Online Master’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Additional academy training and education not provided by Purdue Global may be required for law enforcement positions.

Total Courses

$420

Cost per Credit

1.5 years

Average Completion*

15 Hours/Week

Course Effort

Master’s in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Overview

Are you driven to protect the public and lead others to do the same? It’s time to make a big move. Earn your master’s degree and advance your career in a challenging and dynamic field.

Enjoy hands-on, project-oriented, and problem-based courses that explore real challenges and issues from a variety of perspectives.
Gain insights from professors with the real-world experience to know what it takes to advance in the field.
Learn how federal and private institutions find sustainable security and emergency management solutions on a local, regional, national, and global level.
Examine the interrelationships of public and private sector businesses and industries, economics, policy, politics, culture, ideology, psychology, and human dynamics.

Real, Proven Student Outcomes

Earn a degree you can be proud of — and that employers will respect. Each term, we assess homeland security and emergency management students on their mastery of the course outcomes, which measure the skills, knowledge, abilities, and behaviors employers expect. View a summary of these assessments.

To review prior learning credits, student success rates, student survey results, and the number of graduates for the program, view this document.

View Program Detail Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

This degree program is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Join a community of support. Engage with criminal justice professionals from around the country and learn from their diverse experiences. You can also take advantage of the Graduate Resource Center for professional memberships and clubs, career services, leadership opportunities, and more.

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a graduate program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

What Courses Will I Take?

The Purdue Global Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management curriculum focuses on the legal, social, business, economic, and political aspects of the industry.

You'll gain insight from professors who bring real-world experience to the courses they teach.

Sample Courses

Applied Research
Crisis and Emergency Management Fundamentals
Homeland Security Policies, Principles, Procedures, and Plans
Planning and Operations in Crisis and Emergency Management
Risk, Vulnerability, and Capability Assessment Methods

See All Homeland Security Courses

Program Requirements

Core Credits

Total Credits

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

International Tuition Reduction

International students living outside of the United States are eligible for a 25% international student tuition reduction.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

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Career Opportunities

The Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management is designed to prepare you to pursue management-level positions with employers such as the Department of Homeland Security and other federal, state, and local agencies. It can also help prepare you for a dynamic career within private-sector consulting companies.

Other opportunities in this dynamic and diverse emergency management career field include emergency preparedness and response, border and transportation security, infrastructure protection, information analysis, homeland defense, emergency management, service and response, and hazard mitigation.

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Lightcast average salary ranges can be explored further using Lightcast’s SkillsMatch tool. Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Prior experience may be necessary for leadership positions.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement jobs may require additional training or education including additional state-approved higher education beyond the Purdue Global degree. This program was not designed to meet any specific state’s requirements, and Purdue Global makes no representations or warranties as to whether the degree or any individual courses meet such requirements. Refer to the University Catalog for additional information. Graduates of Purdue Global criminal justice programs are not eligible to attend police academies in Minnesota.

Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests and use them to chart your ideal career path.

Career Assessment

Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

View Brochure

98%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

51%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

395

Faculty publications in 2021–2022

More Than 38,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2021–2022

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2022. 2021–2022 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

Connect with an Advisor Apply Online Today

NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Largest Providers of Public Safety Programs: Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021–2022 Total Degrees and Certificates Conferred, First Major, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Services, https://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS. Based on total number of degrees and certificates granted by Purdue Global compared to other degree-granting institutions.

Online Master's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management