Emergency Management and Homeland Security (MA)

The MA program in emergency management and homeland security is designed to assist 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. Its 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 the following five distinct concentration areas: emergency management, homeland security, community resilience, biosecurity and threat management, and cybersecurity policy and management. These subject area specializations underscore the program's commitment to strategic thinking about current and future challenges. Likewise, the program has a number of learning opportunities from an international perspective.

Classes for the EMHS degree is an online degree and course are taught through ASUOnline. The degree consists of 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)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)

• PAF 593 Applied Project (3)

Electives (12 credit hours)

• Students take four courses from an approved list.

Optional Concentrations

Students can choose to use their elective courses to obtain a concentration as part of their EMHS degree programs. All these programs are offered exclusively via ASU Online. Here is a list of degree options:

• Emergency Management and Homeland Security, MA
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Emergency Management), MA
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Homeland Security), MA
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Community Resilience), MA
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Biosecurity and Threat Management), MA
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Cybersecurity Policy and Management), MA

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Program Fees: Every ASU graduate degree program has a “program fee” assessed for students in that program. These fees vary for each program. The more competitive/highly ranked a degree program, the higher the fee. The EMHS degrees charge a program fee of $100 per credit hour. These fees cannot be waived.

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 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 applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants are required to submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• two letters of recommendation
• a written statement
• evidence of current employment
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Admission Information

An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency

The written statement must be at least one page in length and describe the applicant's educational and career goals and long-term professional development strategy.

Applicants must provide evidence of current employment in an organization in this field; at least two years of prior professional experience in this or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in a related area.