National Security (M.S.) - Homeland Security

National Security (M.S.) - Homeland Security

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Core Courses
NSEC 501National Security Structure and Responsibilities3
NSEC 502Ethics in National Security3
NSEC 503National Security, National Defense, & Foreign Policy3
NSEC 504Historic Lessons of National Security in War & Peace3
NSEC 505Cyberspace Policy/Operations & Political Challenges3
NSEC 506Sovereignty & National Security Challenges3
NSEC 507Terrorism & National Security3
Total Hours21
Homeland Security Cognate
HLSC 500Foundations of Homeland Security3
HLSC 510Homeland Security Organization & Administration3
HLSC 520Legal Issues in Homeland Security3
Total Hours9
Thesis or Elective Courses 1
NSEC 688Thesis Proposal3
NSEC 689Thesis Research 2,33
NSEC 690Thesis Defense 20
Total Hours6
1

Students may choose to take a Thesis Option (NSEC 688 Thesis Proposal (3 c.h.), NSEC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.), and NSEC 690 Thesis Defense (0,3 c.h.)), or they may take 6 hours of Elective4 Courses

2

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in NSEC 690 Thesis Defense (0,3 c.h.) after completing NSEC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat NSEC 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in NSEC 690 Thesis Defense (0,3 c.h.)

3

While NSEC 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

4

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

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

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterHours
HLSC 500 Foundations of Homeland Security 3
NSEC 501 National Security Structure and Responsibilities 3
NSEC 502 Ethics in National Security 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
HLSC 510 Homeland Security Organization & Administration 3
NSEC 503 National Security, National Defense, & Foreign Policy 3
NSEC 504 Historic Lessons of National Security in War & Peace 3
NSEC 505 Cyberspace Policy/Operations & Political Challenges 3
 Hours12
Third Semester
HLSC 520 Legal Issues in Homeland Security 3
NSEC 506 Sovereignty & National Security Challenges 3
NSEC 507 Terrorism & National Security 3
 Hours9
Fourth Semester
NSEC 688 Thesis Proposal 3
NSEC 689 Thesis Research 1,2,3 3
NSEC 690 Thesis Defense 1,2 0
 Hours6
 Total Hours36
1

Students who do not wish to take the Thesis Option may choose to take 6 hours of Electives4 instead of NSEC 688, NSEC 689, and NSEC 690.

2

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in NSEC 690 after completing NSEC 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat NSEC 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in NSEC 690.

3

While NSEC 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.

4

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.

Oval 1AudioBackArrowCloseShapeFill 1ArrowShapeArrowMenuMagnifying GlassShapeVideoWordmark WTC simple light Created with Sketch.