The graduate certificate in homeland security focuses on U.S. domestic security and emergency management issues. The certificate serves either as a stand-alone credential of advanced educational achievement for non-degree students or as a supplement to a master's or doctoral degree. Four homeland security courses will introduce students to the complexity of the homeland security environment, from analyzing the terrorist threat, to considering questions of hazard mitigation, preparedness, and resilience, to investigating response and recovery strategies.
Taught by a mix of scholars and practitioners, the certificate addresses issues of homeland security strategy, policy design, planning, operations, managing across and among networks, and implementation.
The certificate is composed of four courses (12 hours of graduate coursework). The core courses focus on 1) the threat (PAPA 5264), 2) prevention (PAPA 6264), and 3) response and recovery (PAPA 5354). A fourth course is selected from specified electives.
The certificate is open to non-degree students as well as degree seeking graduate students across Virginia Tech. MPA students may use the certificate as their concentration and reflect upon the certificate and homeland security issues in their portfolio or internship. Ph.D. students may use the certificate as a foundation for dissertation research in homeland security policy and management. Transfer credits are not permitted.
September 2025
National Capital Region - Arlington Campus
900 North Glebe Road,
ARLINGTON,
Virginia,
22203, United States
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an acceptable grade point average.
English language Scores:
A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test (PBT) or 90 on the internet-based test (iBT) is required for consideration of the application. On the iBT, sub-scores of at least 20 on each subtest (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) are required for admission. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission.
Application Deadlines: Fall: April 1; Spring: September 1
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
