Emergency management and homeland security curricula: Contexts, cultures, and constraints

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2007.0022

Authors

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2007.0022

Keywords:

emergency management education, homeland security education, professionalism in emergency management

Abstract

During the past three decades, emergency management has become more professionalized. An important part of this transformation has been the explosive growth in higher education of programs designed to provide the fundamental knowledge and skills required of emergency managers. Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, however, curricula reflecting homeland security issues and competencies also have been established. Some have proposed that these program areas should be better integrated. Following a brief summary of the historical context in which these developments occurred, key points of culture clash are identified. It is concluded that future faculty and administrative initiatives will be constrained by these cultural differences and deflected by future governmental policies, disaster events, and other external factors.

Author Biography

Thomas E. Drabek, PhD

John Evans Professor, Emeritus, Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado.

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