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School of Security & Global Studies

Homeland Security

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Homeland Security

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About This Program

Explore critical infrastructure protection and security vulnerabilities with the undergraduate homeland security certificate online program at American Public University (APU).

This program’s homeland security certificate courses provide a window into the apparatus of the FBI, CIA, and NSA and how these agencies gather intelligence. The program also analyzes the current state of homeland security in the United States. The curriculum is designed to prepare professionals to create proactive measures to protect public safety.

At APU, you’ll become part of a tightknit community of homeland security professionals and volunteers – all dedicated to averting terrorist attacks and responding in the event of a disaster.

NOTE: Completion of this program does not award any professional certifications, but may be helpful in preparing to earn such certifications.

What You Will Do

  1. Identify the key challenges for the 21st century facing U.S. homeland security strategy and other major actors that might become peer competitors
  2. Discriminate between valuable sources of information and those sources that are questionable
  3. Differentiate between homeland security and homeland defense
  4. Describe the national intelligence apparatus including FBI, CIA, and NSA
  5. Assess proposals for improvement in the state of homeland security

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits1
Cost Per Credit
$350 | $250*
$315**
*with Preferred Military Rate
**with Veteran Grant or APUS Opportunity Grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 4479

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This course offers a broad overview of key operational and policy areas the United States government employs to best ensure U.S. domestic security. Students will explore and discover central themes that create the framework of the homeland security enterprise that emerged after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and continues to evolve.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4868

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This course provides an overview of critical infrastructures and their relationships to one another. Critical infrastructure sectors will be analyzed to determine prioritization, potential areas of vulnerability to threats, and potential counter-measures that can be utilized. Students will explore issues pertaining to planning, securing, and responding to these infrastructures under serious threat to ensure continuity of operations. Factors that should be considered in the response to minimize disruption and improve first responder safety will also be discussed.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4869

|
This course provides an overview of legal and ethical issues in homeland security. Homeland security legislation and executive orders will be discussed, as will international law, conventions, and declarations. The central focus of the course is the balance of goals, strategies, and objectives for effective homeland security while preserving civil liberties. Issues surrounding intelligence and the use of surveillance, rights of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, immigration, transportation security, and cyber security will all be examined.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Choose 9 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 3174

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This course explores psychological and behavioral perspectives of terrorism. Specifically, the course examines the circumstances underlying why people radicalize and join terrorist groups, engage in terrorist activities, assume various terrorist roles, and, in some instances, de-radicalize and disengage from terrorist activities.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2910

|
This course provides an in-depth study of the nature and tactical use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents/weapons by nation-states, state-sponsored organizations, and terrorists. The course will also discuss agricultural attacks and various approaches to deter the use of CBRN agents, materials, and weapons.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2912

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This course focuses on the strategic and regulatory issues associated with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response. Course topics include WMD-relevant public law, definitions, reporting authorities, and jurisdictional and functional issues that govern organizations, technical companies, medical providers, and the scientific world. Other topics include the moral/ethical issues of using WMD, various aspects of WMD response, global CBRN threats, and CBRN arms limitations, treaties, organizations, regimes, and agreements.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2571

|
This course is a study of the federal, state and local organizations involved in border and coastal security, associated homeland security issues, the various policy and operational strategies used for border and coastal access and security, and contemporary border and coastal security concerns. Topics also include immigration and non-U.S. approaches to border and coastal security.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3345

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This course is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of port security issues. It examines the critical importance of ports to trade and the U.S. economy, as well as ports’ vulnerability to disruption and attack. Legislation, port facility management and operations, access controls, and future maritime threats will also be discussed in this course.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3202

|
This course focuses on the development and evolution of U.S. intelligence support to the homeland security enterprise. Students will examine the roles and responsibilities of U.S. Intelligence Community members and the support they provide to the federal, state, and local levels as well as the intelligence collection programs for supporting homeland security. Also addressed in this course is the analysis of a terrorist group that threatens the homeland and how intelligence support could be used to counter the threat.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
07/29/24 - 01/03/25 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 Winter 2025 Session B 8 Week session
08/26/24 - 01/31/25 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 Winter 2025 Session I 8 Week session
09/30/24 - 02/28/25 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 Winter 2025 Session D 8 Week session
10/28/24 - 04/04/25 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 Spring 2025 Session B 8 Week session
11/28/24 - 05/02/25 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 Spring 2025 Session I 8 Week session
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Jan 6
Register by Jan 3
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Admission Requirements

  • All APU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED).
  • Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

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1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

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