are also available.

The department attracts a wide variety of students, but most have an interest in emergency medical services, disaster management, public health, emergency management or the health professions as a career.

If your job is flexible enough to allow you to have weekdays off to attend undergraduate classes, it is possible. If you are a shift-worker, you will need to adjust your schedule to have weekdays free as the department does not have an “echo” program for courses. However, because of the academic rigor of coursework, students are discouraged from working full-time while pursuing an undergraduate degree.

Graduate coursework can be taken completely online in an asynchronous format either part-time (3-6 credits/semester) or full-time (9 credits/semester). Most students in the graduate program who work full-time, complete the degree part-time.

Your transcript will have to be reviewed by the Registrar’s office for transfer to UMBC. If you have an AA degree from a Maryland community college, it is likely most of your undergraduate courses will transfer.

Yes. You can complete the paramedic concentration or management tracks in four years if you are a full-time student and follow the suggested course schedule.

There is a Paramedic Concentration and two management tracks: Emergency Health Leadership and Emergency & Disaster Health Management

You should enroll in the Emergency Health Leadership track.

Although many courses that are available online, especially in the Emergency Health Leadership track, there may still be some courses requiring in-person attendance. It is recommended to speak with an advisor.

The Paramedic Concentration is not available online and requires in-person attendance.

The Graduate program can be taken completely online.

Yes. Scholarships are only for Maryland residents who are active career or volunteer firefighters, EMS, or rescue squad members. Available scholarships are:

1. Charles W. Riley Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scholarship Program. Information available at:

https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_fire.aspx

2. Maryland State Fireman’s Association. Information is available at:

http://www.msfa.org/content/scholarship/

3. John Arminger Scholarship Fund   Information is available at:

http://johnarmigerscholarshipfund.org/

There are no physical fitness requirements for enrollment. However, students will be required to have certain immunizations to attend clinical sites. Students in the paramedic track will be required to function as a member of an ambulance crew in actual field settings, therefore must be able to “perform the job” of a paramedic.

Yes. Some paramedic track courses have a modest student lab fee associated with them. Students participating in clinical experiences and field internships are required to purchase approved UMBC/EDHS uniforms and scrubs, as well as, malpractice insurance (available through UMBC).

Yes. Students must have an acceptable background check to participate in clinical experiences and field internships.

Yes. Clinical and field sites require that students be drug tested.

No. Students in the paramedic concentration will have an opportunity to complete an EMT course and develop a plan to gain experience prior to beginning the paramedic concentration in the 3rd & 4th years of the program.

Emergency & Disaster Health Management track students are not required to have EMT certification.

The Graduate program does not require EMT certification.

Yes. Students in the management tracks are required to complete a 3-12-credit semester-long internship. Possible internship opportunities.

Paramedic concentration students complete clinical internships as part of their skills training.

The Master’s degree is a non-clinical program and does not have internships available.

No. However, all graduate students are encouraged to attend the weekly seminars that occur on Wednesdays from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. The seminars present information that is usable by all of the graduate courses and often have some national or international experts in the field of EMS as guest speakers. Students are also able to “attend” the live session and interact remotely via Blackboard. All the seminars are recorded for students to view at a later time if they are unable to attend during the seminar time.
We also encourage all our graduate students to participate in UMBC’s Graduate Commencement in December and May.