Events like the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in natural disasters have prompted government officials and business professionals alike to take a closer look at emergency management and consider what can be done to save lives, reduce damage, and protect the environment.
Health security is defined as the activities, both proactive and reactive, required to minimize the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger people's health. Emergency management, or disaster management, is a core part of this field: it brings together experts ranging from health officials to business specialists to prevent future disasters and to build the resources needed to respond to and recover from them when they do occur.
Depending on an individual’s goals, what you can do with a health security degree includes roles in a variety of industries, contributing to different aspects of disaster management, emergency management, and public health resilience. By completing an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Health Security, graduates gain the specialized skills needed to respond to disease outbreaks, bioterrorism and other human-made threats, and natural disasters, building a career that makes a positive impact in the lives of others.
What Is a Health Security Degree?
Disasters and public health emergencies can present a multitude of challenges to governments, businesses, the public, and the environment. Even with warning and preparation, the impact of a crisis can be devastating and long-lasting. Responding effectively to these events requires the collaboration of many skilled experts and agencies, and can be incredibly costly. Depending on the type of emergency, the skills and training required can be highly specialized.
Health security, emergency or disaster management degree programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to function effectively across the field's many areas, from disaster management and emergency management to disease outbreak response and public health resilience. Touching on topics ranging from the social or environmental aspects of disasters to emergency preparedness, students learn how to become effective leaders through each stage of health security work.
Students interested in an advanced program such as a health security degree should have already completed a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as public health, environmental health, biological sciences, business, behavioral health, or international relations. These programs prepare students with a foundation in critical thinking, communication, and problem solving.
Some topics that advanced emergency management degree programs cover include:
- Foundation, biostatistics, and epidemiology for public health
- Health systems policy and management
- Environmental aspects of health security and emergency management
- Psychosocial aspects of disaster
- Disaster and emergency communication
- Environmental policy
- Planning and implementation in health security
- Design strategies and program management
What you can do with a health security degree and the role you can play depends on the industry and type of crisis you focus on. By completing an advanced education, graduates can equip themselves with the skills to assess health threats, develop preparedness and response strategies, communicate risk effectively, and coordinate across sectors to protect communities during public health emergencies and other complex crises.
Why Pursue a Health Security Degree?
Large-scale public health emergencies and disasters can be incredibly challenging. From the strain on governments and local communities to the emotional and physical toll on both first responders and survivors, health security and emergency management require collaboration from a multitude of individuals.
Health security work includes identifying the psychosocial impact of emergencies on a community, and how those working in high-pressure situations cope. While many candidates may be qualified on paper, relevant education and first-hand experience help students decide if the unique stressors of this field will be right for them.
An opportunity for those who are passionate about helping others but prefer to contribute in managerial, policy or operational roles rather than direct clinical care, health security can allow skilled graduates to make an impact on large populations during a time of crisis.
Education and Experience
A career in public health and health security is an opportunity for skilled graduates to make a positive difference in the lives of others when they need it most. A health security degree can open doors to roles around the country and the world, responding to situations ranging from natural disasters to humanitarian emergencies.
From one event to the next, challenges can vary, and the risk of failure can have critical consequences for those involved. For this reason, candidates rely heavily on higher education and practical real-world experience to succeed. Many organizations prefer candidates who have completed an advanced degree such as a Master of Science in Health Security and extensive workplace training for leadership roles.
Entry- or mid-level experience in roles like communications specialist, dispatch coordinator, nonprofit administrator, planning associate, or emergency management intern can help graduates learn first-hand what it takes to provide efficient and effective disaster response, which will prepare them for the demands of becoming supervisors.
More than a mere qualification, an advanced degree is an opportunity for students to develop industry-specific knowledge that can be instrumental to success. Master’s degree programs can teach students both the theoretical aspects of emergency management as well as the communication and leadership skills that are essential in crisis situations.
Demand for Health Security
In the wake of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, 2024’s Hurricane Milton, and the fires that devastated Los Angeles in 2025, the U.S. government and international organizations like the U.N. are investing heavily in emergency management and preparedness — nationally, through organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and internationally, through agencies like the World Health Organization and World Food Programme.
In January 2025, FEMA reported that the number of major disaster declarations had increased by 61 percent in the 10 most recent fiscal years. Nationally, the number of Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) declarations with obligations over $1 billion dollars have increased, and annual DRF obligations have exceeded nearly $40 billion since 2020. FEMA expects both trends to continue, putting a significant strain on emergency response.
Major city, county, or nationwide events also call for the skills of health security professionals. The FIFA World Cup Finals that took place in multiple U.S. cities in 2026 is a prime example of a multi-day, multi-component special event that utilized the skills of health security managers from within and beyond the governing body for the sport.
Beyond securing funding for emergency resources, health security and emergency management professionals can apply their risk management skills to organizations, facilities, and businesses around the country and the world. As the frequency of adverse events rises, more agencies are looking for skilled candidates who can help build resilience and prepare for and respond to current and future disasters. FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, state and local government agencies, and private sector partners provided coordination, communications, and advanced planning to keep events running smoothly, safely, and securely.
Emergency Management Cycle
Within health security, emergency management follows five main stages, often called the emergency management cycle: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Prevention
Preventive measures can depend on what threats are most likely in a particular location. Health security professionals can support prevention through measures ranging from fundraising to lobbying for new laws and environmental regulations.
Mitigation
Disaster prevention and response both rely on understanding risks and establishing systems to mitigate them. Depending on their qualifications and experience, emergency management professionals can use prior data and trends to predict where resources will be needed most and what actions can be undertaken to reduce an event’s severity.
Preparedness
Health security preparedness can include advocating for programs and resources that teach disaster response skills or provide access to essential reserves. By providing the knowledge and resources to survive in emergencies, agencies can raise public awareness and confidence and help communities manage until aid arrives.
Response
The speed and organization of a crisis response can mean the difference between lives saved or lost and minimal or devastating damage. Depending on the scale of a crisis, emergency response can require highly trained individuals and advanced technology to reach the epicenter and deliver resources in dangerous conditions.
Recovery
Recovery after an emergency can take years, long after media coverage and national attention have moved on. It is also a multifaceted endeavor that affects an area’s economic, psychosocial, and structural recovery. Emergency management does not end when a storm, natural disaster, or disease outbreak passes; it requires long-term planning and resources to help communities recover physically and emotionally from the stresses of a crisis.
Health Security Degree Careers
Health security management professionals work in roles that are both challenging and incredibly fulfilling. An emergency management degree can open doors to careers that directly affect the lives of first responders and the public. Depending on a candidate’s interests and skills, there are opportunities that address each phase of management and allow graduates to focus on different areas of disaster response.
Health Security or Emergency Management Director
This role goes by several titles depending on the organization, including health security director, emergency preparedness coordinator, and emergency management director. This overlap in titles reflects how closely the field is tied to health security, as directors are often responsible for coordinating medical resources and response during disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this occupation under the title emergency management director, which is the title referenced in the salary and outlook data throughout this article.
Leading the response in emergency situations takes well-developed leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills,trained health security and emergency management directors must understand disaster levels and act quickly and pragmatically in crisis situations. Responsible for putting plans, procedures, and resources in place to respond efficiently and effectively when disaster strikes, emergency management directors can play a fundamental role in businesses, government agencies, and communities.
On a day-to-day basis, Emergency Management directors may take on tasks such as:
- Assessing likely risks
- Developing plans to respond to different emergency scenarios
- Budgeting for programs and training
- Training employees and management on emergency response
- Facility or community maintenance aimed at disaster prevention
- Leading emergency response teams during emergencies
Emergency management directors are in demand in all types of organizations, both public and private. From forest fires to cyber attacks to disease outbreaks, they can help populations of all sizes navigate the challenges of crisis situations. For students wondering what they can do with a health security degree, becoming an emergency management director or emergency preparedness coordinator can be a versatile and fulfilling option. Whether they work in for-profit companies, hospitals, or charitable organizations, directors can greatly impact the lives of others.
Health Security Director Salary and Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this role under the title “Emergency Management Director”, one of several titles health security graduates pursue. The median annual salary for emergency management directors was $93,330 as of May 2025, according to the BLS. The BLS projects that positions for emergency management directors will increase by 4 percent between 2025 and 2035.
Social and Community Service Manager
The role of social and community service managers is to support public well-being, typically by creating or implementing programs that provide resources or education within their communities. They are skilled professionals who work in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and for-profit private companies dedicated to social service.
The programming that social and community service managers offer can provide greatly needed resources to communities. When disaster strikes, social and community service managers often act as a resource for people trying to navigate recovery, working together with other government agencies to provide the public with the physical or emotional support they need to get back on their feet.
Prior to pursuing a master’s in health security, students interested in becoming social and community service managers can benefit from completing a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as social work or psychology, and may need a certificate in social work or counseling for senior-level roles.
Social and Community Service Manager Salary and Career Outlook
Social and community service managers earn a median annual salary of $80,390, according to the BLS numbers from May 2025. Employment for the position is projected to increase by 7 percent between 2025 and 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Fundraiser
Emergency response is expensive. Whatever the type of incident — from natural disasters to cyber attacks — the programs, resources, and labor required to prepare for and respond to events can be extremely costly. Pursuing a role in fundraising can be a great way to make a prominent difference.
Across nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government agencies, fundraisers’ work is essential to success. By helping organizations solicit funds, emergency management graduates can contribute directly to causes they are passionate about, laying the groundwork for new programs, additional resources, and assistance to communities in need.
Depending on the type of organization, fundraisers may find themselves travelling to cultivate new donors or working within a charity to find new and effective ways to raise funds. Some of their day-to-day duties may include:
- Organizing events and contests
- Budgeting and managing projects
- Working with management and team members to strategize on funding allocation
- Networking with donors and members of the public
- Acting as representatives of their organizations
- Collaborating with marketing and design teams to create advertisements
Working in fundraising shows that careers with an emergency management degree can be creative and social, taking advantage of the networking and communication skills that master’s programs offer. For those pursuing a role in fundraising, completing additional certifications in areas like finance, investment, global business, or international relations can be beneficial.
Fundraiser Salary and Career Outlook
Fundraisers work in organizations such as charities, nonprofits, health care institutions, and community organizations. Depending on the size and location of an enterprise and a candidate’s level of education and workplace experience, salaries can vary.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for fundraisers was $72,550 as of May 2025, and overall employment for fundraisers was projected to grow by 6 percent between 2025 and 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Operations Manager
Nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and government agencies look to operations managers to oversee departments such as human resources, finance, and operational resources.
In private business, operations managers optimize areas such as hiring, training, budgeting, and purchasing in the interest of reaching a company’s goals. As operations managers with health security and emergency management training, the MS in Health Security graduates can help organizations and agencies respond efficiently in times of crisis, ensuring that there are enough people and resources available to tackle challenges and put together an organized response.
In both cases, some of the duties of an operations manager include:
- Coordinating with other members of management on growth strategies
- Auditing and budgeting programs
- Networking and collaborating with other businesses and organizations
- Hiring, training, and supervising employees
- Developing new programs and strategies to meet organization goals
- Evaluating and adapting programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness
- Implementing and overseeing programs
Depending on an organization’s size, operations managers may oversee the progress of an entire company, multiple departments, or even locations nationwide or around the world. Operations managers can also benefit from pursuing additional training in areas like finance, international relations, accounting, or global business.
Operations Manager Salary and Career Outlook
Operations managers work in companies and organizations of all sizes. Factors such as organization size, location, education, and experience can all contribute to a candidate’s salary.
According to the BLS, general and operations managers earn a median annual salary of $105,770 (May 2025). The BLS projects that overall employment in management occupations, including operations managers, will increase faster than the average for all occupations between 2025 and 2035, with approximately 1.1 million openings each year.
Pursue a Fulfilling Career in Public Health and Health Security
The services that public health and emergency management professionals provide make a world of difference to community disaster preparedness and resilience. Whether they are helping governments establish preventive plans or working hands-on to provide aid to those affected by disasters, emergency management graduates can be a fundamental resource for communities. If you are interested in a versatile education, an emergency management degree can open doors in a variety of industries and professions.
As a program that includes applied practicum experience to produce skilled and capable graduates, the Master of Science in Health Security from Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine at Tulane University is designed to equip graduates with the training they need to succeed on the front lines. Taught by industry-leading instructors and benefiting from the influence and resilience of New Orleans, Tulane’s MS program can help graduates make a positive impact in communities prone to disaster.
Learn how you can build a fulfilling career in public health and health security with Tulane.
Learn more about the MS in Health Security
Sources:
Congressional Research Service, FEMA: Increased Demand and Capacity Strains
FEMA, National Preparedness Goal
Indeed, “12 Careers to Consider in Emergency Management”
Indeed, “What Does a Fundraiser Do? (With Salary and Skills)”
Indeed, “What Does an Emergency Management Director Do?”
USA Facts, “Are Major Natural Disasters Increasing?”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Emergency Management Directors
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fundraisers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, General and Operations Managers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management Occupations
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social and Community Service Manager
World Health Organization, Emergency Cycle
World Health Organization, Health Emergencies
World Wildlife Fund, “Is Climate Change Increasing the Risk of Disasters?”