Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ)
Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security
Build graduate-level expertise in terrorism, homeland security, global cybersecurity, transnational threats, and the changing relationship between domestic security and military operations.
Overview Why It Matters What You Will Study Curriculum Where Skills Apply How to Declare More Options
12
Credit Hours
4
Graduate Courses
MCJ
Embedded Pathway
2 + 2
Required + Electives
Build a Graduate Specialization in Homeland Security
The Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security provides Master of Criminal Justice students with a concentrated pathway for examining terrorism, homeland security policy and operations, transnational threats, cyber-security, and the interaction between domestic and military policing.
The certificate allows students to organize graduate electives around a clearly defined security specialization while continuing to make progress toward the broader MCJ degree.
Students complete two required graduate courses—Terrorism and Homeland Security—and then choose two additional courses from four approved homeland-security electives.
Security + Policy + Global Threats
Designed as Part of the Master of Criminal Justice
Under the current graduate catalog, MCJ students may pursue the Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security as part of their degree plan. The certificate is awarded upon completion of the master’s degree.
Why Graduate Study in Homeland Security?
Homeland security problems increasingly cross organizational, technological, and national boundaries. Advanced study helps professionals examine the policy, operational, legal, and organizational dimensions of complex security threats rather than viewing them from a single-agency perspective.
Analyze Complex Threats
Study terrorism, cyber threats, trafficking, transnational security concerns, and evolving homeland-security challenges.
Connect Policy and Operations
Examine how institutions organize security policy, enforcement, prevention, preparedness, and interagency coordination.
Develop a Graduate Specialty
Create a focused area of graduate study within the MCJ while strengthening expertise relevant to security-focused professional roles.
What You Will Study
Terrorism
Origins, organization, tactics, motivations, and characteristics of terrorist groups and attacks.
Homeland Security
Policies, institutions, strategies, and contemporary issues shaping homeland-security practice.
Cyber & Transnational Threats
Cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, information warfare, trafficking, and threats that cross national boundaries.
Policing & Security
The relationship between domestic law enforcement, military policing, security institutions, and contemporary threats.
Certificate Curriculum
Complete two required courses and select two approved electives for a total of 12 graduate credit hours.
Required Courses — 6 Hours
CRIJ 5351
Terrorism
Examines the origins, nature, operational characteristics, organization, and activities of terrorist groups in the United States and abroad.
3 Credit Hours
CRIJ 5352
Homeland Security
Provides graduate study of homeland-security policy, organization, operations, and contemporary security issues.
3 Credit Hours
Choose Two Electives — 6 Hours
CRIJ 5353
Global Cyber-Security
Information warfare, cybercrime, cyber-terrorism, information security, and law-enforcement policy.
CRIJ 5317
Special Topics in Homeland Security
Advanced study of selected contemporary topics in homeland security.
CRIJ 5365
Intersection of Domestic and Military Policing
Examines relationships between domestic law enforcement and military policing.
CRIJ 5349
Transnational Trafficking
Human, drug, and arms trafficking; international policy; enforcement strategies; and NGO responses.
Where Can Homeland Security Expertise Apply?
The certificate can strengthen graduate preparation for professionals working in environments where public safety, intelligence, security, technology, policy, and interagency coordination intersect.
Law Enforcement
Intelligence, investigations, counterterrorism, command, interagency coordination, and specialized security assignments.
Emergency & Government Services
Preparedness, government operations, planning, policy implementation, resilience, and security administration.
Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Threat analysis, cyber-related policy, intelligence support, information sharing, and security research.
Private & Corporate Security
Risk management, critical infrastructure, corporate security, investigations, and organizational resilience.
How to Get Started
Getting started is simple. Follow the steps below to begin the certificate process and connect with the right support.
Step 1
Fill out the certificate form.
Step 2
Get the required signatures.
Step 3
Submit the completed form toemail.
Step 4
Meet with the MCJ advisor if you have questions.
Explore Your Next Steps in Graduate Study
Build a graduate pathway that matches your professional interests by combining the MCJ with focused certificate options available through Criminal Justice.
Master of Criminal Justice
Develop advanced knowledge in criminal justice theory, research, administration, policy, and applied professional topics.
Graduate Certificate in Crime Analysis
Build graduate-level skills in crime analysis, crime mapping, applied data analysis, and research design.
Graduate Certificate in ADR
Explore graduate coursework in mediation, communication, arbitration, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution.
Add Homeland Security Expertise to Your MCJ
Use your graduate electives strategically to develop a focused specialization in terrorism, homeland security, cybersecurity, policing, and transnational threats.