What do you learn in a bachelors in homeland security?
Written by: Amy Sorter, Edited by: Mitch Jacobson
Last updated: March 20, 2025
When you hear "homeland security," you might immediately think of protecting the United States from natural disasters and human-made threats.
However, homeland security also focuses on:
- Anticipating and preventing threats before they occur
- Preparing the nation to effectively address potential risks
If you're passionate about protecting your country, earning an online bachelor's degree in homeland security could be the right step toward a rewarding career.
What to expect from a homeland security bachelor's program
An online homeland security bachelor's program typically comprises 120 credits and takes four years of full-time study to complete.
The main focus of this degree program is national security. The curriculum may include the following subjects:
- Global terrorism and counterterrorism
- Intelligence analysis
- Civil liberties/legal issues
- Cybersecurity
- Disaster management
- Criminal justice
The course of study can also help you brush up on soft skills. These include critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational management, and collaboration. Your program may also require students to participate in an internship, such as the one with the Department of Homeland Security. Completing an internship or practicum can help you learn to apply what you learn in your program to real-life scenarios.
Bachelor's in homeland security curriculum
What do you learn in a bachelor's in homeland security degree program? The curriculum varies, but you'll likely learn about the following:
Global terrorism
The course focuses on how and why terrorist groups form from ideological and sociological perspectives. The class also explores assessing risk and how to prevent violent incidences.
Civil liberties
Those who work in homeland security protect citizens from threats, but they must also understand people's civil liberties. In this course, you'll study the ethical issues involved with managing national security concerns, like surveillance.
Intelligence analysis
In this class, you'll cover how to collect and analyze intelligence to identify potential threats. This course may also explore the structure of intelligence agencies, both in the U.S. and globally. Additionally, you'll study how local and state law enforcement collaborates with national organizations to assess and respond to threat levels.
Specializations and concentrations
The field of homeland security encompasses a range of topics. Because of this, many online degree programs offer specializations. These can include:
- Emergency management. Disaster response and recovery, interagency department management, and incident command. Other topics include emergency management concepts and first-responder tasks.
- Cybersecurity. Protection of computerized, electric, water, and transit infrastructures from terrorist threats. The coursework also provides training on responding to breaches and security measure implementation.
- Criminal justice. Law enforcement regulations, legal issues, and ethics. You'll also learn about the U.S. court system related to terrorism and criminal procedures.
Graduation requirements for a homeland security bachelor's degree
In a homeland security bachelor's program, you usually must complete 120 credits to graduate. The coursework may include general education classes in English, mathematics, and science.
Other components of the degree might include:
- Core courses. Ethics, safety, prevention and preparation, response, and recovery
- Elective courses. Cyberterrorism, emergency planning, communications, disaster management, and bioterrorism
You could also need to fulfill additional requirements:
- Field experience/internship. As mentioned above, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers internships. You could also do field work with law enforcement or first responders.
- Capstone project. You might develop a brief or conduct research to apply what you learn to real-world issues.