The first graduate education program in homeland security was developed jointly by the Naval Postgraduate School, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Preparedness Directorate. Together, these agencies comprise the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. The 18-month M.A. program in homeland security is offered free of charge to eligible state, local and federal officials. Much of the curricula and other resources resulting from this program has been shared with universities around the country that are engaged in the development of graduate and undergraduate degree programs in homeland security.
The CHDS developed the University and Agency Partnership Initiative as means to advance homeland security educational programs. UAPI's stated purpose is to accelerate formation of quality academic programs and to increase the number students across the country who receive homeland security education. Hundreds of universities across the country are part of the UAPI partnership.
Students looking for schools offering a graduate degree in homeland security can start their search at CHDS, which maintains a database of colleges and universities that are UAPI-affiliated partners (see Resources). The database contains the name and location of schools that offer educational programs in homeland security, emergency preparedness, terrorism and cybersecurity. The database also lists whether the particular program listed leads to an undergraduate or graduate certificate or degree. The database can be searched by geographic location and type of degree.
Critics of degree programs in homeland security point out that understanding critical infrastructure issues, cybersecurity threats, and intelligence analysis requires highly educated persons with degrees in engineering, computer science and programming, foreign languages and other specialties. Although people having highly specialized skills are always in demand, proponents of homeland security educational programs point out that a broad perspective in management and administrative skill is also required to develop policy, implement strategy and develop an integrated interagency response to emergencies.