An online doctoral degree in homeland security may equip individuals with the skills and training needed to respond to national incidents of terrorism and disaster. In this three to five year program, students may learn how to provide confidential intelligence analysis, maintain secure information, and effectively communicate with local leaders during a crisis situation. Program coursework may include research-heavy dissertation courses alongside major-specific courses including homeland security and terrorism, intelligence, and emergency management.

Upon graduation from the program, students may seek employment in their chosen capacity of homeland security. Doctoral-level graduates may pursue a career in consulting, emergency management, intelligence analysis, and law enforcement.

Program Overview

• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree at minimum
• Program Length: Three to five years to complete
• Post-Grad Options: Employment
• Projected Employment Growth: 13% (2010-2020)*

Program Coursework

The curriculum for doctoral-level homeland security degree programs may include a combination of dissertation research courses and major coursework. These courses may teach students how to predict international threat, respond to natural and man-made disasters, and develop innovative strategies in order to combat terrorism. Core coursework may include the following:

• Homeland Security and Terrorism
• Emergency Management and Civil Preparedness
• Intelligence and Law Enforcement
• Strategy, Resiliency, and Coping With Fear
• Security Of Maritime Transportation System
• Ethics in Business
• Business Research Methodology

Career Options

Doctoral-level graduates may seek employment in law enforcement, federal agencies, aviation, education, and consulting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in emergency management are projected to increase by 13% from 2010-2020.*

Possible careers include:

• Public Executive
• Policy Analyst
• Legislator
• College Professor
• Homeland Security Advisor

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook