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Credits and costs

18 Credits$632/$678 per credit

Enhance Your Penn State Degree

Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.

It is expected that there will be many opportunities for employment in security and protective services–related occupations in both the public and private sectors. If you are interested in gaining an understanding of homeland security issues to better position yourself for a career in homeland security, consider Penn State’s online minor in homeland security.

The minor is open to all interested undergraduate World Campus students who meet the prerequisites and is most useful if you are majoring in criminal justice, political science, law and society, nursing, or organizational leadership.

Learn about homeland security and defense issues such as emergency management, homeland security policy, and the structure of homeland security operations. Grow your skills to better recover from, prevent, and respond to man-made and natural disasters in a multi-jurisdictional and multifunctional environment.

The 18 credits of course work can inform you about such career aspects of homeland and security defense as emergency management, security administration, border security, and critical infrastructure protection.

Prescribed Courses (9 credits)

3
credits
An introduction to homeland security and defense, with a focus on policy, legal issues, organization, and administration.
3
credits
An introduction to emergency management in mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from hazards.
3
credits
This course will examine the inter-relationship of foreign, military and economic policy.

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 9 credits)

3
credits
Interdisciplinary analysis of security and loss prevention; its administration, role in crime control and prevention, and relationship to criminal justice.
3
credits
This course provides knowledge about government organizations charged with American border security and guiding laws and policies.
3
credits
Provides knowledge about protection of critical infrastructure as an aspect of homeland security
3
credits
The Homeland Security Intelligence course provides a depth of knowledge of key intelligence issues for homeland security professionals.
3
credits
Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age.
3
credits
The course examines the users and processes of Intelligence Community, participants of Competitive Intelligence, and comparative intelligence communities.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?	If you have 59 or fewer credits	If you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer	$632 per credit	$678 per credit
12–19	$7,678 per semester	$8,288 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?	If you have 59 or fewer credits	If you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer	$638 per credit	$685 per credit
12–19	$7,755 per semester	$8,371 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19.

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Federal financial aid may only be used to pay for credits used to satisfy program requirements.

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

visit the Tuition Information site
click the plus sign to expand the table
select a semester from the World Campus row

Upcoming Events

May1,2025May1,2025Military Student Experience Webinar7:00p.m.(EDT)7:30p.m.(EDT)

May8,2025May8,2025Virtual Open House (Afternoon Session)Noon(EDT)2:00p.m.(EDT)

May8,2025May8,2025Virtual Open House (Evening Session)6:00p.m.(EDT)8:00p.m.(EDT)

May15,2025May15,2025Transferring Credits to Penn State8:00p.m.(EDT)9:00p.m.(EDT)

May20,2025May20,2025How Online Learning Works8:00p.m.(EDT)9:00p.m.(EDT)

June3,2025June3,2025Military Student Experience Webinar8:00p.m.(EDT)8:30p.m.(EDT)

June5,2025June5,2025Career Services Spotlight8:00p.m.(EDT)9:00p.m.(EDT)

June12,2025June12,2025Virtual Open House (Afternoon)Noon(EDT)2:00p.m.(EDT)

June12,2025June12,2025Virtual Open House (Evening Session)6:00p.m.(EDT)8:00p.m.(EDT)

June26,2025June26,2025Financial Aid Basics8:00p.m.(EDT)9:00p.m.(EDT)

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

A new student holding a sign that reads, We Are Penn State and #PennStateBound

You must be a current student and meet specific requirements to apply for a minor.

Application Instructions

Steps to Apply

To be eligible for admittance into this minor, you must:
be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester
maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
complete a minimum of 18 credits in homeland security and defense courses
9 credits of prescribed courses
9 credits of electives
Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements. You should add the minor as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.
Add the minor in LionPATH
You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.

Admissions Help

Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.

Customer service representative wearing a headset

Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

To learn more about the Minor in Homeland Security, offered in partnership with the Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs, please contact:

For questions regarding how to apply, contact:

World Campus Advisers
Phone: 814-863-3283
[email protected]

For questions about the program, contact:

Autumn Kreider
Homeland Security Degree Base Program, Certificate, and Undergraduate Minor
School of Public Affairs
777 West Harrisburg Pike
160W Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
Phone: 717-948-6799
Fax: 717-948-6320
[email protected]

Undergraduate Minor inHomeland Security

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Credits and costs

Enhance Your Penn State Degree

Gain Specialized Homeland Security Knowledge