Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management
Prepare for Crisis. Lead Through Recovery.
Lead When It Matters Most.
Communities need leaders who can respond effectively when disasters strike. Build the skills to prepare for, manage, and recover from emergencies with Tulane University's Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management.
The program prepares professionals to address the public health impacts of disasters through training in emergency preparedness, crisis communication, response coordination, and recovery. You'll learn from experienced faculty with expertise in disaster management, environmental health, and public health practice.
Through a flexible curriculum available online or in person, you'll gain practical knowledge and leadership skills that can help you strengthen resilience and improve outcomes before, during, and after disasters.
Disaster readiness covers not only natural and intentional disasters, but also outbreaks, biological threats, and environmental incidents.
Specialized coursework provides training in crisis communication, management and operational models, outbreak response, and the psychosocial aspects of working with populations in crisis.
Designed for professionals with an undergraduate degree who work in the disaster management field. Certificate credits may be applied toward the MPH in Health Security.
What Will You Learn?
The 15-credit certificate includes five distinct courses focused on disaster preparedness, response, and management.
The program is designed to prepare you for the following competencies:
- Apply public health, policy, practice and scientific principles to address the health threats resulting from natural and intentional disasters.
- Integrate environmental public health strategies in disaster preparedness, response, containment, and recovery.
- Integrate public health skills in emergency planning and response, crisis communications, protecting vulnerable populations, and managing the psychosocial impact of disasters.
Advance Your Career with a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management
Demonstrate your commitment to the field of disaster management with this specialized certificate program. You’ll be equipped for roles in government, non-profits, and private business, such as:
Emergency preparedness specialist at a hospital or within a health system
Disaster assistance consultant with firms responding to federal disasters or in local recovery
Community Disaster specialist with a national non-profit
Explore the Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management Curriculum
The 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management program is taught by leaders in the field with hands-on experience addressing major disasters, threats to health security, and emergency planning. The program is designed to be completed part-time and can usually be completed in one year. Students who live in the New Orleans areas may choose to take classes in person.
- Disaster & Emergency Communication
- Principles of Toxicology
- Health Security Threats
- Outbreak & Disaster Response Readiness
- Psychosocial Aspects of Disaster
Meet Your Environmental Health Sciences Faculty
You will learn from an interdisciplinary faculty body in a research-focused department. Meet the Environmental Health Sciences faculty. This link will open a new website.
Academic Excellence in Public Health
The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has been accredited since 1947, and all current programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Admissions
Prospective Graduate Certificate students will apply through the WSPH Application Starter.
Eligibility:
- A bachelor's degree is required for all graduate certificate programs.
- Disaster Management and Industrial Hygiene: At least 3 years of professional experience in public health, environmental or occupational health and safety, disaster management, or related field.
Required materials:
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Official Transcripts from all institutions attended (degrees earned abroad require a WES, ECE, or TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluation)
- Non-English speakers: Demonstration of proficiency in English to be able to study and communicate in English. TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo may be used.
- Nonrefundable $75 application fee
Send transcripts to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu or mail to:
Department of Admissions
Celia Scott Weatherhead
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
1440 Canal Street, Suite 2417-8330
New Orleans, LA 70112
*As the Graduate Certificates are non-degree programs, they are not eligible for federal financial aid or scholarships.
Earned your degree abroad?
International students (or students who have earned their degree outside the US or Canada) must submit a course-by-course evaluation of international coursework. Evaluations can take a month to complete from the time the agency receives your international transcript(s), so we recommend getting an early start on this process in order to ensure the evaluation is received by the deadline for which you are applying. We can accept WES, ECE, and TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluations. Please have this evaluation sent directly to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu. If you use TEC (formerly known as SpanTran), please be sure to use the custom application they've created, which you can access by clicking here.
International students may also be required to submit proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo). Please refer to the international student section in the FAQ to determine whether you are required to submit scores.
About the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
With century-old roots in the heart of New Orleans, the Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is dedicated to our mission to support the Gulf South while understanding national health issues and addressing pressing global health concerns. At the Celia Scott Weatherhead School, public health is not just a field of study, but of action, where learners gain the real-world skills and competencies to strengthen their communities.
Are you ready to prepare communities for the unexpected? Explore your potential with Tulane’s Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management.
Please visit our Certificate Programs if you're looking for on-campus certificates.