June 27, 2013 – Today’s homeland security and emergency management professionals need to deal with an increased range of disasters and emergencies that may strike at a moment’s notice. The new Master’s in Homeland Security degree program at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies teaches these professionals all aspects of a disaster cycle: preparing for natural disasters, like hurricanes, responding and recovering from man-made disasters like hazardous waste leaks and explosions and mitigating the effects of an emergency, such as an act of terrorism.

Collaboration with Homeland Security Centers and Institutes

“This new degree fits well into the College of Professional Studies,” noted Otter. “We have looked at the emerging professional fields and the strengths of Northeastern University for alignment. Students and faculty in the program will benefit from our professional affiliations.”

• The Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security, known as the nation’s homeland security educator, has been providing homeland security graduate and executive education since 2002, and is now collaborating with Northeastern University. 
• The Master’s in Homeland Security degree incorporates homeland security and emergency management course content researched and developed by this Center.
• Northeastern University’s Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security’smission is to advance resilience in the face of 21st century risks through use-inspired research.

• Northeastern University’s ALERT Center(Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats) is a multi-university Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. It is one of 12 Centers of Excellence across the country that conducts transformational research, technology and educational development for effective response to explosives-related threats.

“This degree exem­pli­fies Northeastern University’s com­mit­ment to and lead­ership in secu­rity research and other efforts cen­tered on national defense.”

Unique Combination of Courses Sets Program Apart

“Along with our affiliations with three top homeland security institutes and centers, this degree stands apart from other programs in homeland security because it offers a unique combination of core courses on crisis communication combined with technical skill development from the College’s Master’s in Geographic Information Technology program,” said Mary Thompson -Jones, program director for the Master of Science in Global Studies and International Affairs program and faculty member for the Master’s in Homeland Security program. “We are preparing the next generation of emergency managers and homeland security professionals for leadership roles in either the public or private sectors, through the specialized concentrations that we offer.”

The program features Northeastern University faculty experts, who have contributed to local, state, and national preparedness efforts, and have advised high-level decision makers in Boston and other major cities, the military, port authorities, the White House, and various federal agencies.

The Field is Growing

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for emergency management-related occupations is projected to grow faster than average and research conducted by the College on job postings sites, such as Indeed.com, found that the trend for job postings in homeland security has been rising steadily since 2006.

“Despite the growth of the industry, very few graduate degree programs in homeland security and emergency management currently exist in the U.S.,” said Otter. “At the moment only ten institutions provide graduate programs in homeland security and five provide emergency management programs.”  

Added Flexibility through an Online Degree

Research by the College found that metropolitan areas in Virginia and Washington, D.C. account for five of the top ten metropolitan areas with the most job listings in homeland security. Because the Master’s in Homeland Security is offered 100% online, prospective students who are working professionals can pursue this degree from anywhere, while remaining in their current jobs.

More about the Program

The Master’s in Homeland Security degree program offers two concentrations that help launch or advance careers by providing skills for planning and response roles in either the public sector (e.g. the emergency response community) or the private sector (e.g. the risk management and business continuity community).

The program is accepting students for the fall 2013 quarter. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 45 required credits.

“This degree exem­pli­fies Northeastern University’s com­mit­ment to and lead­er­ship in secu­rity research and other efforts cen­tered on national defense,” said Otter. “It demonstrates the College’s ability to respond to the changing needs of the workforce and the industry.”  

Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) is committed to providing career-focused educational programs that are designed to accommodate the complex lives of motivated learners. Offered in a variety of innovative formats, CPS courses are taught by accomplished scholars and practitioners who have real-world experience. The result is an educational experience founded on proven scholarship, strengthened with practical application, and sustained by academic excellence.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a comprehensive, global research university. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 165 graduate programs, ranging from professional master’s degrees to interdisciplinary PhD programs. Northeastern’s research enterprise is aligned with three national imperatives: health, security and sustainability. Northeastern students participate in co-op and other forms of experiential learning in 90 countries on all seven continents.

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Emily Linendoll, Assistant Director of Communications [email protected]/617-373-6627