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Certificate in Homeland Security
Offered only via web-based distance education, the Certificate in Homeland Security (CHLS) gives students 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 private business.
Certificate Program Summary
Homeland security is a concern to business, medicine, agriculture, engineers, educators, the technology sector, and government servants at all levels, from city to national. Paired with this concern is a need for educational opportunities in areas of homeland security that are flexible, affordable, delivered by an experienced and knowledgeable faculty, and backed by a strong reputation. The Bush School is proud to offer the Certificate in Homeland Security (CHLS) to meet these demands while complementing, from a strategy and policy perspective, the first responder programs being developed nationwide.
The CHLS is available completely online, via a password-protected course delivery system. Students may begin the program in fall, spring, or summer terms. The program consists of 15 graduate credit hours:
- One 3-credit Homeland Security Fundamentals course (BUSH 656-701)*
- Three elective courses (3 credits each, 9 credits total)
- One 3-credit hour capstone project*
The coursework combines a broad understanding of homeland security strategies and policies at the national level with an in-depth analysis of key security issues affecting federal, state, and local government, as well as private business. The final capstone project will allow each student to work one-on-one with a professor as s/he develops a special in-depth report or product related to homeland security.
Program Description
All Fall and Spring online education courses are offered on a 15-week semester schedule, (Summer courses are offered in a 10 week format) including clear deadlines for written work and tests. Students may choose from a menu of courses updated each term. The current list of courses and their initial offering dates are as follows:
Course List
- BUSH 602: Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
- BUSH 614: Critical Infrastructure Protection
- BUSH 619: Weapons of Mass Destruction
- BUSH 656: Homeland Security Fundamentals*
- BUSH 657: Terrorism in Today's World **
- BUSH 679: Homeland Security and Business
- BUSH 689: Homeland Security and Emergency Management
- BUSH 689: Homeland Security and Department of Defense
- BUSH 689: Cyber Security
- BUSH 685: Homeland Security Capstone
*Required course
**May be taken as an entry-level course in place of the HLS Fundamentals course. Students who start with Terrorism in summer will then be required to enroll in BUSH 656: HLS Fundamentals for their next semester's course.
Admission Requirements & Costs
Admission to the program requires acceptance into the Texas A&M graduate studies program as well as separate acceptance into the Bush School. Fill out your application.
If you are a current Texas A&M University graduate student (have already submitted the Texas A&M University graduate application and been accepted) you may complete the CAIA or CHLS application now and email or fax your application and required documents to: The Office of Extended Education; FAX: 979-845-4155.
The certificate program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university. To be admitted without taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the applicant's overall grade point average must be 3.0 in her/his undergraduate major field of study or during her or his last 60 credit hours of undergraduate education. Certificate program admission processes differ for students already admitted to Texas A&M University for the purpose of graduate study. For more information on the application process, please see the Bush School application page.
Cost per course will vary, depending on whether you are a Texas resident, active duty military, or reside out-of-state. Costs can also fluctuate slightly each year, based on tuition and fee adjustments. Overall, the Bush School's distance education courses are less expensive than attending an on-campus class, which requires drive time and gas, time away from your family, and/or time missed from work.
For more information on costs per course for both in-state and out-of-state students, please see the Bush School's distance education program pages.
Financial Aid
The Bush School certificate programs are eligible for federal financial aid. To begin the process, please fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
We recommend that you complete to financial aid application concurrently as you apply to our programs. The Texas A&M University Department of Student Financial Aid will contact you regarding you status once your application has been processed by the US Department of Education. Please note that, for the purposes of federal financial aid awards, "part time" is defined as taking two courses (6 credit hours) during the semester that the aid is received. This requirement is set at the federal level not the university level, so it can not be waived.
Advising and Information
For more information about the Bush School's Certificate in Advanced International Affairs, please contact one of the friendly admissions advisors:
Telephone Today: 1-866-988-BUSH (2874) or 979-862-7810
George Bush School of Government and Public Service
Office of Extended Education
4220 TAMU
1026 Allen Building
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4220
Email 1: ExtendedEd@bushschool.tamu.edu
Email 2: online@bushschool.tamu.edu
Fax: (979)-845-4155