Master of Science in Professional Studies: Homeland Security Management

As the events of September 11, 2001 have proven, a centralization provided by the Department of Homeland Security is necessary for the successful coordination of local, state, federal, and private security units. Interagency cooperation, coupled with the proper dissemination of information, is what leads not only to the successful response to domestic disasters, but also to the prevention of such tragedies. Drexel’s M.S. in Professional Studies with a Homeland Security Management concentration seeks leaders prepared to answer this call.

The program, housed within the Multidisciplinary & Emerging Programs division of Drexel University’s Goodwin College, is designed for individuals and practitioners with established career paths who are interested in: developing marketable skills to meet and exceed evolving workforce demands, seeking professional development, and expanding promotional opportunities.

The Homeland Security Management concentration seeks to produce professionals practicing in the defense and security of the homeland in both the public and private sectors. Several federal and state government agencies and many private-sector employers are involved in homeland security to some degree. Moreover, job growth is expected at local, state, and federal levels, thus creating an increased demand for homeland security education.

Government careers related to homeland security include immigration services, U.S. customs and border protection, intelligence, transportation security, secret service, federal law enforcement, nuclear detection, narcotic enforcement, and emergency management. However, homeland security jobs are not just in government. Moreover, many government agencies and private-sector employers seek workers who have or are eligible to obtain a security clearance, especially those working in information technology.

Students in this certificate program will develop competencies and knowledge relating to:

• Homeland security strategy and policy development
• National security issues in terrorism
• Critical infrastructure protection
• National security intelligence
• Land and maritime border and port protection
• Developing technologies in homeland security

Specifically, graduates of this program will be able to:

• Design and modify plans and programs at federal, state, and/or local levels to reflect the evolving strategic policy issues associated with a statutory and presidential direction for homeland security.
• Recognize terrorist groups’ proclivities in order to forecast the risks, types, and orders of magnitude of terrorist threats most likely to confront the nation-state.
• Develop policies, procedures, and protocols to allow seamless agency integration from prevention to incident response scenarios.
• Recognize the multidisciplinary nature of homeland security functions and be able to assess and integrate various functional areas.