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See Courses & Program Info
View a complete list of program courses, program-specific and degree-level requirements, and more.
This program requires a total of 120 credits.
- 33 Required Major Credits: Review the required major courses outlined below or view the recommended course sequence to progress through this program.
- 41 General Education Credits: Review the options available to fulfill the 41 credits of general education coursework requirements for bachelor's degrees.
- 46 Minor & Elective Credits: Review a list of available academic minors or see the course catalog or Schedule of Classes to help you select elective courses.
Required Major Courses
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Not ready to get started on a bachelor’s degree? You can pair a 15-credit minor in homeland security with another major at UMGC.
Vertical Pathway
If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in homeland security, a vertical pathway between UMGC's graduate and undergraduate degree programs in that field allows you to reduce your total coursework for a master’s degree in Management with a Homeland Security Management specialization or Information Technology with a Homeland Security Management specialization.
Develop Career-Ready Skills in Homeland Security
This program is designed to equip you with knowledge and skills that can easily translate to a variety of homeland security-related careers. The curriculum covers international and domestic terrorism and counterterrorism; emerging technologies; cyber threats; infrastructure protection; emergency preparedness and response; global pandemics; natural disasters; strategic planning; policies; intelligence operations; and international engagement. You’ll also develop critical thinking, ethical decision-making, risk analysis, and communication skills to meet the professional demands of leadership and management in the homeland security profession.
Our homeland security degree program directors refresh and update the curriculum regularly, with a focus on helping students achieve the following:
$190B
Available Funding
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security budgeted $190.2 billion among its 17 subcomponents in fiscal year 2024.
Source: USASpending.gov | Agency Profile: Department of Homeland Security | July 30, 2024
$900B
Market Value
The homeland security and emergency management market is projected to reach $904.6 billion by 2026.
Source: MarketsandMarkets | Homeland Security and Emergency Market Management by Vertical | May 2021
42%
Bachelor's Requirement
About 42 percent of all new jobs in the United States will require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce | After Everything: Protections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031 | 2023
Practice Real-World Skills in Your Homeland Security Courses
Throughout your curriculum, your instructors will assign coursework that will help you prioritize real-world skills and experience. In past courses, students earning a bachelor’s in homeland security have been able to complete the following course projects:
- Develop a basic understanding of the origins, policies, environments, and public- and private-sector activities that constitute homeland security.
- Examine how planning and responding to critical incidents is handled at the local, state, and national levels.
- Study the theories and techniques used in public safety leadership, including participative, supportive, charismatic, and coaching approaches to leadership.
Explore UMGC Homeland Security Insights
Gain insight from our faculty and staff and delve deeper into a range of topics, including the career potential of homeland security majors and how to apply their major-related principles to everyday activities.
FAQs
Get answers to questions that current and prospective students are asking about program admission, credibility, and more.
An online bachelor's degree in homeland security is a college degree that students can earn to help them prepare for a career protecting national security. UMGC’s online bachelor's degree in homeland security is a 120-credit program that covers topics international and domestic terrorism, cyber threats, global pandemics, risk analysis, and more. The program helps students prepare to work in a wide range of settings, from government to corporations to the private sector.
UMGC's online bachelor's degree in homeland security is a 120-credit program with courses offered year-round. The time it will take you to complete your degree will depend on several factors, including your goals, how many transfer credits you have, your course load each semester, and whether you are able to benefit from one or more of our fast paths to credit, including credit for prior learning and credit for military education and training.
Tuition rates for the online bachelor’s degree in homeland security from UMGC are very competitive and appear at the top of this page. We offer a low in-state rate for Maryland residents and a reduced tuition rate for military service members and their spouses and dependent children. We also offer scholarships for those who qualify, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make online bachelor's degrees even more affordable.
You do not need any background or experience in homeland security to enroll in our online bachelor’s degree in homeland security. As long as you meet our undergraduate admission requirements, you can enroll in this program.
You do not need any prior certifications to enroll in or complete this program.