Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
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Program Overview
Degree:
Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Degree
Application:
$0 application fee. No essays/exams.
Prepare for careers in the security, business continuity, and disaster management fields in the public sector (city, state, or federal governments), nonprofit organizations, and private industry with the Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. It provides a solid foundation in the security issues, practices, politics, and cultures of terrorism; best practices to cope with a pending emergency; and operations during, and recovery from, an emergency.
Throughout the homeland security degree program, you’ll conduct research on various government and private sector entities and report on suggested improvements in preparing for an emergency. Prepare for work in a variety of homeland security and emergency preparedness settings and capacities, such as land borders, seaports and airports, threat assessment, disaster management, and crisis response planning, and management. It is also appropriate for military personnel of all ranks, mid-level managers, and managers seeking promotion within the various levels of government and private industry.
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science with a major in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as described below, 76.5 quarter units must be completed at the upper division level, 45 quarter units must be completed in residence at National University and a minimum of 69 units of the University General Education requirements must be completed. In the absence of transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the total units for the degree. Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information on admission and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.
National University awards credit in quarter units, with each academic year divided into four 12-week quarters.
Each quarter is made up of three 4-week classes, with one class per month. Under the current policy, 4.5 units of credit are awarded for courses.
Requirements for the Major
11 Courses
Domestic Security Management
4.5 Quarter Units
A survey course reviewing the history, current practices, and trends in the management of domestic disaster operations. The course discusses the responsibilities different levels of government (federal, state, and local) and agencies have with respect to domestic disasters and their relationships with the private sector.
Intro to Public Administration
4.5 Quarter Units
A general survey course of the theory and practice of public administration, its legal and constitutional foundation and the role of the public administrator in public policy. The context of the discussions are based on the current issues facing administrators.
Leading Diverse Groups & Teams
4.5 Quarter Units
Examination of the application of leadership theory to groups that are diverse in gender, ethnicity, education, and functional expertise. The role of the leader in establishing effective collaboration among members; the decision making process and power will also be examined.
Intl. & Domestic Terrorism
4.5 Quarter Units
Exposes the students to the basics of terrorism and its global impact; terrorism investigation and intervention strategies. It describes the factors to be considered when implementing psychological, social, investigative and legal techniques against terrorism and its related crimes.
Interviewing and Interrogation
4.5 Quarter Units
Provides students with proven techniques which apply to both accusatory and non-accusatory interviews. Students develop skills in preparing for the interview and interrogation with emphasis on planning and strategies. Provides a basic format and fundamentals of specialized interviewing and interrogation methods for those who have little or no experience in this phase of an investigation. Studies one of the most specialized and difficult phases of law enforcement or security investigation-interrogation.
Information Security
4.5 Quarter Units
A survey of one of the fastest growing international crime problems. Cyber-terrorism has been quick to emerge as an enormous threat to national security and economy. This course exposes the students to the domestic, local, national and international effects of cyber-terrorism. It provides information on the categorizations of computer criminals based on the purposes and spheres of their activities.
Border-Transportation Security
4.5 Quarter Units
A study of the substantial vulnerability of the nation’s land borders, ports, inland waterways and airports to underwater and aviation related attack. This course educates students regarding operations underwater and at airports and enhances the knowledge necessary to identify, prevent, respond to, and recover from major catastrophes at our nation’s borders and ports.
Crisis Management
4.5 Quarter Units
A study of incident assessment and methods that determine to what degree a crisis is unfolding and then develop a strategy to manage the consequences of the crisis. This course provides students with the knowledge of how local, state, and federal agencies come together and interact in different crisis scenarios.
Legal Issues of Security
4.5 Quarter Units
A study of criminal and civil liability issues concerning government and private entities while preventing acts of terrorism, or during the recovery process after a critical incident. Exposes students to new congressional laws that apply specifically to homeland and domestic security. Delves into the protection of individual rights explaining the legal background and methods to avoid the pitfalls of liability. Covers legal issues in First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Amendments, and how the U.S. Constitution can be applicable to both government and private entities and the responsibilities of each.
Disaster Management
4.5 Quarter Units
This course discusses the management areas of policy, planning, coordination, response, response management, and recovery during emergencies and/or disasters; focusing on defining and analyzing the role of managers in critical situations of an unusual or severe nature resulting in injury, loss of life and/or severe property damage.
Supervised Senior Project
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: Students must have fulfilled all General Education, Core Courses, and Elective Courses requirements prior to beginning this course.
For the supervised senior project, a two-month course is undertaken by students upon completion of all core courses in the program. Students select a committee and a viable topic related to domestic security to research, and present the completed project to the committee, other faculty, and peers in an open forum. Grading is H, S or U only. Course is eligible for In Progress (IP) grade.
Upper-Division Electives
5 Courses
Students may complete any 5 upper division courses to satisfy the elective requirements
Career Outlook
Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
The Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management degree will prepare you for careers such as:
- Top Jobs in this field
- Median Salary (USA)
- JOB Openings (USA)
- Emergency Management Directors
- $83,970 avg. salary (USA)
- 1,264 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Response
- Emergency Preparedness
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Incident Command Systems
- Project Management
- National Incident Management Systems
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- FEMA
- CDM Smith
- Clean Harbors
- HCA Healthcare
- Hagerty Consulting
- Elevance Health
- Information Security Analysts
- $120,088 avg. salary (USA)
- 20,359 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Cyber Security
- Auditing
- Vulnerability
- Computer Science
- Incident Response
- Information Systems
- Risk Analysis
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- Leidos
- Deloitte
- General Dynamics
- Marriott International
- Mindpoint Group
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Supervisors of Correctional Officers
- $70,533 avg. salary (USA)
- 4,820 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Criminal Corrections
- Food Services
- Cooking
- Food Safety And Sanitation
- Food Preparation
- Hazard Analysis And Critical Control Points (HACCP)
- Post-Production
Top companies hiring for this role
- Aramark
- CoreCivic
- State of California
- State of North Carolina
- Unclassified
- State Of Illinois
- Management & Training Corporation
- Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- $101,754 avg. salary (USA)
- 12,116 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Law Enforcement
- Crime Prevention
- Office Equipment
- Auditing
- Law Enforcement Practices
- Public Relations
- Public Administration
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- City of New York
- Target
- State of South Carolina
- County of El Dorado
- Aramark
- State of California
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators
- $73,215 avg. salary (USA)
- 1,508 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Fire Alarm Systems
- NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Codes
- Sprinkler Systems
- Fire Protection
- Fire Protection Systems
- Alarm Devices
- Low Voltage
Top companies hiring for this role
- Johnson Controls
- Unclassified
- Siemens
- Impact Fire Limited
- EMCOR Group
- Western States Fire Protection
- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
- Correctional Officers and Jailers
- $53,310 avg. salary (USA)
- 34,148 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Criminal Corrections
- Contraband Detection And Control
- Rehabilitation
- Law Enforcement
- Public Relations
- Self Defense
- Psychology
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- United States Department of Justice
- CoreCivic
- State of Florida
- State Of Texas
- State of North Carolina
- Bureau of Prisons
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- $91,104 avg. salary (USA)
- 10,169 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Law Enforcement
- Auditing
- Data Analysis
- Accounting
- Finance
- Claims Investigations
- Legal Hearings
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- United States Department of the Treasury
- Allied Universal
- Allied Universal Compliance And Investigations
- United States Secret Service
- United States Department of Justice
- State of Florida
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- $72,260 avg. salary (USA)
- 63,862 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Law Enforcement
- Crime Prevention
- Patrolling
- Traffic Control
- Law Enforcement Practices
- Legal Hearings
- Emergency Response
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- United States Department of Homeland Security
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs
- Allied Universal
- United States Secret Service
- Signal 88
- Securitas
- Private Detectives and Investigators
- $51,396 avg. salary (USA)
- 4,510 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Law Enforcement
- Auditing
- Loss Prevention
- Legal Hearings
- Punctuation and Capitalization
- Internal Controls
- Data Analysis
Top companies hiring for this role
- Unclassified
- CACI International
- Allied Universal
- Milton Hershey School
- Digistream Investigations
- Peraton
- Elevance Health
Program Learning Outcomes
Learn the key skills to help you excel in your field of study.
- Apply relevant criticism in sustained analysis and interpretations of security management thinking.
- Evaluate emergency disaster pre-plans, recovery plans, and after-action reports.
- Apply analytical skills in approaching ethical dilemmas and implications of technology and other areas faced in government and private industry.
- Describe the political and religious implications of the terrorist climate.
- Describe and analyze the role groups and teams have in organizations as they relate to addressing homeland security and emergency management issues.
- Describe the roles local, state and federal government agencies have in addressing homeland security and emergency management issues.
NU’s Public Safety Promise
National University, a Veteran-founded nonprofit, is proud to support public safety professionals who protect and serve our communities every day. To show appreciation, we commit to providing affordable, accessible education to all public safety professionals to advance their careers and help them reach educational goals through our Public Safety Promise Scholarship*.
To learn more about NU’s Public Safety Promise contact an enrollment advisor to discuss degree programs and scholarship options or visit https://www.nu.edu/our-university/the-university/partnerships/publicsafety/.
*Nursing, radiation therapy, and doctoral programs are excluded from the tuition discount.
Admissions
Transfer Students Welcome
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.
To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
National University is dedicated to making higher education affordable, as well as accessible. Through NU scholarship offerings, eligible students are able to reduce the financial burden of college, start classes sooner, and finish their programs faster while focusing on achieving their goals.
Accreditations
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Why National University?
We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.
Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 240,000 alumni worldwide.
“National University has impacted my career. You can immediately apply what you learn in class to your business.”
Francisco R.,
Class of 2016
What makes a degree
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Committed to serving those who serve — diverse resources and support for veterans and family. Military and Veteran Admissions.
Mentoring Network
Individual student and alumni career guidance, professional development opportunities, and customized career support.
Transfer Students Welcome
NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.
Accelerate Your Career With NU
At National University, you’re part of a family. As a student, you’ll have the support of staff, faculty members, students, and alumni who will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on as you pursue your goals.
Our network of 240,000 alumni is a large global community that provides our graduates with the professional connections to get a leg up in your new career.
Additional Resources
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
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