EDHS 620 – EHS Epidemiology Methods [Fall-Odd years]
The goal of this course is to prepare students to understand epidemiologic research concepts and methods in order to apply them to the field of emergency and disaster health systems. In this course, students will learn about the “tools” (e.g., theories, methods, and concepts) that public health practitioners commonly use to answer epidemiologic questions. Students will apply these tools to critique and design epidemiologic research studies and respond to disasters and disease outbreaks. The format for this course is a combination of independent and interactive education: lectures, reading, and assignments are done individually, and students will participate in interactive discussion groups and seminars.
EDHS 621 – Biostatistics [3] [Offered Spring Semesters]
This course emphasizes statistical literacy and develops critical statistical thinking. Students will become proficient in analyzing data sets using univariate statistics and multivariable modeling, as well as communicating statistical results in a concise, cohesive and readable manner. (May fulfill Statistical requirement for other graduate programs)
EDHS 623 – Public Health Emergency Preparedness [3] (Offered Fall Semesters)
This course offers an introduction to public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) with a focus on developing awareness of mitigation, response, and recovery phases of the emergency management cycle. The course will teach key tools of public health emergency preparedness including hazard assessment, risk communications, and the incident management systems. Learners will develop research, policy, planning, and report development skills in the context of PHEP.
EDHS 624 – Emergency Management for Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations [3] (NEW – Spring 2025)
The healthcare system is uniquely challenged by large-scale disasters, which are on the increase in the United States and throughout the world. Every healthcare setting, from hospitals to outpatient clinics, may be affected by acute emergencies and disaster events including those both naturally occurring and man-made. Therefore, as public health professionals, healthcare professionals, emergency managers, or other professionals in charge of ensuring a safe patient care environment, it is essential to become familiar with the current disaster management paradigm (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) as it pertains to the healthcare environment. This course is designed to provide students with disaster management capabilities that will have applicability in their current or future employment in the hospital or healthcare arena.
EDHS 625 – Leadership, Risk & Crisis Communication [3] (NEW – Fall 2025)
This course is aimed at students who want to learn leadership in risk and communication strategies that will help prepare them for responding to public emergencies effectively, including: how to review and disseminate risk information as well as emerging/current crisis and emergency risk information, and how to systematically plan, develop, implement, and evaluate crisis and emergency risk communication activities.
EDHS 630 – Issues Analysis and Proposal Writing [3] [Offered Spring Semesters]
This course provides students with the opportunity to do an in-depth analysis of a current issue of the student’s choice in emergency healthcare and present a project proposal based on this issue. The semester will begin with issues discussion and proceed rapidly into the methods, mechanics, and style considerations required for the construction of a viable/fundable proposal.
EDHS 632 – Disaster Health Services [3] [Under Revision – Currently not offered]
This course examines health needs and techniques for providing healthcare to populations displaced or affected by disasters or war. The goal of the course is to prepare students to manage disaster health response preparedness and planning and to organize and manage disaster and refugee healthcare provision. The focus is on both domestic and international cases. Recommended: PREV 600 or SOCY 620.
EDHS 634 – Disaster Mitigation [3] [Offered Fall-Even Years]
Mitigation is the process by which society limits the negative effects of events it cannot totally prevent. This course provides the theory and legal underpinnings of mitigation as a primary component of emergency management and examines various methodologies for initiating and implementing successful mitigation programs in a rapidly changing world.
(Part of the EDHS Emergency Management disaster graduate certificate)
EDHS 636 – Disaster Response [3] [Offered Spring-Odd Years]
The most visible of the emergency management phases, disaster response is a complicated multi-institutional operation requiring sophisticated planning, logistics, and communications. This course covers the new National Incident Management System, response-related research, and implementation methods.
(Part of the EDHS Emergency Management disaster graduate certificate)
EDHS 637 – Disaster Recovery [3] [Offered Fall-Odd Years]
Federal, state, local and private nonprofit disaster recovery methods and policies are the core of this course, with examples of international disaster recovery dynamics.
(Part of the EDHS Emergency Management disaster graduate certificate)
EDHS 638 – Disaster Preparedness [3] [Offered Spring-Even Years]
As the core of effective and efficient response, preparedness consists of a complicated array of policies, methods, and programs, each with its own political and economic context. This course addresses these issues within the context of the current fears of terrorism and potential mega-events.
(Part of the EDHS Emergency Management disaster graduate certificate)
EDHS 639 – International Disaster Management [3] [Offered Spring-Varies]
International Disaster Management is a course aimed at students interested in critically analyzing key concepts in international disaster management theory, research, policy and application. This includes resilience, vulnerability, governance, and disaster management efforts. Students will explore contemporary issues and challenges in disaster management through a theoretical lens – both globally and locally. Through the course students should expect to build research expertise, knowledge and theoretical management skills in international disaster management in order to reduce negative impacts on health, social, economic and environmental spheres. International disaster management covers topics such as key concepts in international disaster management, disasters and development, war and disasters, geospatial support for international disaster management, key governmental and nongovernmental participants in international disaster management, citizen participation in disasters and disruptive technologies for disaster management.
Formerly: Catastrophic Disaster Preparedness
EDHS 640 – Introduction to High-Performance EHS [3] [Offered Fall Semesters]
An examination of the methods and models of EHS organizations that achieve the highest cost efficiency while maintaining and improving the quality of services produced. Students will examine the organizational characteristics and structures of high-performance EHS services.
EDHS 641 – EHS Law and Policy [3] [Offered Fall-Odd Years]
A survey of the major federal, state, and local regulatory programs that affect EMS/Disaster leaders.
EDHS 642 – Event-Driven Resource Deployment [3] [Offered Spring-Odd Years]
A methodological course in which students learn how to determine the demand for service and the best mechanisms to deploy unit-hour production. Students will become familiar with the use of software that facilitates demand analysis and deployment configuration. Recommended Prerequisite: EDHS 640
EDHS 652 – Human-Resources Deployment [3] [Offered Spring-Even Years]
A survey course of the policies necessary to ensure that properly prepared and motivated personnel are available to carry out the mission and daily operations of an EDHS organization.
EDHS 658 – Materials and Fleet Management [3] [Offered Fall-Even Years]
A survey course of the industrial practices of resource/supply management in high-performance EMS systems to maximize efficiency of fleet deployment. The course will examine policies and procedures necessary to ensure that transportation equipment in an EHS organization is capable of meeting the demands of patients for reliable and safe transportation service. The primary focus will be on implementing of quality-based practices such as just-in-time customer-supplier relations to improve productivity and operations efficiency.
EDHS 661 – Educational Issues in Emergency Health Services [3] [Under Revision – Not currently offered]
Relationships of established theoretical models for EDHS education to diverse settings within the instructional framework. Special emphasis is applied to the role of the adult learner in EDHS education.
EDHS 662 – Educational Program Management [3] [Under Revision – Not currently offered]
This course prepares students to serve as an emergency and disaster health systems’ educational program director. The various functions and responsibilities of the emergency and disaster health systems educational program director as specified by the Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in the Emergency Medical Services Professions will be presented via case studies. Students will work individually and in small groups to complete tasks and solve problems and issues relevant to the role of program director.
EDHS 676 – EHS Management of Reimbursement [3] [Offered Fall-Odd Years, Varies]
A methods course where students learn common accounting practices used in high-performance EHS organizations. Emphasis is on management of receivables from both individual and third-party payers.
EDHS 691 – Business Development and Strategic Planning [3] [Varies]
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of strategic planning specifically tailored for emergency and disaster health systems. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic plans in the context of emergency health care. The course covers fundamental theories of strategic planning, practical methodologies, and the unique challenges faced by emergency and disaster health systems in a dynamic and often unpredictable environment.
EDHS 699 – Independent Study [3] [Instructor Approval Required]
Students complete an individual project in a specific emergency health services area under the supervision of EDHS faculty. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
EDHS 700 – Systems Practicum [3] [Instructor Approval Required]
Field experience providing learning through observation and participation in administrative activities. Placements arranged in an existing system to support role development consistent with the student’s career goal, work experience, or setting.
EDHS 720 – Emergency Health Services Quality Assessment [3] [Offered Spring-Even Years]
The goal of this course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to initiate or expand an EDHS organization’s quality management operations. The course focuses on the NHTSA Baldridge Award approach to quality improvement.
EDHS 790 – Research or Capstone Project [3] [Offered Fall and Spring Semesters]
Development of a carefully researched scholarly project at the advanced-degree level of proficiency.
EDHS 799 – Master’s Thesis Research [2-6] [Offered Fall and Spring Semesters]
The thesis provides the student with the best opportunity for extensive guided research that will result in publishable quality work. Note: Six (6) credit hours are required for the M.S. program.
For a complete listing of UMBC Graduate Courses Click Here.