2023 Most Affordable Homeland Security Degrees Online

Wichita State University (WSU) is a public institution with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security requiring 120 credit hours. Students can expect to complete this degree in four years if they study full time. WSU's acceptance rate is 80%, while its graduation rate is 50%.

Students at WSU use Blackboard as their digital learning software. With this program, students can complete their coursework 100% online. The curriculum prepares students for operational, management, and policy roles in important security agencies. Core classes found in this program include Cyber Security, Physical Security, and Intelligence Process. An applied learning or research program is also a requirement. Graduates may seek employment in law enforcement agencies at the regional and national levels.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a public university that offers a Bachelor of Security and Emergency Management. This program requires 120 credit hours and a full-time commitment if students want to finish their degree in four years. UAF has an acceptance rate of 67%, with 34% of students who end up graduating.

UAF students utilize Canvas for their remote learning needs, allowing them to study on a flexible schedule. This particular degree explores counterterrorism and homeland security along with public safety issues related to emergencies and disasters. There are several program requirements, including core classes in Leadership in Dangerous Contexts, Emergency Planning and Preparedness, and Disaster Response Operations and Management. There are six concentrations to choose from, such as Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, and Homeland Security. After graduation, careers may be available as first responders, police officers, and emergency management directors.

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private university with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security requiring 120 credits. Students who study full time may complete this degree in four years. The acceptance rate at CSU is 100%, and 48% of students graduate with a degree.

CSU students may complete their degree completely online using the learning management system, Blackboard. The university also offers flexible course schedules and start times. The program teaches students a foundational understanding of homeland security by featuring studies in border security, cyber networks, and critical infrastructure. Core classes include Cybersecurity Management, Terrorism Response Operations, and Typology of Terrorism. Alumni are eligible for roles in law enforcement, emergency management, and business continuity, to name a few areas.

SUNY College of Technology at Canton (SUNY Canton) is a public institution offering a Bachelor of Technology in Homeland Security, which requires 120 credits. Full-time students may complete this degree in four years. Overall, SUNY Canton's acceptance rate is 83%, and its graduation rate is 48%.

At SUNY Canton, students use Blackboard as their primary LMS, where they can study completely online. This remote degree program combines theoretical and practical skills in homeland security as well as utilizing technology and human resources to organize security strategies. Students must complete core classes in Intelligence Analysis, Threats to Homeland Security, and Public Safety Incident Response. These courses prepare graduates for roles as law enforcement officers, intelligence officers, and emergency management professionals.

Vincennes University (VU) is a public university with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Public Safety. This is a four-year degree for full-time students. At VU, 100% of students are accepted for enrollment, while only 25% graduate with a degree.

Students at VU use Blackboard to access and submit their remote learning coursework. The program is accessible 24/7, allowing for a more flexible study schedule. This degree uses highly experienced instructors to teach the latest tactics and procedures regarding intelligence, infrastructure, terrorism, and crisis management. There are class requirements in Technology in Homeland Security, Principles of Emergency Management, and Weapons of Mass Destruction. An internship in public safety is also required. Graduates are prepared for work in the fields of law enforcement, information analysis, and transportation security.

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is a public university offering a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This degree requires the completion of 120 credits, which most students accomplish in four years if they maintain a full-time schedule throughout. While 100% of TESU students are accepted for enrollment, 48% graduate with their diplomas.

Moodle is the main LMS for TESU students, and this program allows them to complete their coursework entirely online. The curriculum combines both a fundamental understanding of homeland security along with the five areas of national preparedness: (1) prevention, (2) protection, (3) mitigation, (4) response, and (5) recovery. Core classes include Ethical Management in Public Safety, Critical Thinking for Homeland Security, and Counterterrorism: Constitutional and Legislative Issues. A three-credit homeland security capstone is also required before graduation. Then, alumni become eligible for roles in law enforcement, public safety, and counterterrorism.

Waldorf University (Waldorf) is a private institution offering a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security. It requires 120 credit hours, which the university estimates will take full-time students around four years to finish. The acceptance rate at Waldorf is 61%, with 50% of students graduating.

Waldorf students use Blackboard for most remote coursework, which allows them to complete their degree 100% online. This program features three concentration options: (1) Criminal Justice, (2) Cybersecurity, and (3) Emergency Management. The curriculum aims to teach students the various strategies use to combat terrorist threats, including prevention, planning, and response tactics. Required coursework for this major includes Critical Infrastructure Protection, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Terrorism Response Operations — in addition to a senior homeland security capstone.

Additionally, Waldorf offers two more degrees with homeland security concentrations, including the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security and the Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management - Homeland Security. Graduates of these programs often pursue law enforcement and emergency response roles.

Southern New Hampshire University Online (SNHU) is a private university with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Because this degree requires 120 credits, most students complete it in four years while studying full time. SNHU has a 94% acceptance rate and a 40% graduation rate.

Brightspace is the main LMS for SNHU students, who can complete their degree completely online. Some classes may be offered asynchronously. In general, this program teaches the analytical and policy skills needed to navigate homeland security while also looking at the "how" and "why" of terrorism and a wide range of other security threats. Core classes include Terrorism in the United States, Security Managment, and Intelligence and Counterintelligence. Career options for graduates may include intelligence analyst, security specialist, and counterterrorism watchlist analyst.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) is a private religious university with a Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security requiring a minimum of 120 credit hours. Typically, students complete this in four years if they keep up a full-time pace. MVNU has an acceptance rate of 72%, with 61% of students graduating.

At MVNU, students use Moodle as their LMS, where they can complete their degree entirely online. The curriculum for the bachelor's degree in emergency management and homeland security focuses on prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Required courses include Terrorism and Homeland Security, Phases of Emergency Managment, and Organization and Business Continuity. Students are also required to complete a capstone by creating a case study and analysis of professional security procedures. Career opportunities may be found in public, private, and nonprofit security agencies.

The American Public University (APU), which is part of the larger American Public University System, is a private institution offering a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security. This degree requires 120 credits, which full-time students typically complete in four years. Since 100% of students who apply are accepted into APU, the graduation rate is only 18%.

At APU, remote learners use Brightspace to complete their online coursework, which is asynchronous. This means that students can work through the courseload at their own pace. This major's curriculum explores modern and historical homeland security concepts, teaching students fundamental tasks, such as preparing briefings and completing a Red Cell analysis. Core classes include Critical Infrastructure Protection, Border and Coastal Security, and Research Methods in Homeland Security Studies. Students are also required to complete a senior capstone project demonstrating their program knowledge.

APU offers similar programs as well: the Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies, with concentrations in Intelligence Operations and Terrorism Studies; the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Security; and the Bachelor of Arts in Security Management. Graduates of these programs are eligible for roles in the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.