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Online Master’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness | VCU Online

Prepare your community for the unpredictable and unexpected.

Get more information about the program including coursework, tuition and financial aid.

Bachelor’s degree is required to attend; Applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores.

By submitting this form, I agree to be contacted via email, phone or text to learn more about the programs at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Nation’s First Master’s in Homeland Security Degree and Emergency Preparedness

From the California wildfires to the coronavirus pandemic, global emergencies continually remind us that a swift, coordinated response can save lives. Born of this understanding, the online Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) prepares students to lead crucial security and emergency response teams. Our in-depth curriculum goes beyond traditional security education to equip students with practical decision-making, leadership, and policy-making skills.

US News Badges

Nationally recognized

No. 6

Homeland Security and Emergency Management Programs, Best Public Affairs Schools  Nationally

No. 39

Best Public Affairs Graduate Schools Nationally

No. 2

Best Public Affairs Program in Virginia

No. 33

Schools of Public Affairs and Public Management and Leadership Programs Nationally

Source: U.S. News & World Report, 2023, 2024

Why earn your homeland security master’s degree online from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU?

A leading emergency preparedness program unlike any other.

Gain hands-on experience in a program that blends multiple disciplines and cultivates practical skills.

homeland security degree icon

Built for working professionals.

Complete a flexible online program that features learning modules to create engaging learning experiences.

Exceptional faculty dedicated to full time teaching and research.

Learn from nationally recognized experts in military, law enforcement, fire and EMT, counterterrorism, emergency management, and intelligence.

Build a professional network.

Join a cohort of current emergency management professionals and gain invaluable connections in the field.

Three people connected by dotted lines.

Is this homeland security degree right for you?

The homeland security degree program prepares you to lead first responders and protect against domestic and global threats. With backgrounds ranging from criminal justice and cybersecurity to immigration and disaster relief, students learn from each other’s unique perspectives. Graduates move on to become planners, resource managers, and partners in educating the communities they serve.

A shield

Shield your community from the unpredictable and unknown.

Become a well-rounded expert to protect against natural disasters, cyberattacks, and terrorist threats through policy and action.

A staircase with three steps

Take your career — and your service — to the next level.

Hone your skill set while deepening your understanding of the larger organizational, social, political, ethical and economic aspects of disaster studies.

A graph with a rising arrow

Excel in your academic or professional life.

Enroll in a program designed to help students secure career paths in intelligence, cybersecurity, homeland security, emergency management and more.

What to expect

Four coins, stacked

36 credits

A clock at 10:02

1.5 to 2 years total with 6 to 8 hours per week/course

A recording device

60 to 90-minute weekly live sessions

A laptop with a graduation cap on the left and a notebook with a pen on the right side

Flexible online format

A sheet of paper with a magnifying glass over it

Case studies and simulations for real-world experience

A group of three people and a check sign on the right side

A legacy of public policy and social equity

What you’ll learn

Intersection of policy and action.

Prepare for career growth with the tools you need to impact your community on micro and macro levels.

Hands-on experience.

Gain experience in crafting successful public policies through simulations, case studies and class discussion.

Holistic understanding.

Broaden your skills with an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to address modern threats to our infrastructure, public safety, cybersecurity, and public health.

Partnership and service.

Learn the principles of public policy leadership and ethics to collaborate with key officials and agencies.

– Kabrina Tippett, student
– David Webber, assistant professor and assistant chair of homeland security and emergency  preparedness
Explore Student and Faculty Profiles

Curriculum

Here is how program faculty describe the courses:

The next war will be fought on the cyberfront. Connecting cyber issues, security, and policy is critical for both the public and private sector. Cyber attacks, cyberwarfare, and cyber policy will drive the future of homeland security. Choose to be involved.

Disasters happen. Some are natural, some are man-made, the responses are largely the same. Understanding disaster response, recovery, and mitigation will help you make the next disaster less severe.

The private sector has a critical role in homeland security and emergency management. Power companies, healthcare, infrastructure, and many other private sector elements have tremendous responsibilities in homeland security and emergency preparedness. Don’t neglect the private sector—where would we be without power, without internet, without healthcare?

Profiling terrorists, countering far right extremism, preventing terrorist radicalization. Far right extremism is on the rise and now is the time to implement counter-radicalization strategies. The Terrorism course provides foundational knowledge to identify and deter terrorist activity.

Homeland security and emergency preparedness are two sides of the same coin. Intel, terrorism and cyber represent homeland security. Disaster response, emergency management, and public health are consider emergency preparedness. This course provides an introduction to all these issues and frames other courses in the program through challenging scenarios, group work, and individual efforts.

An examination of strategic planning’s guiding principles and how responders can leverage it to identify resource requirements and a prioritized acquisition process. The course analyzes the strategic planning goal of designing a unified effort inclusive of the multiple agencies (governmental and nonprofit), distinct communities and private industries affected by natural disasters or terrorist incidents.

Faculty: Brie Haupt

There are expected risks, like a hurricane that we know is coming. There are unexpected risks, like a terrorist attack or a forest fire. Assessing and addressing vulnerabilties is smart risk management. We have finite resources so they must be used efficiently. Understand risk and make the right decisions.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of public health preparedness. Disease outbreaks, nuclear disasters, medical infrastructure, and many other threats require public health readiness. Approximately one million people died during the pandemic—we must be ready for the next public health threat.

The capstone course represents the culmination of your homeland security emergency preparedness education. You will create a project that can advance your career, further knowledge, and impact policy. Show us what you have learned.

Information drives decision making. Data quality is defined by the quality of the questions you ask. Learn how to interpret and conduct research that changes what we know and defines policy and practice.

Intelligence comes in many forms—all are suspect. Understanding how to assess intel quality, finding actionable intel, then changing resources based on that information—those are the processes of intel. Know your enemy. Defeat your enemy.

You can find more information about our courses in the Bulletin.

Meet some of our faculty

Professional headshot of VCU HSEP faculty member Maureen Moslow-Benway

Maureen Moslow-Benway

Assistant professor, homeland security and emergency preparedness program chair

While serving as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Maureen Moslow-Benway was selected twice as the Officer Agent of the Year for Southeast Asia and the Southeastern U.S. She was also honored as the Counterintelligence Agent of the Year for the Department of Defense.

Professional headshot of VCU HSEP faculty member William Pelfrey Jr.

William Pelfrey Jr.

Professor

William Pelfrey’s work addresses issues of programmatic effectiveness within the context of public safety, particularly revolving around law enforcement agencies.

Professional headshot of VCU HSEP faculty member David Webber

David Webber

Associate professor, homeland security and emergency preparedness assistant chair

David Webber utilizes a mixture of social psychological experimental methods, field surveys in at-risk locations and qualitative analyses to examine the factors involved in the radicalization and deradicalization processes of violent extremists.

View All Faculty

Take the next step in your leadership journey

Built for working professionals, Virginia Commonwealth University’s online master’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness equips students with the skills to support their communities when the unexpected happens. Taught by nationally recognized experts with diverse field experience, our renowned curriculum blends multidisciplinary coursework with hands-on training, preparing students to lead crucial security and emergency response teams. Ready to cultivate practical leadership skills and take your career in service to the next level?

About the Wilder School
Admissions Process
Career Outcomes
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Key dates and deadlines

TermEarly Decision Application DeadlinePriority Application DeadlineFinal Submit Application Deadline
Spring 2025
Oct. 7, 2024
Nov. 4, 2024
Dec. 2, 2024

Request information

Please complete the form below to receive information about the online Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Bachelor’s degree is required to attend; Applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores.

By submitting this form, I agree to be contacted via email, phone or text to learn more about the programs at Virginia Commonwealth University.