If you want to make a difference, a career in homeland security and emergency preparedness could be for you. You’ll spend your days protecting communities from threats to infrastructure, public health and safety. When necessary, you will deliver coordinated responses to alleviate damage caused by natural and human-made disasters.
Top roles in this field—positions in which you can impact policy and implementation—require advanced skills and expertise. Earning a master’s degree in homeland security and emergency preparedness can help you develop both. An advanced degree can also boost your employment prospects and future salary potential.
Before applying to a master’s program, assess whether the school and degree program align with your career goals and lifestyle. This article explores the qualities you’ll need to succeed in Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU’s) online Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) program.
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What Students Gain with a Homeland Security Master’s Degree
VCU designed the HSEP program in response to rising security concerns and natural disasters across the US and worldwide. The master’s degree program provides students with an in-depth education in homeland security that goes beyond emergency preparedness and the curriculum of traditional national security programs.
Throughout the program, VCU HSEP students hone their skills and gain a deeper understanding of disaster studies’ broader organizational, social, political, ethical and economic aspects. Graduates understand how to impact communities on micro and macro levels, craft successful public policies and collaborate effectively with key officials and agencies. As a result, HSEP graduates can pursue careers in various fields, including cybersecurity, disaster and emergency response, federal law enforcement and public health.
Earning a homeland security master’s degree represents an investment in the future. Median annual earnings for emergency management directors were $83,960 in 20223, and employment is projected to increase by 3% from 2022 to 2032.
Student Profile: Who Pursues a Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
VCU HSEP students come from professional backgrounds in criminal justice, cybersecurity, immigration, disaster relief and public health. The program attracts a diverse cohort, enabling students to learn from each other’s unique perspectives. Job titles of current VCU HSEP students include:
- Emergency management coordinator for a regional healthcare provider
- Occupational safety specialist
- Cyber & critical infrastructure intelligence analyst
- Night shift patrol sergeant for VCU Police
What Does It Take to Succeed in the Online HSEP Program?
VCU’s online HSEP program applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. The admissions team looks for a record of professional or volunteer experience demonstrating a commitment to service. In addition to the relevant academic and professional experience, successful online HSEP students evince skills in the key areas outlined below.
Self-Driven Learning
VCU’s online HSEP curriculum consists of live classes and six to eight hours a week of asynchronous coursework per course. Online students need to study independently and take responsibility for their learning progress.
Problem-Solving
Unexpected issues can arise for online students—at work, at home or in the classroom. The most successful online students solve problems without becoming easily frustrated. Instead, they actively identify solutions to their problems and ask for help when needed. As an online HSEP student, your problem-solving abilities will also help you perform well in the program’s case studies and simulations.
Strong Communication
Online HSEP students must engage across various formats and settings, including live online classes, group discussions and asynchronous assignments. You will need strong verbal and written communication skills to express yourself in any setting.
Proactive Approach
The most successful online students commit to making the most of their experience. They actively participate in all program components, proactively identify the need for additional support and seek the help of faculty and program support services to stay on top of coursework and class concepts.
Time Management
VCU’s online HSEP program lets you choose when and where to complete your asynchronous coursework. But this also means balancing your professional, personal and academic commitments. If you plan to continue working while earning your degree—as most students do—you will need good time management and organizational skills to be successful.
Is the Online Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program for You?
VCU’s online Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness attracts a diverse cohort of students. They share one attribute in common: a desire to lead crucial security and emergency response teams.
VCU commits to helping online students succeed and provides various forms of support, including faculty office hours and a virtual community forum. If you’d like to learn more about the online HSEP program or want help determining whether it aligns with your needs, contact an enrollment advisor. To begin your journey toward a homeland security and emergency preparedness career, start your application.