Program Overview

---

Emergency Management and Homeland Security, MA

The Master of Arts program in emergency management and homeland security assists in the professional development of current and future practitioners as the next generation of leaders in these fields. The program emphasizes a blended approach of practical knowledge and broader integrative thinking about the complex societal challenges of today's world.

Program Description

The program's core values of collaboration between practitioners, faculty, and students; public service; commitment to diversity; and critical thinking and evidence-based assessment are all central to promoting informed and effective leadership. One of the distinct features of this program is its breadth of content coverage. The program offers five distinct concentration areas:

• biosecurity and threat management
• community resilience
• cybersecurity policy and management
• emergency management
• homeland security

When students enroll in this program, they are encouraged to choose one of these area specializations. Students can enroll in the degree program without declaring a concentration; however, selecting one is advisable because doing so assists in developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities pertinent to an intended career path.

At a Glance

• College/school: Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions
• Location: Online
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Accelerated Program Options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

• Criminology and Criminal Justice, BS
• Criminology and Criminal Justice (Policing), BS
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security, BS
• Public Service and Public Policy, BS
• Public Service and Public Policy (Business), BS
• Public Service and Public Policy (Criminology), BS
• Public Service and Public Policy (Emergency Management and Homeland Security), BS
• Public Service and Public Policy (Law and Policy), BS

Degree Requirements

33 credit hours including the required applied project course (PAF 593)

• Required Core (18 credit hours)
  • CRJ 511 Applied Data Analysis in Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRJ 554 Homeland Security (3)
  • PAF 551 Hazards Governance (3)
  • PAF 552 Integrated Emergency Management (3)
  • PAF 558 Program Evaluation for Emergency Management and Homeland Security (3)
  • PAF 559 GIS for Hazards Analysis (3)
• Electives (12 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
  • PAF 593 Applied Project (3)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements:
  • All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in criminology or criminal justice, public administration or public service, sociology or social work, public safety or fire service management, parks and recreation management, applied sciences, environmental sciences or geography, public health or another closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  • graduate application and application fee
  • official transcripts
  • evidence of current employment in an organization in this field, or at least two years prior professional experience in this or a related field or a bachelor's degree in a related area
  • two letters of recommendation
  • a written statement
  • proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Attend Online

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.

Application Deadlines

• Fall
  • Session A/C: Online, Rolling
  • Session B: Online, Rolling
• Spring
  • Session A/C: Online, Rolling
  • Session B: Online, Rolling
• Summer
  • Session A/C: Online, Rolling
  • Session B: Online, Rolling

Global Opportunities

The PLuS Alliance partnership combines the strengths of leading research universities from two continents --- Arizona State University and King's College London --- to create and share knowledge that will solve pressing educational and societal challenges.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with an MA in emergency management and homeland security have career opportunities in:

• cybersecurity specialist
• disaster recovery specialist
• emergency manager
• exerciser and trainer
• hazard mitigation officer
• homeland security specialist
• intelligence analyst
• planner
• public health emergency preparedness officer