Online Master’s in Leadership: Homeland Security and Emergency Management Emphasis
Study for Public Leadership Roles
The Master of Science in Leadership with an Emphasis in Homeland Security and Emergency Management degree focuses on the role of leadership and the immediate application of ethical and practical leadership skills. This master’s degree also covers disaster preparation, emergency crisis management and alleviating environmental issues. As a graduate of this degree, you can gain the skills to become an adept leader, able to organize and mobilize forces for good.
The MS in leadership with a homeland security and emergency management emphasis covers four learning sectors that aim to empower students to become operational leaders at every level:
- Understand Strategies for Improved Self-leadership
Practice self-reflection and self-awareness skills, develop emotional and social intelligence to interact effectively and discover how to adapt quickly in the midst of emergencies and changing circumstances. - Develop Competencies for Coaching and Leadership
Analyze theories of leadership, evaluate strategies, practice coaching and guiding methods to encourage growth in others. - Learn To Create and Manage Systems for Organizational Growth
Learn to encourage organizational growth, improve outcomes for stakeholders and create systems for managing organizational changes. - Practice Applying Leadership Skills in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Organizations
Apply leadership skills in emergency organizations, create plans for areas impacted by large-scale disasters and build professional ethics into emergency management practice.
Join a Community of Resilient Leaders at GCU
In this leadership master’s in homeland security and emergency management program, you can gain leadership skills while integrating a Christian worldview. You will be taught to articulate the responsibilities of leadership in a Christian context, including your own moral and ethical obligation as an emergency manager, to serve the public with justice and integrity.
A master’s degree can help you further your education, skills and reach of influence. You can benefit from rigorous courses, knowledgeable faculty and an excellence-oriented university. In this program, you can become prepared to take action in the most critical times.
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Course Topics
This master’s program focuses on leadership skills, emergency planning, economics and human issues and law and legal issues. As a homeland security and emergency management student, you will have the opportunity to:
- Practice self-evaluation skills to develop your personal and professional abilities while gaining the competence required to be an effective leader
- Positively influence others while exercising your professional and leadership skills
- Utilize collaboration and communication skills to achieve common goals
- Create compelling vision and drive innovative change to encourage organizational growth and improved outcomes for all involved
- Apply leadership skills in emergency organizations and participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of emergency response plans and practices
Career Opportunities for Leadership HSEM Master’s Graduates
Our Master of Science in Leadership with an Emphasis in Homeland Security and Emergency Management can equip you to enter many professions with confidence. Graduates from this master’s degree program may find themselves exploring positions such as:
- Business operations specialist
- Industrial productions manager
- Social and community service manager
- Training and development manager
- Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialist
This master’s degree creates the opportunity to apply your knowledge and leadership skills to various industries to make a measurable difference within an organization.
Earn Your Master’s at an Accredited University
GCU is proud to be institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a recognition we have held since 1968. We are dedicated to upholding high standards for excellence in education. Our accreditation reflects our quality programs and devotion to helping all our students reach their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our frequently asked questions can provide you with more insight into furthering your education by earning your leadership master’s with an emphasis in emergency management and homeland security degree.
Homeland security is a dynamic and diverse career field that cuts across numerous disciplines. Upon graduating, students may enter the workforce with the skills needed to find solutions and prevent threats at the local, regional and national levels. This creates job possibilities for people with all levels of education and experience. An estimated 59,100 new jobs are estimated to open for information security analysts from 2023 to 2033.1
While there is some overlap between the two areas of study, students earning a degree in homeland security are taught about protective measures that governments have in place to minimize security threats, ranging from natural disasters to organized terrorist activities. Students in a criminal justice degree program study more in depth about the specific law enforcement, courts and corrections that governments use to protect their communities from crime.
Lead with purpose and keep communities safe with a homeland security-focused MS in leadership.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Information Security Analysts, retrieved Nov. 13, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Information Security Analysts, as of May 2023, retrieved Nov. 13, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as information security analysts, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Business. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the College of Business, key concepts of leadership, and an overview of how the science of organizational behavior contributes to effective leaders and managers.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership development and succession planning within organizations through the exploration of essential coaching, influencing, and mentoring strategies for effective leaders. It includes all underrepresented populations with a focus on gender, race, ethnicity, culture, generation, disability, veteran status, and religion.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to synthesize the interdependent concepts of global business, cultural intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal relationships. It examines and applies contemporary global topics, diverse business and problem-solving perspectives, and effective cross-cultural communication skills to develop competent world leaders.
Course Description
This course is an exploration of the behavioral forces and relationships that influence organizational effectiveness and change. It also emphasizes the study of intervention strategy and application skills related to a foundational understanding of the role of project management in the context of leading change in organizations. The course provides insights into the leadership and management of people, processes, and best practices for successful change.
Course Description
This course is designed to teach students the planning and management processes and the issues involved in large-scale emergencies. The nature of natural and technological risk and emergency are explored via case studies. Public sector roles in contingency planning and response are also discussed and assessed.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the strategic, political, economic, and human issues encountered in the management of disasters or major traumatic public events. This knowledge gives the emergency manager a realistic view of the issues to expect in a disaster, how to plan accordingly, and how to manage resources and people more effectively in emergency situations.
Course Description
This course analyzes the federal, state, and local legislation related to emergency management in various types of disasters. Guaranteed rights under the U.S. Constitution and the legal and ethical application of measures within the parameters of these rights in emergency situations are also discussed.
Course Description
This capstone course provides students the opportunity to synthesize their advanced knowledge and experiences in the field of emergency management through the development of a research or applied project focused on improving practice. Projects require students to demonstrate the critical thinking skills, professional acumen, and knowledge base that characterize successful leadership in the field. Prerequisites: EMM-600, EMM-605, and EMM-610.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.