Homeland Security & Disaster Management (M.S.)
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| HLSC 500 | Foundations of Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSC 510 | Homeland Security Organization & Administration | 3 |
| HLSC 520 | Legal Issues in Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSC 600 | Introduction to Disaster Management | 3 |
| HLSC 610 | Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSC 620 | Hazard Mitigation | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Government Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Government Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Government Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Government Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis or Elective Courses 1 | ||
| HLSC 688 | Thesis Proposal | 3 |
| HLSC 689 | Thesis Research 2,3 | 3 |
| HLSC 690 | Thesis Defense 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Students may choose to take a Thesis Option (HLSC 688 Thesis Proposal (3 c.h.), HLSC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.), and HLSC 690 Thesis Defense (0 c.h.)), or they may take 6 hours of Elective1 courses.
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in HLSC 690 Thesis Defense (0 c.h.) after completing HLSC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat HLSC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in HLSC 690 Thesis Defense (0 c.h.).
- 3
While HLSC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 36 hours
- A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
- 3.0 GPA
- No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
- No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
- Degree must be completed within 5 years
- Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date
Program Offered in Online Format
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HLSC 500 | Foundations of Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSC 510 | Homeland Security Organization & Administration | 3 |
| HLSC 600 | Introduction to Disaster Management | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| HLSC 520 | Legal Issues in Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSC 610 | Understanding Terrorism and Homeland Security | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| HLSC 620 | Hazard Mitigation | 3 |
| HLSC 688 | Thesis Proposal | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| HLSC 689 | Thesis Research 2,3,4 | 3 |
| HLSC 690 | Thesis Defense 2,4 | 0 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- 2
Students who do not wish to take the Thesis Option may choose to take 6 hours of Electives1 instead of HLSC 688, HLSC 689, and HLSC 690.
- 3
While HLSC 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.
- 4
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in HLSC 690 after completing HLSC 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat HLSC 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in HLSC 690.