Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, M.A.

Program Overview

The New England College Master of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (MAHSEP) program prepares students for opportunities in both the public and private sector for positions in and out of government, public policy and advocacy groups or in any industry that an in-depth knowledge of the homeland security policy or emergency management processes are desired. Graduates of the MAHSEP program are also well prepared for doctoral work.

The MAHSEP curriculum focuses on the intersection between homeland security policy and politics by taking advantage of faculty who are scholar practitioners in the world of homeland security, emergency management, and strategic planning. 

Students will gain an understanding of the intellectual foundations for key policy discussions in homeland security as well as the basic threats to homeland security, the basic responses, and how the political process impacts homeland security decision making. Students will gain analytical and advocacy skills and will be prepared to take on leadership and support roles in the area of homeland security and emergency management. Our graduates are prepared to make a difference in the field.

The program integrates the student’s intellectual interest and experience, small group dialogue, and a required fieldwork term that provides participants with an experiential working with public policy professionals. The value of this hands-on experience, opportunity to network and apply knowledge developed in the online classroom, all for academic credit is at the heart of this degree program.

The NEC Master of Arts in Homeland Security Studies is a 36-credit hour program.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Homeland Security Studies program will have:

• A clear understanding of the origins of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and national laws that govern emergency management and crisis/disaster response;
• A strong foundation in organizational ethics and leadership;
• An applied understanding of the key governmental and international institutions that formulate and implement policies related to crisis management in our society, including Congress, the Judiciary, the Presidency, and state and local governments; the role that terrorism and natural disasters play in shaping crisis response policies and methods.
• An in-depth grasp of the Emergency Management process at the local, state, and national level;
• Experience with the mechanics of strategic planning and crisis communications.
• An ability to effectively analyze public policy issues, particularly homeland security and emergency management related, as well as the ability to present arguments persuasively and logically, and to write and speak clearly, correctly, and convincingly.