Master's Degree in Homeland Security & 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. Kaplan University’s online Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management 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.*

| Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

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.

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.*

Curriculum for the MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Course #	Course Title	Credits
CJ 500	CRITICAL LEGAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE	5 CRITICAL LEGAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 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.
CJ 502	RESEARCH METHODOLOGY	5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 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.
CJ 509	COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS	5 COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS 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.
CJ 526	ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY	5 ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY Effective and appropriate communication is essential for success in the academic and professional 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.
HM 500	CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS	5 CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS 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.
HM 501	HOMELAND SECURITY POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, PROCEDURES, AND PLANS	5 HOMELAND SECURITY POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, PROCEDURES, AND PLANS 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).
PP 510	LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR	5 LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR 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.
HM 598	APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT CAPSTONE	5 APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT CAPSTONE 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.

Course #	Course Title	Credits
Choose one of the following courses:
CJ 510	SPECIALIZED CRIMINAL STATUTES AND COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS	5 SPECIALIZED CRIMINAL STATUTES AND COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS 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.
CJ 513	CRITICAL ISSUES IN TERRORISM	5 CRITICAL ISSUES IN TERRORISM 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 500	PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT	5 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT 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.
PP 520	FINANCE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS	5 FINANCE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS 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.
Choose two of the following courses:
HM 502	RISK, VULNERABILITY, AND CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODS	5 RISK, VULNERABILITY, AND CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODS 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?"
HM 503	PLANNING AND OPERATIONS IN CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT	5 PLANNING AND OPERATIONS IN CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 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.
HM 504	ALL-HAZARDS READINESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS	5 ALL-HAZARDS READINESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS This course explores significant hazards and threats to national security, domestic security, and community safety. The focus of this course is on the various types of threats that constitute the "all hazards" approach to homeland security. The course is primarily focused on the range and nature of these natural and man-made events, as opposed to the prevention or protection from such events.
HM 505	PLANNING FOR WMD AND MASS CASUALTY CRISES	5 PLANNING FOR WMD AND MASS CASUALTY CRISES 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.
HM 510	MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS ISSUES FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT	5 MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS ISSUES FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 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.
HM 515	PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT	5 PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT In this course, students will examine crisis management, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity. Topics include recovery of information and communication systems, the role of the private sector in mitigation and recovery, and public/private partnerships in community reconstruction and recovery.
HM 540	CRISIS INTERVENTION	5 CRISIS INTERVENTION 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.
PP 612	PROGRAM EVALUATION	5 PROGRAM EVALUATION 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.

Total Program Requirements	55 Total Program Requirements

Core Requirements
Elective Requirements
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

If you already earned course credits at another institution, you may qualify for transfer credit that can be applied toward your program requirements at Kaplan University. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for graduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$385.00
Total program requirements MS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management	55
Total cost of tuition	$21,175.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term. A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor.

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*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
^†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.

Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

School of Criminal Justice