5 Colleges That Offer Homeland Security Degree

As America is met with threats both internationally and domestically, more people are flocking to colleges to achieve a degree in homeland security.

Although there are more than 400 schools that grant degrees for homeland security, here are five schools that hold highly recogized programs.

1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

USC houses the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through its Office of University Programs, and claims it is "the nation's first homeland security center."

USC's CREATE is part of its school of public policy and offers a "Master of Public Policy Emphasis in Homeland Security Analysis" degree. USC's CREATE program is a one of DHS's "Centers of Excellence" and partners with it "to develop critical technologies and analyses to secure the nation."

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USC also offers a certificate program in homeland security to which prospective students can apply through its graduate admissions.

2. Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Through its School of Continuting Studies, Tulane offers opportunities to pursue a master's degree, bachelor's degree, a minor, and a professional certificate in homeland security. Tulane is a member of the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security's University and Agency Partnership Initiative.

Due to New Orleans being a major train and port city, the Homeland Security program focuses particularly on the relationship between security and trade, according to Study.com.

3. Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska

In 2012, the National Security Agency and the DHS designated Bellevue University a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, according to Security magazine. The honor is recognized for a period of five years.

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Bellevue's programs emphasize information and intelliegence and cybersecurity and are all available through online study.

4. Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts

Another member of the DHS's "Centers of Excellence, NU was given $10 million federal grant to establish the Center for Awareness and Localization of Explosive-Related Threats. The mission of NU's ALERT is to "develop new means and methods to resolve threats by explosives."

Northeastern offers a Master of Arts in homeland security, which can be completed entirely online also.

5. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

The University of Maryland is home to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. START has programs for undergraduate and postgraduate, professional, and online study.

For anyone with an interest in what START does, they can access a free online class on "Understanding Terrorism."

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