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Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Disaster Management (Specialization in Crisis Response, Humanitarian Aid)

Academic unitHBIU College of Business and EconomicsTotal credits60Estimated duration2 years

Program Overview

Official program overview

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

A.A. in Faith-Based Disaster Management

Total program length

60 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years

General education

18 credit hours

Faith-Based Disaster Management core

30 credit hours

Professional application courses

9 credit hours

Capstone requirement

3 credit hours

The Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Disaster Management offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex dynamics of crisis response and humanitarian relief within a framework of ethical stewardship and servant leadership. Students engage with foundational theories of organizational management, social psychology, and logistics to develop the capacity for effective, compassionate service in diverse settings. The curriculum emphasizes the integration of professional best practices with institutional values centered on community resilience and ethical integrity.

Designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, the program explores the logistical, communicative, and administrative aspects of emergency management. Graduates emerge equipped to serve as reliable, mission-driven professionals capable of navigating the multifaceted challenges inherent in humanitarian aid operations. By fostering a commitment to service and critical analysis, the program ensures students are prepared to contribute substantively to the stability and recovery of vulnerable populations.

The Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Disaster Management provides students with foundational study in the field of crisis response and humanitarian aid. The curriculum integrates the study of human development, effective communication strategies, and professional ethics within the context of faith-based service. Students will gain knowledge in identifying and utilizing community resources, while developing practical skills in the delivery of supportive service practices essential for disaster management and relief efforts.

Program Facts

Program facts

Degree abbreviation
A.A. in Faith-Based Disaster Management
Total program length
60 semester credit hours
Normal completion time
Two academic years
General education
18 credit hours
Professional application courses
9 credit hours
Capstone requirement
3 credit hours
Academic unit
HBIU College of Business and Economics
Total credits
60
Duration
2 years

Program Description

Official program description

Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes

  • Analyze the structural and logistical components of humanitarian aid organizations.
  • Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to resolve dilemmas encountered during crisis management.
  • Evaluate the impact of diverse social and cultural contexts on effective humanitarian aid delivery.
  • Communicate complex information clearly to stakeholders within nonprofit or governmental emergency systems.
  • Develop strategic disaster response plans that prioritize community resilience and stewardship of resources.
  • Integrate principles of servant leadership and ethical practice into professional disaster management activities.
  • Course Outline
  • Semester 1 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • ENG 101
  • Academic Writing and Rhetoric
  • 4
  • None
  • PSY 105
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • 3
  • None
  • SOC 110
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • 3
  • None
  • BUS 120
  • Principles of Management
  • 3
  • None
  • ENG 101 — Academic Writing and Rhetoric: This course focuses on advanced reading, analytical writing, and the development of persuasive arguments for professional environments. It emphasizes clarity, structure, and the integration of research into academic discourse. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • PSY 105 — Introduction to Psychology: An overview of the principles of human behavior and mental processes, including social interaction and development. Emphasis is placed on understanding individual responses to stress and trauma. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • SOC 110 — Introduction to Sociology: This course examines social structures, group dynamics, and the impact of community systems on individual outcomes. Students explore themes of social justice and communal responsibility. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • BUS 120 — Principles of Management: An introductory look at the functions of management, including planning, organizing, and leading teams in a professional setting. The course focuses on stewardship of organizational assets. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 2 — Year 1
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • COM 150
  • Intercultural Communication
  • 4
  • None
  • MIN 205
  • Principles of Servant Leadership
  • 3
  • None
  • BIO 130
  • Environmental Science
  • 3
  • None
  • MAT 120
  • Applied Statistics
  • 3
  • MAT 100
  • COM 150 — Intercultural Communication: This course examines the complexities of communicating across diverse cultural and social boundaries. Emphasis is placed on developing empathy and professional clarity in multicultural settings. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MIN 205 — Principles of Servant Leadership: This course explores the conceptual framework of servant leadership and its application to organizational health and ethical decision-making. Students analyze leadership models that prioritize the needs of the community. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • BIO 130 — Environmental Science: An exploration of natural systems, disaster prevention, and the impact of the environment on population stability. Focus is given to the ethical management of natural resources. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MAT 120 — Applied Statistics: An introduction to statistical analysis, focusing on data collection, probability, and interpretation for informed decision-making. Students apply these concepts to organizational performance metrics. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 3 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • RES 210
  • Disaster Response and Logistics
  • 4
  • BUS 120
  • COU 220
  • Introduction to Crisis Intervention
  • 3
  • PSY 105
  • CHR 230
  • Ethics in Humanitarian Aid
  • 3
  • MIN 205
  • HIS 240
  • History of Humanitarian Aid
  • 3
  • None
  • RES 210 — Disaster Response and Logistics: This course provides an introduction to the logistics of emergency response, including supply chain management and resource allocation. Students evaluate current best practices for efficiency during critical events. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • COU 220 — Introduction to Crisis Intervention: An examination of the fundamental principles of psychological first aid and emotional support in times of disaster. The course emphasizes empathetic communication and effective boundary maintenance. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • CHR 230 — Ethics in Humanitarian Aid: This course evaluates ethical frameworks and moral dilemmas specific to the delivery of aid in crisis situations. Students learn to align organizational policies with core value statements. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • HIS 240 — History of Humanitarian Aid: A survey of the development of humanitarian aid and the role of religious and private organizations in global recovery efforts. Analysis of historical precedents helps inform modern practices. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • Semester 4 — Year 2
  • Code
  • Title
  • Credits
  • Prerequisites
  • CAP 299
  • Capstone in Disaster Management
  • 4
  • RES 210, CHR 230
  • MGT 250
  • Nonprofit Resource Development
  • 3
  • BUS 120
  • EDU 260
  • Community Education and Outreach
  • 3
  • COM 150
  • THE 270
  • Stewardship and Organizational Integrity
  • 3
  • CHR 230
  • CAP 299 — Capstone in Disaster Management: The capstone project requires students to synthesize learning from all previous coursework into a comprehensive disaster response plan. The final product includes a research-based proposal that addresses ethical, logistical, and communicative challenges. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • MGT 250 — Nonprofit Resource Development: This course focuses on the sustainable management of nonprofit funds, personnel, and volunteers. Students learn to match resources with mission priorities and community needs. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • EDU 260 — Community Education and Outreach: An examination of the strategies used to educate communities about disaster preparedness and risk mitigation. Students explore communication techniques that foster communal resilience and participation. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
  • THE 270 — Stewardship and Organizational Integrity: An analysis of the principles of organizational stewardship, focusing on transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of communal resources. Students apply these concepts to modern disaster relief scenarios. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Admission Requirements

Admission and entry requirements

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or state-recognized equivalent (GED). Admission to the program requires the submission of official transcripts, a completed application form, and a personal statement reflecting the applicant's desire to pursue service-oriented work within the humanitarian and nonprofit sectors. Culminating Project The Capstone Project serves as the culminating academic experience for the Associate of Arts in Faith-Based Disaster Management, requiring students to synthesize their learning through a comprehensive applied research project. Students are tasked with designing an evidence-based response plan for a simulated large-scale disaster event, demonstrating mastery of logistical, ethical, and organizational concepts. This project emphasizes the application of servant leadership and biblical stewardship, requiring students to justify their operational decisions through the lens of institutional ethics and responsible resource management. The project is worth 4 credit hours and includes both a written technical report and an oral presentation. Students must illustrate how their proposed solutions reflect a commitment to spiritual formation and the dignity of those affected by crises, ensuring their work is grounded in both professional competence and ethical integrity. This final evaluation demonstrates the student's readiness to apply a Christian worldview to the practical complexities of disaster response and humanitarian aid.

Protected Curriculum

Complete program outline available after verification

Graduation Requirements

Graduation and completion requirements

  • To qualify for graduation, students must complete all 60 required credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. In addition to technical mastery of the coursework, students must demonstrate satisfactory performance on the Capstone Project and show evidence of active engagement in required community service or spiritual formation activities. These requirements ensure that graduates have balanced academic rigor with a genuine commitment to the university's values.
  • Graduation represents more than the completion of academic tasks; it symbolizes the attainment of the spiritual maturity and ethical consistency required for professional service. Students must manifest a readiness to apply their skills with character, integrity, and a focus on the common good, embodying the principles of servant leadership in their future vocational or volunteer endeavors.
  • Career Opportunities
  • Emergency Management Coordinator
  • Nonprofit Operations Assistant
  • Humanitarian Logistics Coordinator
  • Community Recovery Liaison
  • Disaster Relief Case Manager
  • Faith-Based Aid Administrator
  • Volunteer Program Coordinator
  • Important Notices
  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.A. in Faith-Based Disaster Management
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years
  • General education | 18 credit hours
  • Faith-Based Disaster Management core | 30 credit hours
  • Professional application courses | 9 credit hours
  • Capstone requirement | 3 credit hours
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Rhetoric | 4 | None
  • PSY 105 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | None
  • SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | None
  • BUS 120 | Principles of Management | 3 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • COM 150 | Intercultural Communication | 4 | None
  • MIN 205 | Principles of Servant Leadership | 3 | None
  • BIO 130 | Environmental Science | 3 | None
  • MAT 120 | Applied Statistics | 3 | MAT 100
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • RES 210 | Disaster Response and Logistics | 4 | BUS 120
  • COU 220 | Introduction to Crisis Intervention | 3 | PSY 105
  • CHR 230 | Ethics in Humanitarian Aid | 3 | MIN 205
  • HIS 240 | History of Humanitarian Aid | 3 | None
  • Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
  • CAP 299 | Capstone in Disaster Management | 4 | RES 210, CHR 230
  • MGT 250 | Nonprofit Resource Development | 3 | BUS 120
  • EDU 260 | Community Education and Outreach | 3 | COM 150
  • THE 270 | Stewardship and Organizational Integrity | 3 | CHR 230

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities

Career Opportunities

  • Emergency Management Coordinator
  • Nonprofit Operations Assistant
  • Humanitarian Logistics Coordinator
  • Community Recovery Liaison
  • Disaster Relief Case Manager
  • Faith-Based Aid Administrator
  • Volunteer Program Coordinator

Additional Official Information

Additional source information

Important Notices

  • The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
  • HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
  • HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
  • Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
  • The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
  • Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
  • Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
  • This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
  • Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
  • Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
  • Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
  • Degree abbreviation | A.A. in Faith-Based Disaster Management
  • Total program length | 60 semester credit hours
  • Normal completion time | Two academic years