• Note: For certain locations, program enrollment is onsite with online instruction.

  • This program is offered online.

  • Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

    Environmental disasters, terrorism, espionage, border transgressions—stories about threats like these make headlines every day. Kaplan University could help you pursue an important and challenging career protecting the security and safety of our country.

    If you already have a bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college and want to earn an advanced degree to further your career, the Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management could help you pursue your goal. This criminal justice degree program could help prepare you to pursue management-level positions with employers such as the Department of Homeland Security and other federal, state, and local agencies, as well consulting companies in the private sector.*

    Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program Highlights

    The Kaplan University Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s curriculum focuses on the legal, social, business, economic, and political aspects of the industry. Our Web-based courses are taught by experienced industry professionals and are available virtually any time, anywhere you have access to the Internet. With this online master’s degree program, you will explore how societal institutions, government agencies, lawmakers, businesses, and other organizations find sustainable security and emergency management solutions on a local, regional, national, and global level. 

    The master’s degree curriculum emphasizes the following:

    • The evaluation of social and ethical implications of decisions made to protect people and property
    • Complex global challenges with innovative solutions
    • The application of theory, current knowledge, and legal doctrine
    • Cultural, individual, and role differences of constituents and stakeholders
    • The application of leadership principals to shape change and improve management policy and practices
    • The evaluation of research on current knowledge and developing trends
    • The application of organizational behavior and management theories to daily operations

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    According to the federal government, the homeland security and emergency management field is expected to continue to grow. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security is one of three federal organizations that will hire the most people through September 2012.† 

    With a master’s degree from Kaplan University, you could prepare for the opportunities ahead or build a solid foundation to pursue more advanced academic degrees.‡

    Career opportunities may exist in emergency preparedness and response, border and transportation security, infrastructure protection, information analysis, homeland defense, emergency management, service and response, hazard mitigation, and more.* 

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jul 03

    Online Start Date
    Jul 03, 2013

    Jul 31

    Online Start Date
    Jul 31, 2013

    Sep 18

    Online Start Date
    Sep 18, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: All Tracks

    Core

    CJ 500: CRITICAL LEGAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (5 Credits)

    This course involves the study of recent legislation and case law, both state and federal, that impact criminal justice professionals and the administration of criminal justice in the context of professional practice. The topics will depend upon current legal developments, but will include such areas as law enforcement, criminal procedure, civil and criminal liability, civil rights, employment law, substance abuse, corrections, and judicial review of administrative decisions.

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    CJ 502: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (5 Credits)

    This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the research process and the ethical context within which research should be conducted. Further, it will provide the basic skills needed to conduct and evaluate research on topics relevant to the criminal justice field. In order to accomplish these objectives, the course will focus on the nature of scientific inquiry; the connections between theory and research; designing research projects and exploring causation; sampling pro­cedures and logic; research techniques; reliability, validity, and measurement of data; and descriptive analyses of data.

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    CJ 509: COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS (5 Credits)

    This course covers comparative foreign criminal justice systems, including the investigation and prosecution of international terrorists, the International Criminal Court, U.S. criminal cases affecting international relations, mutual assistance treaties, and issues concerning the formation of criminal justice systems in developing democracies. This course is especially beneficial for understanding global legal issues facing the criminal justice system.

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    CJ 526: ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY (5 Credits)

    Effective and appropriate communication is essential for success in the academic andprofessional worlds. Academic and Professional Communications in Public Safety is designed to prepare students for the rhetorical challenges found in their coursework, professional career, and the final capstone/research paper. Students will learn to clearly communicate complex and sophisticated materials to a wide variety of expert and nonexpert audiences using both written and oral techniques. This course will introduce students to the basic elements of academic and professional writing at the holistic and paragraph levels. Students will learn about audience and purpose as well as the graduate research, writing, and formatting process. These skills are coupled with an additional focus on the context, delivery, and medium through which students will communicate. Emphasis is also placed on accurately citing and quoting primary materials, organizational strategies, and grammar, editing, and usage skills.

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    HM 500: CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS (5 Credits)

    This course will introduce students to the concepts, issues, and problems of crisis and emergency management. Topics explored include: organizing and logistics for response, managing the response organization, managing in a high-stress environment, crisis decision making, crisis communications, liability issues, and resource assessment and allocation. This course will cover the methodology and rationale behind the unified response to a terrorist, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), or disaster incidents, and students will examine these methodologies from the perspective of crisis management and consequence management.

    Prerequisites Required: CJ 500

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    HM 501: HOMELAND SECURITY POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, PROCEDURES, AND PLANS (5 Credits)

    This course is a critical analysis of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), both the political and organizational factors involved and its structure and administration. Students will explore the evolution of homeland security as a concept, a legal framework, and a redirection of national policies and priorities, including any related issues and challenges with implementation. The DHS will be analyzed in light of the history of the terrorist threat, U.S. responses to terrorism, and fundamental policy legislation and documents, such as national security strategies, homeland security decision directives, the National Response Plan, and National Incident Management System (NIMS).

    Prerequisites Required:

    CJ 500

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    PP 510: LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (5 Credits)

    Students will study leadership within the public sector and the application of ethical and leadership principles to decision making, actions, and interactions within public administration. Topics covered may include: organizational behavior, interest-based negotiation, leading networks, mediation, and leadership style.

    Prerequisites Required: PP 500 or enrollment in the Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Master of Science in Environmental Policy, or Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Services program

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    HM 598: APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT CAPSTONE (5 Credits)

    Students experience the art and science of applied research while they develop the tools of reflective inquiry and collaborative practice. Students will engage in analysis of current issues and challenges to explore and practice applied research methods as a logical extension of professional practice. Integral to this process is the examination of both informal and systematic ways to ask and answer questions. Students will conduct their own applied research project.

    Prerequisites Required: CJ 502 and approval of the Dean

    Total Core Credits: 40
    Total Program Credits: 55

    Electives

    HM 540: CRISIS INTERVENTION (5 Credits)

    This course introduces the basic theories and principles of crisis intervention. The emphasis in this course is on identifying and demonstrating appropriate and differential techniques for intervening in various types of disaster and emergency management crisis situations. This course will review empirically validated approaches to crisis intervention. The course will explore the role of law enforcement in crisis situations as well as civilian and public safety personnel behavior under emergency and disaster crisis situations. In addition, assessment and diagnosis of psychological issues commonly found in crisis situations will be examined.

    Prerequisites Required: HM 500, HM 501, or enrollment in the Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Services program

    HM 510: MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS ISSUES FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (5 Credits)

    This course will explore hazard mitigation and its role in disaster management. In addition, students will study the planning process, program development, and training methods for responses to man-made and natural emergencies/disasters. Topics include government and private sector programs, new approaches, and mitigation of issues/events.

    Prerequisites Required: HM 500, HM 510, or enrollment in the Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Services program

    HM 503: PLANNING AND OPERATIONS IN CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (5 Credits)

    This course examines comprehensive strategic planning for crisis and emergency management. The theory and value of strategic planning are explained and students learn how to develop a comprehensive strategic plan.

    Prerequisites Required: HM 500 or enrollment in the Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Services program

    HM 505: PLANNING FOR WMD AND MASS CASUALTY CRISES (5 Credits)

    This course explores the critical health and medical management issues involved in crises and emergencies for the nonmedical emergency manager. The wide range of medical and health issues inherent to crises and emergencies are examined and methods for integrating medical, public health, and psychological processes into emergency management programs are developed.

    Prerequisites Required: HM 500 or HM 501

    PP 612: PROGRAM EVALUATION (5 Credits)

    In this course, students will learn how to evaluate the models and principles of program evaluation including the analysis of data collection techniques and research principles to conduct a needs analysis. Tools used in program evaluation, including the logic model and the results-based accountability model, will be covered to teach students how to define objectives, benchmarks, and indicators of a program evaluation plan. Additionally, students will develop a program evaluation plan and learn how to analyze the strengths of a plan, as well as the political and ethical implications, and will develop the ability to interpret data and make program recommendations and action steps based on an evaluation plan.

    HM 502: RISK, VULNERABILITY, AND CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODS (5 Credits)

    The course examines the concepts of risk-based planning and risk management. The assessment and management of vulnerability and risk associated with terrorist and other disaster events are examined. Topics explored include: objectives of and methods for vulnerability and risk assessment for natural disasters, technological hazards, and terrorist threats; concepts of risk perception, risk communication, and risk mitigation; and the requirements and methods of critical infrastructure protection from terrorism, technological disasters, and natural disasters. Students will examine the question and make decisions regarding, "Who or what should be protected and how?"

    Prerequisites Required: HM 500, HM 501, or enrollment in the Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Services program

    Total Electives Credits: 10
    Total Program Credits: 55

    CJ 513: CRITICAL ISSUES IN TERRORISM (5 Credits)

    This course is designed to provide students with a critical analysis and understanding of issues related to terrorism. This includes historical analyses of the causes and effects of social, political, economic, and religious conflict as they pertain to terrorist groups from source countries; protective intelligence gathering and associated legal issues; threat assessment; emergency first-responder plans and policies; counterterrorism tactics and strategies; cyberterrorism and the role of technology; and concerns for the future.

    PP 520: FINANCE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS (5 Credits)

    This course examines the methods, processes, and challenges in the administration and budget­ing of public funds. Students will examine the budgeting of public revenues, revenue generation, forecasting, cost control, and fiscal management. The importance of managing control issues and transparency will be addressed.

    Prerequisites Required: PP  500 or enrollment in the Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management program

    PP 500: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT (5 Credits)

    The course explores the theory and development of the field of public administration and the function of management. It will cover a wide range of topics further explored in the Master of Public Administration program. These topics may include federalism and intergovernmental relations, ethics and administrative leadership, personnel, and resource management. Students will study management processes in the context of a political environment and policy implementation.

    CJ 510: SPECIALIZED CRIMINAL STATUTES AND COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS (5 Credits)

    This course involves the study of legislation and case law that affect the daily practice of criminal justice professionals in the context of investigative techniques and the prosecution of cases. Students examine such areas as white-collar crime; the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act; money laundering; health care fraud; wire, mail, and bank fraud; identity and access device fraud; securities fraud; insurance fraud; corporate criminal liability; tax enforcement; and public corruption. In addition, the USA PATRIOT Act, Title III wiretaps, and grand jury procedures are also discussed.

    Total Electives Credits: 10
    Total Program Credits: 55

    Tuition & Fees: All Tracks

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

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    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • * Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

    † Source: Where the Jobs are 2009: Mission-Critical Opportunities for America, on the Internet at http://data.wherethejobsare.org/wtja/home. These employment projections are provided for informational purposes only. Long-term projections are not intended to predict short-term changes in employment demand due to the current economy.

    ‡ While many of Kaplan University's degree programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue continued bachelor-, graduate-, or doctorate-level education, the University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any programs.

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