Online Master’s in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security

100% Online

GRE/GMAT Not Required

Complete in 24 Months

Financial Aid & Scholarships Available

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Complete the form to learn more about this program. An admissions advisor will reach out to you to discuss coursework, financial aid, and more.

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Shape Policy and Fight Global Terrorism

To counter complex threats today, you need interdisciplinary skills and focused expertise to understand and counter-terrorism. American University’s online Master of Science in Counter-terrorism and Homeland Security builds these capabilities and prepares you for work and career advancement in intelligence, law enforcement and related private sector positions in national and homeland security.

In this flexible online program, you will study the problem of terrorism and how to counter it through a number of different lenses including political violence, intelligence studies, and domestic and international law and policy. You will also study and assess different threats, including domestic terrorism, cyber threats, and foreign fighters. You will apply this knowledge to develop policy-based security solutions at all levels of government.

American University’s fully online programs are led by expert faculty who are passionate about teaching. With flexible scheduling in a digital environment, you will get the experience and knowledge you need in the field of your choice.

Online Merit Scholarships

$12,000 — No Separate Application Required

Prospective students who have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or above (on a 4.0 scale) in their undergraduate program, or those with five or more years of active-duty experience in the military (regardless of their GPA score), can qualify for the Online Merit Scholarship in award amounts up to $12,000.*

Online Curriculum

The curriculum in the online master’s in counter-terrorism and homeland security will equip you with the real-world skills you need to protect the public. Please note this program and all courses are taught in English only.

Courses you may take in this program include:

Justice in the Face of Terror

This course is designed to help students understand and critically analyze the nature and causes of acts of violence and terror by both state and non-state actors and begin to evaluate the justice of formal and informal societal responses to these acts. The purpose of this class is to introduce students to concepts and ideas that they will study in depth later in the program.

Crime and Conflict Nexus

Study the relationship between criminals and terrorists by examining the nexus of terrorists and criminal networks, their commonalities, affinities, and disparities.

Causes of Terrorism and Political Violence

Familiarize yourself with the study of terrorism as a political act. The course examines the difference between state and oppositional terror but focuses on terror by non-state actors.

Intelligence Analysis

The course will focus on intelligence analysis, including the analytic process, the components of the U.S. intelligence community, the elements of intelligence collection and tradecraft; and the role that intelligence plays in U.S. national security policy. This course will be an applied course, with students acting as analysts throughout the semester by following an analytic account, applying analytic tradecraft, evaluating sources, and authoring intelligence analysis on that account. In other words, students are expected to spend the semester learning to become analysts by acting as analysts.

About 64,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year1, which is no surprise given the importance and necessity of public safety. Our country will always need experts who devote their lives to fighting violence and terrorism. Luckily, there are many ways to do this:

  • Counterintelligence professional – $90,000/year2
  • Federal law enforcement agent – $77,000/year3
  • Homeland security professional – $89,000/year4
  • Information security analyst – $112,000/year5

As passionate change-makers, our alumni are employed in various settings all over the country. You can find some of them working at these outstanding organizations:

  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • FBI
  • U.S. Immigration and Customs
  • U.S. Senate

“I chose to pursue the Masters’s degree in Homeland Security and Counterterrorism with American University due to the reputation of the school, incredible alumni network, and my desire to receive a well-rounded education in counterterrorism, intelligence, policy, and related subjects after coming from a different field.”

– Sarina Krantzler, CTHS graduate

No. 10

Best Public Affairs Programs

Top Ranked School in Washington D.C.

U.S. News & World Report Public Affairs Graduate Schools (2023)

No. 11

Homeland Security & Emergency Management

U.S. News & World Report Public Affairs Graduate Schools (2023)

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  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Police and Detectives.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.
  2. Payscale. “Salary for Skill: Counter Intelligence.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://payscale.com/.
  3. Payscale. “Salary for Industry: Federal Law Enforcement Agency.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://payscale.com/.
  4. Payscale. “Average Salary for U.S. Department of Homeland Security Employees.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://payscale.com/.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Information Security Analysts.” Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://bls.gov/.

*As part of your application process, your academic history and military experience will be reviewed to see if the scholarship can be applied; there is no separate application to fill out.

*You will be notified of the scholarship status when you’re admitted to the program, or shortly thereafter.

*To receive the scholarship, which is applied equally across the fifth through eighth courses of the program, you must remain in good academic standing.