Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security
Online
BSc
DURATION
120 hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 462 / per credit **
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* rolling admissions
** per credit hour
Key Summary
Homeland Security
Eastern Kentucky University is a recognized leader in intelligence and security programming, offering some of the finest homeland security degree and certificate options in the nation. Graduates are prepared to respond to natural and man-made disasters, implement the latest security technology, and provide for our nation’s intelligence and counterterrorism needs.
Program Options
- Homeland Security Bachelor's Degree
- Safety, Security, and Emergency Management Master's Degree
- Homeland Security Certificate
- Intelligence Studies Certificate
- Security Management Certificate
What sets our program apart?
EKU provides a balanced degree program that leads to a solid understanding of security management and disaster preparedness. EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as emergency management, physical security, critical infrastructure protection, risk analysis, homeland security technology, and disaster preparedness and response.
- Accelerated 8-week terms
- Courses begin 6 times per year
- Generous credit transfer policy
- Reduced tuition for active duty service members
- No campus visits required
- Quality courses from respected faculty who teach the same classes online and on-campus
- Personal advisors stay with you from application to graduation
- Free online tutoring and career services assistance
- Study anytime, from anywhere
- The dynamic, supportive learning environment
- Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best universities offering online degrees
Find Your Scholarship
A scholarship is a financial award given to students to help pay for their education that does not need to be paid back. Scholarships are awarded by schools, universities, and other organizations, and are based on a variety of criteria, such as academic achievement, financial need, or professional experience. The money can be used to cover tuition, books, housing, food, and other educational expenses. Please note that institutional scholarships, including merit awards, may not be stacked with other scholarships or tuition waivers and require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merit Scholarships for In-State First-Time Freshmen
Merit scholarships make EKU even more affordable for first-time students.* EKU recognizes the hard work and dedication needed to achieve at a high level. Get rewarded for your high school accomplishments with merit scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Merit Scholarships for Out-of-State First-Time Freshmen
High-achieving students can get rewarded for their work and receive additional scholarships to make EKU even more affordable. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships may be applied to your account automatically without the need for an application!
Additional EKU Scholarships for First-Time Freshmen
Kentucky residents who are Pell Grant-eligible may receive this scholarship, which will cover up to 100 percent of tuition and fees for first-year students who have a 3.0 high school GPA. This scholarship is intended to act as “gap funding” for any first-time freshman who has exhausted all avenues of federal, state, and institutional scholarship and grant assistance, and still has a remaining balance for tuition and required fees. This scholarship is for on-campus students only. This cannot be awarded in addition to a Merit Tier scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements: On-campus, Pell Grant-eligible, Kentucky resident, first-time freshman with a 3.0 high school GPA
EKU Scholarships for On-Campus, In-State Transfer Students*
Eastern Kentucky University values the education and experience students from other schools bring to their EKU experience. On-campus students who transfer to EKU with 24 earned college credits are eligible for the following scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Foundation Scholarships
EKU has made a difference in thousands of lives. Donors who have experienced the life-changing effect an EKU education can have now want to make a difference in your life. Thanks to their generosity, there are hundreds of scholarships available for EKU students.
Eligibility criteria range from GPA to county of residence to degree program and more. Simply fill out the foundation scholarship application, and you’ll learn which scholarships you may be eligible for.
Outside Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded by an organization other than the government or university. They are available from several groups, organizations, and entities nationwide. Third-party scholarships can be general in nature or very specialized and tied to the type of work you would be doing after graduation.
If you receive an outside scholarship, you must notify Big E Central so the award can be properly reported as part of your total aid package. Failure to report awards can result in the award not being accepted or a portion of the funds having to be repaid due to overpayment.
Core Courses --- 42
- HLS 101 --- Introduction to Homeland Security --- 3
- HLS 210 --- Physical Security --- 3
- HLS 260 --- Disaster Preparedness and Response --- 3
- HLS 301 --- Critical Infrastructure Protection --- 3
- HLS 320 --- Security Management --- 3
- HLS 321W --- Critical Problem Analysis --- 3
- HLS 391 --- Risk Analysis --- 3
- HLS 395 --- Policy and Legal Analysis --- 3
- HLS 401 --- Intelligence Process --- 3
- HLS 430 --- Terrorism and Violent Extremism --- 3
- HLS 441 --- Homeland Security Technology --- 3
- HLS 461 --- Disaster Resilience --- 3
- HLS 465 --- Unconventional Threats and Responses --- 3
- HLS 495 --- Leadership and Ethics --- 3
Supporting Course Requirements --- 6
- STA 215 --- Introduction to Statistical Reasoning --- 3
- GEO 210 --- Introduction to Physical Geography --- 3
- GEO 353 --- Geographic Information Systems --- 3
- PSY 200 --- Introduction to Psychology --- 3
*Some supporting courses will count toward the General Education Requirements. See catalog for details.
Free Electives --- 35
EKU General Education Requirements* --- 37
Total Hours --- 120
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is currently the second-largest federal agency in the U.S., comprised of 22 agencies and employing over 200,000 people. Homeland security offers a diverse range of employment opportunities. The field is ideal for individuals aspiring to work in local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies; corporate or public sector security; local, state, or federal government, and for military personnel of all ranks. Graduates of EKU’s online homeland security program have a competitive edge in the job market and are prepared to work in a number of private and public sectors.
Advanced education is increasingly important in the diverse fields that make up homeland security. EKU offers one of the few programs in the nation based on a curriculum developed by the Homeland Security and Defense Education Consortium and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) projects protective service occupations to grow 3 percent from 2018 to 2028, which will result in about 95,200 new jobs.
Job Opportunities
Emergency Management Director
- Median Annual Salary: $74,420 per year / $35 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 9,900
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
Information Security Analyst
- Median Annual Salary: $98,350 per year / $47 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 112,300
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Police & Detectives
- Median Annual Salary: $63,380 per year / $30 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 808,700
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High School Diploma (Varies by agency & department- bachelor's degrees are increasingly being required)
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