Emergency Management

Welcome to the Emergency Management Program at Frederick Community College (FCC). Frederick Community College is a fully accredited college located in Frederick Maryland just 15 miles south of FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI)/National Fire Academy (NFA). We are the only college in the country contracted with EMI to provide college credit for the Independent Study Program (ISP). We also offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.), Emergency Management Certificate, and numerous specialization Letters of Recognition (LOR). Recognized nationally for our program, we have articulation agreements with American Public University (APU), University of Maryland University College (UMUC), and Charter Oaks State College. Armed with the FCC A.A.S. in Emergency Management, you can continue your Emergency Management education without the worry of losing credit in the transfer with these prestigious four year colleges. We are also recognized by some of the largest jurisdictions in the country as THE source in obtaining college credit towards recruitment and promotions. Join over 100,000 professionals in their quest to further their Emergency Management college education.

Steps to the Emergency Management Program, Associates of Applied Sciences (AAS): Part 1 and Part 3 should be done simultaneously.

PART 1: Frederick Community College Admissions

1. Apply for admission (free) to FCC online application form. Make sure you select:
   My goal now is to earn an associate of applied science (AAS) degree so that I can prepare for a career. You will then see a drop down menu and select: Emergency Management A.A.S degree
   
   
2. You will receive your acceptance letter within 7-10 business days of enrollment
   * You must Request official transcripts from previous coursework sent to:
   
   

   FCC Welcome & Registration Center
   7932 Opossumtown Pike,
   Frederick, MD 21702    
   
   (Note: Previous course work also includes college, military, EMS, Fire, Police experience.  You must have an official transcript or letter sent directly from the institution or training facility to FCC for evaluation)

3. Access PeopleSoft (FCC Student System Access) and follow the steps for “First time users”. Your user ID number will be found on your welcome letter.
   
   
4. Send an email to emergmgt@frederick.edu letting us know you have enrolled in the Emergency Management program. With confirmation of FCC enrollment, we will schedule a teleconference advising session (20 minutes) to prepare you for success at FCC.  

PART 2: General Education Credit and Transfer Procedure

1. When your transcripts arrive at FCC they will be evaluated by the registration office. This process can take up to 4 calendar weeks. You will see the results of the evaluation on your PeopleSoft account.
2. The FEMA courses meet the FCC in-residency requirement. This means if you still need general education courses (e.g. English, Math, History, etc.), they can be taken from a college or university local to you and transferred to FCC. Our registrar’s office will review and determine pre-approval of courses taken elsewhere by simply filling out and submitting the form Permission to Enroll: Verification of Transferability. Please allow 3 business days for the answer.
3.  We also offer online general education course at FCC. Please refer to current class schedule. (NOTE: Maryland residents qualify for in-county tuition rates. If you are not a Maryland resident, you will pay out-of-state tuition at FCC.)

PART 3: FEMA ISP College Credit Conversion Process

1. Review the Emergency Management Degree, Certificate, and LOR information (click image).This document breaks down what FEMA-EMI-ISP courses currently will convert into Frederick Community College credit.
   

   

2. To complete the FEMA courses visit http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp and click on the course you desire to take.
3. Upon completion of the FEMA-EMI-ISP course(s). Click to download the FCC Application for College Credit. To verify the fax was received or for FEMA conversion questions call (301) 447-1200, or you may send an email to Independent.Study@dhs.gov . This conversion process takes 20 business days or 4 calendar weeks. NO RUSH SERVICE IS AVAILABLE.

PART 4: Module Exam Information

1. You will see the FEM courses pop up on your student system access account. When this occurs, you are ready to register for the module exam. The module exam will be administered during 5-week academic sessions during each semester. If the exam is not completed during the 5-week session, the exam cannot be taken until the next semester (i.e. register for the 2nd 5-week session in the Spring semester, you must wait until the Summer semester to re-take the exam).
2. Follow the instructions to register for the module exam through PeopleSoft:
   
   Module Exam registration instructions
   
   (NOTE: The computer will verify you have successfully converted all of the necessary IS-courses for the given module. If you have not, you will not be allowed to register. Students enrolled in the program prior to Fall 2008 must request module exams from the Emergency Management Program Manager at emergmgt@frederick.edu.



3. Registration will automatically enroll you into a Blackboard course. Your user name is your student ID with a “W” in front of the ID number. If you are a returning student, your password is the last four numbers of your student ID. If you are a new student (as of Aug 2009) your password is the first two letters (lower case) of your last name and the last 5 numbers of your student number. The Blackboard website is http://frederick.blackboard.com.
4. This online course format will be the method you will use to take the exam. At the beginning of the 5-week session, you will see the name of the module exam appear in the “My Courses” area of Blackboard site. Click on the course and orient yourself with the site. You will see course documents where you will find the proctor instructions in which you should thoroughly familiar. You will also find a fillable PDF file labeled Proctor Site contact information. Fill this document out and submit to the assignment folder labeled “Proctor Site contact information”. You will then receive an email directing you to contract the proctor site and arrange your exam.

PART 5: Internship information

1. When you pass 3 out of 4 of the module exams, you are eligible for the Internship. The Internship is a 3 credit course at FCC. If you are out-of-state, you must pay out-of-state tuition. I will schedule an Internship teleconference with you when you pass 3 out of 4 of the module exams to discuss all of the details.
2. Request your internship by completing the On-line Student Application. Upon receipt of this application, you will receive an email from the Emergency Management Program Management setting up your internship telephone interview.
3. The internship consists of 135 hours over an 8-week (17 hours weekly) or 15-week (9 hours a week) semester. The Internship cannot be performed as part of your normal duty/employment, as well as, previous or current experience will not exempt you from the requirement. For more information review the Workbook.
4. You are responsible to arrange your internship site at an emergency management office (local to you) found in a business, city, county, state or federal level office. I recommend you sit down with the Director or their representative and explain your desire to complete an Internship.

PART 6: Graduation

1. When you have fulfilled the requirements for the Emergency Management AAS, Cert or LOR’s, please request a graduation appoint with the Emergency Management Program manager to assure all of your requirements have been met.
2. Complete the FCC Graduation Application (Free).
3. FCC confers degrees/Cert three times a year May, August and December. You are more than welcome to join us at our annual commencement and walk the stage to receive the recognition of degree/Cert. Your actual diploma will be sent to you within 90 days of the date of your degree was conferred.

FINACIAL AID: Funding information
We cannot offer financial aid or VA benefits through the college for the FEMA classes because the classes are not taught by Frederick Community College. The Gen. Ed. courses if taken through FCC should be available for regular financial aid and VA benefits. Questions regarding VA can be addressed to Debby Hartman at dhartman@frederick.edu or 301-846-2474. Additional funds may be available thru The International Association of Emergency Managers Scholarship Program at www.iaem.com/resources/scholarships/intro.htm.