2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Homeland Security

Columbia Southern University (CSU) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Master of Science in Homeland Security in three concentrations: Criminal Justice, Emergency Services Management, and Management. Concentrations in this major are designed for law enforcement, emergency services, and homeland security professionals seeking career advancement within their field. Each is a 36-credit program taking full-time students approximately two years to complete. Students can transfer in up to 18 credit hours of previously completed coursework to help save time and money.

CSU delivers its online curriculum via Blackboard. Depending on their concentration, online graduate students in the homeland security program take courses such as Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice, Crisis Communication Management, and Emergency Management Leadership and Decision Making.

American Public University System (APUS) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Master of Arts in Homeland Security for homeland security employees and volunteers in eight 12-credit concentrations — such as Criminal Justice, Transportation Security, Counter-Terrorism Studies, and Intelligence Studies. Graduating requires completing 36 credit hours, which may take full-time students two years or less. Courses start monthly and vary from 8 to 16 weeks. Similar programs at APUS include its online Master of Arts in Intelligence Studies and Master of Arts in National Security Studies.

APUS uses Brightspace to deliver online coursework and instruction. Depending on the concentration, homeland security distance learners enroll in courses such as Economics of Disaster, Transnational Crime and Narcotics, Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community, and Interagency Disaster Management.

Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Homeland Security Studies to help students meet the advanced needs of the homeland security enterprise and the private sector. Online graduate students complete 36 credit hours, which may take two years of full-time attendance. SHSU accepts applications on a rolling basis, with fall and spring start dates.

SHSU’s distance learners access the Blackboard learning management system to access the program curriculum and participate in class. Courses within the online master’s in homeland security degree program include Leadership in HSEM, Critical Infrastructure Risk Management, Unconventional Threats, and Cybersecurity. Coursework helps students develop skills in strategic thinking and policymaking. Students must also complete an internship in security studies before they can graduate.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a public institution dedicated to serving Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian, and Native American nontribal members. It offers an online Master of Security and Disaster Management (MSDM) emphasizing the critical thinking and analytical skills required for career advancement in homeland security and emergency management. Concentrations include Arctic Security, Business Continuity, Climate Security, Cybersecurity, Disaster Management, Strategic Leadership, and STEM. Students must complete at least 30 credit hours to graduate, which generally takes two years of maintaining a full-time course load.

UAF delivers its online curriculum via Canvas. MSDM distance learners access Canvas to participate in classes (based on the student's chosen concentration), such as Arctic Strategies and Operations, Environmental Security, International Disaster Management, and Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities. Seasoned military and law enforcement professionals provide this advanced instruction at UAF.

The University of Mississippi (UM) is a public institution offering an online Master of Criminal Justice - Emphasis in Homeland Security and Emergency Management for students interested in promotions within their current agency or seeking new opportunities and competitive jobs within a different federal agency. This 30-credit program is comprised of 8-week courses that full-time students can complete in two years or less.

UM — also known as Ole Miss — uses Blackboard to deliver its online program content to distance learners. Those enrolled in the online Homeland Security and Emergency Management program may choose from courses such as Emergency Response Management Policy and Planning, Critical Infrastructure Security, Seminar in Extremism and Terrorism, and Transnational Crime. Students must also complete a sequential capstone series in order to graduate.