Emergency Management and Homeland Security, MA
ASU ranks No. 2 for best graduate homeland security and emergency management programs by U.S. News & World Report, 2025. Enroll in this prestigious degree program to gain expertise in managing risks, promoting community resilience and ensuring public safety in response to complex threats, such as cybersecurity and natural hazards.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
The Master of Arts program in emergency management and homeland security develops you as a current and future practitioner to be a part of the next generation of leaders in these fields.
The program brings you a blended approach of practical knowledge and broader integrative thinking about the complex societal challenges of today's world. 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 you five distinct concentration areas, listed below. 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.
- biosecurity and threat management
- community resilience
- cybersecurity policy and management
- emergency management
- homeland security
When you enroll in this program, you're encouraged to choose one of these area specializations. You 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 your intended career path.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
33 credit hours including the required applied project course (PAF 593)
Required Core (18 credit hours) Electives (12 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
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)
PAF 593 Applied Project (3)
For electives, students should see the academic unit for the approved course list.
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
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: Additional Admission Information The letters of recommendation should be from faculty or other academic staff who can evaluate the applicant's academic performance, or from professional sources such as a supervisor. The written statement should be at least one page in length and describe the applicant's educational and career goals and long-term professional development strategy.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling* | |
| Session B | Online | Rolling* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling* | |
| Session B | Online | Rolling* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling* |
*A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your 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:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates with have an array of career opportunities, including:
- cybersecurity specialist
- disaster recovery specialist
- emergency manager
- exerciser and trainer
- hazard mitigation officer
- homeland security specialist
- intelligence analyst
- planner
- public health emergency preparedness officer
Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Public Affairs
|
UCENT 400
spa@asu.edu
602-496-0450
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
