Online MPH in Disaster Management Overview
The dangers of disasters linger long after the immediate damage — new diseases spread, community nutrition declines, and health disparities compound. The lasting psychosocial effects can also significantly derail a community’s ability to heal. We need public health professionals who craft policies and plans that go beyond infrastructure devastation, focusing on building resilient communities.
Tulane University’s Online Master of Public Health in Disaster Management leverages a scientific approach that blends disaster preparation and public health principles to teach you how to prepare for and manage the response to natural, human-made, and epidemiological disasters. You’ll learn from and participate in research alongside experienced faculty members who have led response efforts for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the Ebola outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time you graduate, your approach to disaster management will encompass a keen awareness of the environmental and public health challenges for communities facing disaster, and you’ll be ready to truly make a difference in your community’s well-being.
Accreditation
Tulane University 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).
Online MPH in Disaster Management at a Glance
Establishing Resilience
Learn to see how the long-term, wide-reaching effects of disasters impact communities and craft policies that prepare for these unseen impacts of disaster.
New Orleans Influence
Benefit from a curriculum inspired by Tulane’s rich connection to New Orleans — a city recognized for its disaster resilience efforts.
Applied Practicum Experience
You’ll engage in a supervised practice experience to gain real-world skills that can be immediately applied to your career.
Online Education Experts
Tulane’s industry-leading instructors deliver an unparalleled learning experience informed by the school’s two-plus decades of teaching public health online.
Interested in studying on our campus in New Orleans? Learn more about our on-ground programs on
the Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine website.
Why do you want to be on the front lines?
The Online MPH in Disaster Management is for those who have witnessed the long-term devastation of disasters and feel compelled to better prepare communities for future disasters. Whether you’re already working in a role in public health, homeland security, or disaster management — or you’re looking to transition into one of these career areas — this degree will give you a chance to establish resilience in communities prone to disaster.
Program Benefits
Earn a Unique and In-demand Degree
Our MPH in Disaster Management is one of only two programs nationwide that study the impact disasters have on people and communities, as well as on infrastructure.
Join Diverse Learners
Each cohort contains students with rich and diverse professional backgrounds, allowing you to learn from your peers as much as you learn from your professors.
Build Meaningful Relationships
You will gain access to Tulane’s extensive alumni network and organizational partnerships, offering opportunities to network with leaders in the field of disaster management and homeland security.
Positive Career Outcomes
An unprecedented 99.7 percent of Tulane SPHTM graduates are working, volunteering, or continuing their education within one year of graduation.
What You Will Learn
The Online Master of Public Health in Disaster Management at Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will prepare you to craft effective policies that build disaster-resilient communities.
Through a 42-credit curriculum that mixes online lectures, research assignments, and real-world experiences, you will develop a research-focused approach to analyzing and strengthening community resilience and environmental health.
Scientific Method
Apply scientific principles to disaster management, crafting plans that prevent, detect, and combat public health challenges created by disasters.
Public Health Perspective
See past the physical results of disasters to examine the more wide-reaching, long-term public health impacts.
Community Focus
Develop preparation and response plans specific to the public health needs of vulnerable communities and populations.
Disaster Communication
Clearly and effectively communicate disaster-relevant information to community officials and the general public.
Apply Your Passion To Practice
You can see how to help the communities you care about be better prepared for disaster. But first, you have to get the applicable skills to make an impact. At Tulane, our Applied Practicum Experience (APE) requirement allows you to develop real-world competencies in a supervised practice setting of your choosing.
You’ll embark on your APE after you complete the foundational MPH courses, and you’ll demonstrate your mastery of five key competencies: three foundational competencies outlined by the CEPH and two competencies outlined by program faculty.
The APE can be completed in your local area, and you can choose to work at your current employer as long as your practicum role is different from your current job — perfect for career changers or shifters. If you need assistance with placement, our dedicated team is here to help you find a match that aligns with your disaster management career goals.
| Scholarships |
| Looking for scholarship opportunities? If you complete the application by the priority deadline and meet our criteria, you could receive up to $20,000 in merit-based awards. About half of new students receive some form of merit-based scholarship. |
Careers in Disaster Management
Our emphasis on experiential learning, combined with our multiple organizational partnerships, ensures you will graduate prepared to immediately advance your career in disaster management and response.
With an MPH in Disaster Management, you’ll be ready for roles such as:
Emergency Management Director
Median Annual Salary: $76,730*
Social and Community Service Manager
Median Annual Salary: $74,000*
Fundraiser
Median Annual Salary: $60,660*
Operations Manager
Median Annual Salary: $97,970*
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Upcoming Webinars
Our MPH in Disaster Management Faculty
Learn from actively engaged leaders in the field
Stephen Murphy, PhD, MPH, MBA
Dr. Stephen Murphy boasts immense experience implementing disaster management and emergency preparedness programs in local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Throughout his career he has developed operational responses for nearly every manner of emergency — from potential Ebola outbreaks and hurricane evacuations to oil spill cleanup and security for the Super Bowl. Dr. Murphy’s extensive experience has earned him recognition across the state of Louisiana and beyond, having served as the planning section chief for the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and delivering numerous presentations at national emergency preparedness conferences. As an academic, Dr. Murphy’s research focuses on personal- and organizational-level disaster resilience strategies, particularly examining the impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors on communities facing potential threats.
Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
As stewards of the first school of public health in the United States, Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine cultivates independent thinkers, innovative leaders, fierce advocates, and accomplished scholars. From the neighborhoods of New Orleans to communities worldwide, we conduct research and collaborate with our partners to ensure that all of humanity has an equitable opportunity to be healthy and pursue optimal well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students enrolled in Tulane’s Online MPH, Online MHA, and Online MSPH programs may only take online courses at this time.
Yes! The Online MPH, Online MHA, and Online MSPH programs blend self-paced asynchronous coursework with live, synchronous sessions for discussions, case studies, and exercises that allow students to hone their acquired knowledge and skills.
All students are required to supply their own desktop or laptop computers throughout the program. Click here to review our detailed recommendations for technology. In addition, students who do not own a printer may want to consider purchasing a printer to produce hard copies of course materials.
With guidance from program faculty and staff, all Online MPH, Online MHA, and Online MSPH students will complete an Applied Practice Experience, such as a Practicum or Residency, prior to graduation.