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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Program Courses
Core Courses
NSEC 501	National Security Structure and Responsibilities	3
NSEC 502	Ethics in National Security	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
NSEC 506	Sovereignty & National Security Challenges	3
NSEC 507	Terrorism & National Security	3
Thesis or Elective Courses 1
NSEC 688	Thesis Proposal	3
NSEC 689	Thesis Research 2,3	3
NSEC 690	Thesis Defense 2	0,3
Total Hours		27-30

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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Homeland Security Cognate
HLSC 500	Foundations of Homeland Security	3
HLSC 510	Homeland Security Organization & Administration	3
HLSC 520	Legal Issues in Homeland Security	3

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 Year
First Semester		Hours
HLSC 500	Foundations of Homeland Security	3
NSEC 501	National Security Structure and Responsibilities	3
NSEC 502	Ethics in National Security	3
	Hours	9
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
	Hours	12
Second Year
Third Semester
HLSC 520	Legal Issues in Homeland Security	3
NSEC 506	Sovereignty & National Security Challenges	3
NSEC 507	Terrorism & National Security	3
	Hours	9
Fourth Semester
NSEC 688	Thesis Proposal	3
NSEC 689	Thesis Research 1,2,3	3
NSEC 690	Thesis Defense 1,2	0-3
	Hours	6-9
	Total Hours	36-39

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

All applicable prerequisites must be met