Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security
Overview | Course Listings | Faculty
The graduate Certificate in Homeland Security (CHLS) is designed for students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds. It combines a broad understanding of homeland security issues and strategies at the national level with an in-depth analysis of key security issues affecting federal, state, and local government, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors.
Overview
- 15 Credit Hour Graduate Certificate Program
- Courses Offered Online or On Campus
- Fall and Spring Fifteen-Week Courses, Summer Ten-Week Courses
- Successful Completion Appears on Texas A&M Transcript
- Can Often Transfer Credits to a Degree-Seeking Master’s Program
- 12 Hours Transferrable to a Bush School Master’s Degree
Course Formats
Online courses offer a flexible and interactive format over a traditional fifteen-week semester in fall and spring (ten-week semester in summer) typically requiring online discussion several times a week. All online courses fall under 700 section numbers.
On-campus courses at College Station are offered during a traditional fifteen-week semester, typically meeting once a week for three hours. Note: On-campus courses often fill up quickly since priority goes to Bush School degree-seeking master’s students.
Curriculum
To receive a graduate Certificate in Homeland Security (CHLS), a student must complete 15 credit hours of CHLS courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. One core curriculum course is required: INTA 656/PSAA 656 Fundamentals of Homeland Security. Students have the option of selecting an emphasis area (see below). Those who do not select an emphasis area may tailor their own certificate and choose four electives from a variety of options.
Note: Students may take one approved Certificate in Advanced International Affairs (CAIA) course to count toward their CHLS. If the CAIA course you wish to take is not listed below, please consult with an advisor for approval prior to registering for the course.
Optional Emphasis Areas
CHLS students have the option of choosing an area of emphasis. Though selecting an emphasis area is not required, doing so may prove beneficial for future employment since the emphasis will be noted on The Bush School certificate upon successful completion of the CHLS program.
Students who choose an emphasis are required to take the core course and four emphasis-specific courses listed under the area they have chosen.
Students may obtain multiple emphasis areas by completing six additional hours of electives (two courses) while maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better.
Emphasis Options
- National Security Policy and Management
- Emergency Management and Crisis Preparedness
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
- Border Security
Certificate Courses
Please note that each course is not offered every semester, which may affect completion time for an optional emphasis.
Core Course (required for all students)
- PSAA 656/ INTA 656 Fundamentals of Homeland Security (required for all students)
Electives (listed by emphasis areas)
National Security Policy and Management
- PSAA 605 Homeland Security Policies, Strategies and Operations
- PSAA 620 Safeguarding the Nation’s Maritime Gateways
- PSAA 651/INTA 602 Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
- PSAA 652/INTA 614 Protection of the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure
- PSAA 655/INTA 687 Domestic Intelligence Operations: Legalities, Policies and Procedures
- PSAA 657/INTA 657 Terrorism in Today’s World
- PSAA 660 Domestic Terrorism: The Internal Threat to America (in-residence only)
- PSAA 668/INTA 612 U.S. Law and Homeland Security
- INTA 659 Transnational Security Issues (CAIA course)
Emergency Management and Crisis Preparedness
- PSAA 604/INTA 639 Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- PSAA 605 Homeland Security Policies, Strategies and Operations
- PSAA 651/INTA 602 Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
- PSAA 652/INTA 614 Protection of the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure
- PSAA 658 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
- PSAA 668/INTA 612 U.S. Law and Homeland Security
- PSAA 660 Domestic Terrorism: The Internal Threat to America (in-residence only)
Critical Infrastructure Protection
- PSAA 605 Homeland Security Policies, Strategies and Operations
- PSAA 608 Cyber Security for Managers
- PSAA 652/INTA 614 Protection of the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure (highly recommended)
- PSAA 653/INTA 619 Weapons of Mass Destruction
- PSAA 655/INTA 687 Domestic Intelligence Operations: Legalities, Policies and Procedures
- PSAA 660 Domestic Terrorism: The Internal Threat to America (in-residence only)
- PSAA 668/INTA 612 U.S. Law and Homeland Security
Border Security
- PSAA 620 Safeguarding the Nation’s Maritime Gateways
- PSAA 651/INTA 602 Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
- PSAA 654/INTA 683 U.S. Border Security: Policies, Strategies and Issues (required)
- PSAA 658 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
- PSAA 660 Domestic Terrorism: The Internal Threat to America (in-residence only)
- PSAA 668/ INTA 612 U.S. Law and Homeland Security
- INTA 659 Transnational Security Affairs (CAIA course)
Contact an enrollment advisor for upcoming semester course offerings: bushschoolonline@tamu.edu or 1-866-988-2874.
Federal Financial Aid Opportunities
Students admitted to the Bush School Certificate in Homeland Security program are eligible to receive federal financial aid for the two core/required courses and two elective courses.
Students may take additional courses for their certificate (or for multiple emphasis areas). However, additional courses are not financial aid eligible.
How to Apply
- Submit the Application
- New students apply using GraduateCAS.
- Current Texas A&M University Students (U4, U5 or Graduate Classification) concurrently enrolled in a degree-seeking program while pursuing the certificate must complete the Certificate Program Application. Do NOT complete the Apply Texas application.
- Personal Statement (all applicants)
- Applicant must include a statement of approximately 500 words indicating personal interest in some area of homeland security and how s/he might use an enhanced knowledge of this subject. Applicant must also include any courses taken that dealt with homeland security.
- Applicant should include a description professional experiences in any of these areas: emergency management, military, national security, crisis preparedness, cyber security etc.
- Personal statements can be submitted via fax or e-mail to the Office of Extended Education:
- E-mail: bushschoolonline@tamu.edu
- Fax: 979-862-3196
- Resume (all applicants)
- Resumes can be submitted via fax or e-mail to the Office of Extended Education.
- E-mail: bushschoolonline@tamu.edu
- Fax: 979-862-3196
- Send Official Transcripts for Undergraduate Course Work
- Official transcripts from all four-year colleges/universities attended for undergraduate course work must be sent directly from the issuing university to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Texas A&M University:
- Graduate Admissions Processing, Office of Admissions and Records
Texas A&M University
P.O. Box 40001
College Station, TX 77842-4001
- Graduate Admissions Processing, Office of Admissions and Records
- Official transcripts for graduate course work and/or from junior colleges are not needed.
- Electronic transcripts can be processed much faster than paper transcripts. Texas A&M will accept transcripts sent electronically through SPEEDE, eScrip-SAFE or National Clearing House to admissions@tamu.edu.
- Transcripts from any other vendor will not be accepted.
- Domestic Transcripts: Copies of unofficial transcripts may be sent to the Office of Extended Education for preliminary review while waiting for delivery of official transcripts to the Registrar’s Office. E-mail (bushschoolonline@tamu.edu) or fax (979-862-3196) unofficial copies to the Office of Extended Education for preliminary consideration.
- International Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from international institutions cannot be accepted for review. Official international transcripts must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions to begin applicant review.
- All new students: You will not be able to register for classes until your official transcripts are received by the Office of Graduate Admissions at Texas A&M University
- Official transcripts from all four-year colleges/universities attended for undergraduate course work must be sent directly from the issuing university to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Texas A&M University:
- Test Scores (all applicants)
- International Applicants are required to provide proof of English proficiency before materials can be reviewed. Acceptable forms of proof can be found at https://admissions.tamu.edu/other/nondegreeseeking.
Click Here for a printable version of the CHLS Certificate Overview.
Questions? Contact an enrollment advisor
bushschoolonline@tamu.edu or 1-866-988-2874
Visit the Certificate Admissions Page for more information on the admissions and application process.
