BS in Online Homeland Security & Disaster Management Degree

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120

Credit Hours

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 18, 2027 | February 15, 2027 | March 22, 2027

Protect Your Community with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Disaster Management

Are you interested in helping communities prepare for emergencies, respond to security threats, and recover from disasters? Liberty University’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Homeland Security and Disaster Management can help you develop knowledge and skills applicable to homeland security, emergency management, and public safety.

This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to public safety, combining coursework in emergency planning, homeland security, terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, border security, and disaster management. You can also examine the legal and policy frameworks that shape emergency management and homeland security operations while developing skills in risk assessment, interagency coordination, and leadership.

Through applied coursework and case studies, you can explore challenges ranging from natural hazards and disaster preparedness to terrorism and other security threats. The program is designed to help you evaluate complex situations, communicate across agencies and organizations, and consider ethical approaches to protecting communities.

Liberty’s curriculum also integrates a Christian worldview with the study of homeland security and disaster management. You can examine how biblical principles, ethical decision-making, service, and respect for human dignity can inform leadership in public safety and emergency response.

For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science (BS) in Homeland Security and Disaster Management. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America for 2027

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Disaster Management Degree?

Your education shouldn’t require you to put your career or family responsibilities on hold. Liberty’s bachelor’s in homeland security and disaster management is offered 100% online with 8-week courses, 8 start dates each year, and no set login times. Whether you work rotating shifts in law enforcement, serve in emergency services, or balance school with other commitments, you’ll have the flexibility to complete coursework around your schedule. This format can make pursuing your degree more manageable while you continue meeting your daily responsibilities.

Already have college credits or professional training? At Liberty, you can transfer in up to 75% of your bachelor’s degree, subject to a transfer credit evaluation. Your military service, law enforcement training, or other qualifying professional experience could also count toward your degree through Liberty’s credit evaluation process.

Learn through a school with a strong foundation in government and public safety. Offered through Liberty’s Helms School of Government, this program draws on criminal justice, constitutional government, and public service. You’ll examine how legal principles, agency responsibilities, and professional standards influence decisions involving public safety and national security. With an emphasis on integrity, ethical leadership, and respect for human dignity, Liberty encourages you to consider both the practical and human sides of protecting communities.

Distance education has been part of Liberty’s mission since 1985. With decades of distance learning experience, we offer an established online learning environment for students like you who are balancing education with other responsibilities. You’ll also have access to online academic resources, including Liberty’s Jerry Falwell Library and academic support services.

What Will You Study in an Emergency Management Bachelor’s Degree Online?

Liberty’s homeland security bachelor’s core coursework can provide a solid foundation in the essential principles of the field. You will study the cycles of emergency management and the intricacies of emergency and disaster planning to ensure you are prepared for any scenario. Additionally, you will explore the behavioral dimensions of disaster and the protection of critical infrastructure, which are vital for maintaining societal stability during emergencies.

A major focus of an emergency management degree’s coursework is the disaster management cycle: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Through examples involving hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, and technological failures, you’ll explore how these phases connect and influence public safety decisions. You’ll also examine emergency operations planning, resource management, evacuation procedures, and sheltering strategies. National frameworks, including the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS), provide context for understanding how emergency responders organize and coordinate their efforts.

Protecting a community also means understanding the systems people depend on every day. An online emergency management degree addresses critical infrastructure protection, including transportation, energy, water, telecommunications, healthcare, and information technology systems. You’ll consider how disruptions to these services can affect public safety, economic activity, and emergency response operations. Alongside these technical concerns, you’ll study the psychological, social, and physical effects of disasters, including how victims and first responders respond to trauma, evacuation, loss, and recovery.

To connect these subjects, your research and capstone elements will provide the opportunity to synthesize your learning into a final, professional project. You will engage in evidence-based analysis and policy evaluation, ensuring you can communicate effectively in professional contexts. This final experience in your disaster management degree can solidify your readiness to enter the workforce as a capable and informed practitioner with an emergency preparedness degree.

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Course Format

We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.

In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.

You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Many of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2026 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

Undergraduate Full Time	$410/Credit
Undergraduate Part Time	$475/Credit
Military Undergraduate	$250/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for Our Bachelor’s in Homeland Security and Disaster Management

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- There is no application fee to apply to Liberty University.
Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High School Transcript Policy

Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Liberty’s Bachelor’s in Homeland Security and Disaster Management

What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in homeland security and disaster management?

You can pursue a variety of career paths, including roles as an emergency management director, security consultant, or public safety compliance officer. Graduates often find opportunities within federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as in the private sector and nonprofit organizations. With a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Disaster Management, you can prepare for positions that require strategic planning, risk assessment, and crisis response.

What is the difference between homeland security and emergency management?

Homeland security addresses threats and activities associated with protecting the nation and its communities, while emergency management focuses on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a broad range of hazards and disasters. Liberty’s degree combines coursework from both areas, allowing you to examine subjects ranging from terrorism and border security to emergency planning and disaster recovery.

Does a homeland security degree cover terrorism and national security threats?

Is a homeland security degree the same as a criminal justice degree?

No, homeland security and criminal justice are related fields, but they focus on different areas of public safety. Criminal justice degrees examine law enforcement, criminal behavior, courts, and corrections, while homeland security degrees focus more closely on national security, threat prevention, and protecting critical systems.

Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Disaster Management also places significant emphasis on emergency preparedness, disaster response, and recovery operations. If you’re interested in both security threats and disaster planning, this degree can help you explore how these responsibilities connect within government agencies and other organizations.

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