Field Profession Analysis

In the article “Field, discipline, and profession: Understanding three major labels of emergency management”, authors Dr. Heriberto Urby and Dr. David A. McEntire attempt to distinguish three different labels often given to the subject of emergency management. Within its structure, the article incorporates a vast amount of background information and explanations. Before going into detail with each label, the authors first provide credible definitions to the topic being discussed.
They begin by defining and explaining emergency management as a field. A field is described as a body of information adhered by several groups of people working on the same subject matter. Additionally, a field has established and follows some sort of conduct, where principles and standards are set. Emergency management initiated as a field, but as it is mentioned in the article, it has evolved to earn other titles. …show more content…
In accordance with the article, a discipline can be defined as the act of training, behaving, and learning in order to improve the field. By providing this definition, the authors can further correlate how emergency management is embodied as a discipline. It’s goal is to prepare students to become more productive and informed practitioners of the field. By doing this, emergency management can continue to grow as a profession as well, which is it’s third label.
Emergency management has strived to reach the title of a profession by acquiring more knowledge, skills, and credentials. The article explains a profession to be “ engaged in employment that requires specialized knowledge.” (pg. 394) In the past recent years, it has slowly begun to be acknowledged as a profession that emerged from “emergency services and civil defense backgrounds.” Although its place as profession is developing, emergency management still has a lot left to