11 National Security Preparatory Programs

The Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM) associate degree program is designed to prepare the next generation of emergency management and policy leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to improve outcomes in disasters of all types. This online degree program includes instruction in policy as well as planning and operational components of emergency management and homeland security, including opportunities to gain practical experience and work with current incident management technologies. The curriculum provides policy foundations and advances students through core competencies in hazard identification; risk and vulnerability assessment; planning; terrorism; mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery; and planning for diverse populations.

The Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC) is a two-week seminar offered to senior officers and non-commissioned officers (E8-E9) of the U.S. Reserve Components, allied officers, and select civilians working in national security.

The undergraduate certificate in Intelligence and National Security Studies is designed to give students a solid foundation in the principles and practices of intelligence work and security issues. Th...

Since September 11, 2001, the security industry has expanded rapidly. The United States Department of Homeland Security employs more than 180,000 individuals. Coupled with that, the private security industry employs nearly 1.5 million security personnel. The homeland security degree program is focused on providing students with a foundation of private and homeland security knowledge to build upon as a transfer to a specialty degree. The objectives of the homeland security associate degree program are to upgrade personnel employed in the security industry and to prepare students for full-time employment in this field.

The Homeland Defense Fellowship is a resident, 14-week course designed for students to understand national security more broadly, work across international and interagency boundaries, and think critically about strategic homeland defense and security issues.

The CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course was created in 1982 with participation on a voluntary basis. The Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 subsequently mandated that all newly selected general and flag officers attend CAPSTONE. The course objective is to make these individuals more effective in planning and employing US forces in joint and combined operations. The CAPSTONE curriculum examines major issues affecting national security decision making, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and key allied nation issues.

PEL’s goal is to foster a community of rising U.S. government leaders with the awareness and skill-set to respond to the dangers posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction. Members are early to mid-career professionals drawn from across the government — both civilian and military — whose work responsibilities are related to national security and who want to learn more about WMD. Competitively selected for their leadership potential from a large number of applicants, PEL members promise to be leaders in their respective organizations.

The Keystone Course will educate Command Senior Enlisted Leaders (CSELs) currently serving in or slated to serve in general or flag officer level joint headquarters or Service headquarters that could be assigned as a joint task force. CSELs will have an opportunity to visit and receive briefings at the National Defense University,

The PINNACLE curriculum helps prepare prospective joint/combined force commanders to lead joint and combined forces, building upon the progression of knowledge imparted first by CAPSTONE and then by the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course. The course is conducted through classroom interactive seminars guided by retired three- and four-star and equivalent interagency senior mentors, reinforced by video teleconferences with commanders in the field and high-level guest speakers.

The Certificate in Military Science Leadership is designed for individuals interested in developing leadership skills tailored for military contexts. The program emphasizes understanding military prin...

The Emergency Management and Planning associate degree program is designed for individuals who are seeking careers that are related to the management of emergency and catastrophic situations that are accidental, provoked, or natural disasters. The primary focus of the program is to provide an educational vehicle and skill set for professionals such as Emergency Managers, Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, or Medical or Allied Health personnel to approach emergency situations in a uniform fashion.