Ever since 9/11, "homeland security" has taken on a new meaning. And the results led to the development of new degree programs — programs specifically designed to meet the education needs of those who wish to pursue a career in this field.
Homeland security experts not only deal with international threats, but also with matters closer to home. Earning a degree in homeland security can be a good match for those wanting to enter the criminal justice field, for those in the military, or for anyone seeking new career opportunities in disaster-relief agencies, international corporations, or federal, state and local governments. Whatever homeland security occupation you pursue, you'll likely find an accredited education to be a valuable asset.
As part of an emerging field, online homeland security degrees are not available at every college and university. What's more, not every program is going to be right for every student. To help busy adults find the program that can benefit them the most, we have created this ranking of the 10 best online colleges for homeland security. Our ranking uses data points from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) such as in-state tuition costs, acceptance rate and number of related online degree programs. For more details on our methodology, see the bottom of this page.
To see OnlineCollege.com's ranking of the 20 best online colleges for veterans and their families, see here.
Given its history, it's not surprising the American Public University System excels at educating homeland security professionals. The school was founded by a retired Marine Corps officer in 1991 as the American Military University. It was reorganized into the current system in 2002 and specializes in providing 100 percent online degrees.
Within the field of homeland security, online students can choose from the following programs:
The American Public University System has an open admissions policy that makes it easy for students to quickly begin their coursework. It also has a solid graduation rate, coming in ninth for that metric. Plus, it grabbed the No. one spot for the prominence of its homeland security program.
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111 W. Congress StreetAngelo State University comes in the No. two spot on this list of best online colleges for homeland security. The school was founded in 1928 and is part of the Texas Tech University System.
While its campus is in San Angelo, Texas, students from all over can earn an online bachelor's in homeland security from the university. There are also online certificates and master's degrees in the field. Here's a look at the Angelo State University programs:
In 2014, Angelo State University accepted 82 percent of applicants. That gave it the third highest ranking in this survey for admissions and accessibility. The school also ranked high for the prominence of its program. It landed in the number five spot for that metric.
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2601 W. Avenue N,Another technical school that excels in online homeland security degrees is Arkansas Tech University. The university's College of eTech offers two options for the student interested in homeland security. These are the following:
Arkansas Tech accepted 86 percent of applicants, ranking it second for that factor. What's more, the school has a solid graduation rate. For that metric, it earned the 11th spot out of 41 institutions. When it comes to the prominence its homeland security program, Arkansas Tech University ranked second there as well. Nearly 3.5 percent of all degrees it awarded in 2015 were in the field of homeland security and emergency management.
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215 West O StreetAs a part of the State University of New York, the College of Technology at Canton earned solid scores when it comes to its admissions and the prominence of its homeland security program. The school ranked fourth for its admissions rate and accessibility. As for prominence, SUNY College of Technology at Canton came in sixth for that factor.
Online students can choose from two online bachelor's degrees in homeland security and emergency management. The specific degree programs offered are as follows:
While each degree has a different curriculum focus, both prepare students for jobs in the Department of Homeland Security as well as with other federal, state and local agencies.
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34 Cornell DriveThe fifth best online college for homeland security has both undergraduate and graduate programs in the field. Eastern Kentucky University has a robust online division that includes the following degrees:
Eastern Kentucky University also has the following undergraduate certificates available. These may be appropriate for working professionals who want to build on their experience or for students who would like to supplement their major in another field:
Not only does it offer numerous online homeland security degrees, but Eastern Kentucky University also ranked seventh for admissions and accessibility to them.
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521 Lancaster AveWith a 100 percent admissions rate, Union Institute & University tied for first when it comes to the accessibility of their online programs. It also came in fourth out of 41 schools for the prominence of its homeland security degree.
The private, non-profit institution has been operating since 1964. Over the years, it has begun moving many of its degrees online. It also offers some majors in a hybrid format that combines online with in-person learning. For homeland security students, there is a fully online Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Management. It is available as either a general major or in one of the following two concentrations:
After graduation, students should have the skills needed to address disasters both natural and manmade. Alumni may go on to work in federal, state and local agencies.
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440 E McMillan StFounded in 1879 on a campus in Milledgeville, Georgia, the Georgia Military College has grown to include a dozen location plus an online campus. It is one of only five Military Junior Colleges in the United States as of 2017.
As part of its commitment to making an affordable education accessible to everyone, Georgia Military College does not charge out-of-state tuition rates for its online students. It also accepts 100 percent of applicants. That's one factor that pushed it up the rankings on the OnlineColleges.com list of best online colleges for homeland security. Students interested in the field can choose from the following undergraduate options:
Both programs are designed to allow students to continue their studies at a four-year college or university after their graduation from Georgia Military College.
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201 E Greene StLocated in Saint Leo, Florida, Saint Leo University is one more place you can earn an online bachelor's in homeland security. The program is a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with an online specialization in homeland security. The curriculum provides instruction on the modern Middle East, local terrorism response and counter-terrorism among other things.
While the degree is a distance learning program, the school notes not all classes may be offered online. Check with the school for more information before enrolling.
In these rankings, Saint Leo University ranked 10th for both its graduation rate and admissions rate. It was also third for the prominence of its program: More than 3 percent of all degrees it awarded in 2015 were in the field of homeland security.
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33701 State Road 52The University of Central Missouri is notable for having the highest graduation rate of any school on this top ten list. In 2014, 53 percent of its students graduated on-time. That rate was enough to rank the school sixth for that metric out of 41 institutions. It also came in fifth for its admissions rate. The University of Central Missouri admitted nearly 78 percent of applicants in 2014.
Homeland security students can earn an online Bachelor of Science in Crisis and Disaster Management. The program is available in three concentrations:
There are also four certificate programs which are intended for military members, either active or retired, who are looking to add to their education. The certificates are in business continuity, emergency management, emergency services management and environmental hazards.
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P.O. Box 800St. Petersburg College is another good choice for online homeland security degrees. Its open admissions policy is a plus for busy adults who are ready to begin their studies immediately. Once accepted, students can earn the following homeland security awards:
The programs are developed to be progressive so credits from a certificate can be applied to the associate degree. Then, those who have earned the two year degree can apply those credits toward an online bachelor's in homeland security.
St. Petersburg College notes not all students can study through its online programs. Residents of Massachusetts, Minnesota and Nevada are currently unable to enroll due to state authorization requirements.
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P.O. Box 13489Homeland Security is a diverse field that requires knowledge about human motivation as well as counter-terrorism, emergency management and disaster relief. Courses and degrees are typically offered through a school's criminal justice department, but the subject is sometimes offered as a specialization or concentration within a broader degree program. This section describes the coursework found within some of the different levels of online degrees for Homeland Security, as well as the skills that coursework might reinforce.
Students considering online education for Homeland Security have numerous programs available to them at various schools, from the undergraduate to graduate level. Specific course expectations vary by degree level, with some details on these courses provided directly below.
Homeland security is no minor matter; there are many skills that are important to the field, and online education for homeland security can help students to build them. Here are a few of the skills students may want to pay attention to learning as they complete their degree program.
This job title may seem hard to understand at first, but it refers to the higher-up positions available in the policing field, including chief of police, lieutenant, captain, sergeant, shift supervisor and many others. An associate degree may be required for some first-line supervisor of police and detectives careers, but more often completion of a police academy program is necessary as well as on-the-job experience.
People interested in these positions usually are promoted from within, with importance also placed on skills such as critical thinking, understanding of human psychology, and knowledge of laws. These supervisors may be tasked with tough decisions that could tie into investigations, personnel and even budgets.
It's rarely a pretty picture, but emergency management directors are the people leading the charge when a natural disaster, like an earthquake or hurricane occurs, or when other types of unexpected disasters happen. These directors are responsible for anticipating large-scale problems by having an emergency plan and chain of command in place and then making sure the plan is executed. When an emergency strikes, they work with numerous types of people and organizations, such as government agencies, elected officials, nonprofits such as the American Red Cross, and even public safety officials.
Individuals interested in emergency management director careers usually have a bachelor's degree in a field like accounting, business or public administration, emergency management, finance or public health.
It's a world of statutes and judicial enforcement when it comes to criminal justice and law enforcement teacher careers. A job in the field could mean teaching criminal justice courses on a community college or university campus. After all, programs exist at both the undergraduate and graduate level. These instructors also could provide training on self-defense or gun safety at a police academy.
Knowledge of laws and legal codes will be a must for this career because instructors need to be able to explain various legal procedures and the laws that are on the books. On a campus, teachers could spend their day instructing, leading discussions and grading papers, while a job at a police academy could be short term but more hands-on.
People interested in internal security manager careers may find themselves overseeing a team of store detectives or involved in developing security operation procedures and plans. These managers are the people to interview and hire security employees, create shift schedules and even take a lead on investigations.
Internal security managers need to be skilled at problem solving and resolving conflicts — all with a cool head. They can be the key personnel to respond to difficult situations like bomb threats, intrusion alarms and medical emergencies. People employed in this capacity typically have a bachelor's degree and on-the-job experience that benefits them when it comes to unique and challenging situations.