Framing higher education and disciplinary efforts through a professionalization lens

Carol L. Cwiak, JD, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2019.0398

Authors

Carol L. Cwiak, JD, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2019.0398

Keywords:

emergency management, academic discipline, higher education, professionalization

Abstract

This article examines the characteristics of a profession, the role of the higher education community and emerging discipline in the emergency management professionalization process, and analysis of the FEMA Higher Education Program’s focus group efforts in support of the argument that successful professionalization efforts are necessarily dependent on emergency management higher education, an established emergency management academic discipline, and a robust body of knowledge.

Author Biography

Carol L. Cwiak, JD, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Management, North Dakota State University, Department 2351, Fargo, North Dakota

References

Wilson JL: The State of Emergency Management 2000: The Process of Emergency Management Professionalization in the United States and Florida (PhD dissertation, Florida International University, 2000). Dissertation Abstracts International 2000; 61(07): 2947A.

Cwiak CL: Strategies for Success: The Role of Power and Dependence in the Emergency Management Professionalization Process (PhD dissertation, North Dakota State University, 2009). Proquest (AAT3391652). Available at proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?did=1947083911&Fmt=7&clientId=79356&RQT=309&VName=PQD. Accessed January 29, 2018.

Cwiak CL: Issues, Principles and Attitudes—Oh My! Examining Perceptions from Select Academics, Practitioners and Consultants on the Subject of Emergency Management. Emmitsburg, MD: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007. Available at www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/emprinciples.asp. Accessed January 29, 2018.

Rubin CB (ed.): Emergency Management: The American Experience 1900−2005. Fairfax, VA: Public Entity Risk Institute, 2007.

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Emergency Management Institute: FEMA Higher Education Program Web site. Available at https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/. Accessed January 29, 2018.

Emergency Management Institute: Synergy between Training and Education: Advancing the Dialogue and the Efforts, FEMA Higher Education Program Training and Education Synergy Focus Group, April 7-8, 2014. Emmitsburg, MD: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2014. Available at https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/synergy_between_training_and_education_report-508%20compliant.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2018.

Cwiak CL, Willet S: Strengthening the emergency management higher education community: Addressing the challenges inherent in internal and external validity. In Hubbard JA (ed.): Ideas from an Emerging Field: Teaching Emergency Management in Higher Education. Fairfax, VA: Public Entity Risk Institute, 2009: 101-114.