College of Humanities and Public Affairs

Interdisciplinary Programs

Bernard McCarthy, Director

Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Defense 

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Craig T. Hemmons, Department Head
Brett Garland, Graduate Director

Master of Science, Criminology (includes accelerated master's option)
Master of Science in Administrative Studies, Criminal Justice Option

Department of Defense and Strategic Studies

Keith B. Payne, Department Head

Master of Science, Defense and Strategic Studies
Graduate Certificate in Defense and Strategic Studies  

Department of Economics

Ardeshir J. Dalal, Department Head

Master of Science in Education, Secondary Education

Department of History

Kathleen A. Kennedy, Department Head
William Piston, Graduate Director

Master of Arts, History (includes accelerated master's option)
Master of Science in Education, Secondary Education (includes accelerated master's option)
History for Teachers Graduate Certificate

Department of Philosophy

Pamela R. Sailors, Department Head 

Department of Political Science

George E. Connor, Department Head
Mark Rushefsky, Graduate Director (MPA)
Dennis Hickey, Graduate Director (Master of Global Studies)

Master of Global Studies (includes accelerated master’s opportunity)
Master of Public Administration (includes accelerated master’s opportunity)
Master of Science in Education, Secondary Education
Graduate Certificate in Public Management 

Department of Religious Studies

Stephen C. Berkwitz, Department Head
Mark Given, Graduate Director

Master of Arts, Religious Studies (includes accelerated master’s opportunity)
Graduate Certificate in Religious Studies for the Professions

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

William A. Wedenoja, Acting Department Head and Graduate Director 

Master of Science, Applied Anthropology
Master of Science in Education, Secondary Education

Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Defense

Bernard McCarthy, Certificate Advisor
Strong Hall, Room 467; Phone (417) 836-6679 BernardMcCarthy@missouristate.edu 

Program Description 

The certificate in Homeland Security and Defense provides a 12 hour graduate-level experience for people working or desiring to work in the field of homeland security and defense.  This program provides leadership education and critical thinking skills for dealing with threats faced in the global war on terror. 

The curriculum is structured around key policy and organizational problems involving homeland security.  Each course prepares students to master core issues, principles, and problem-solving approaches that can be applied to specific challenges confronting their jurisdictions or sponsoring organizations.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for the program, a student must have a 2.75 grade point average and be admitted to the Graduate College.  Students who do not meet this criterion, but demonstrate potential for success through career experience, may be admitted at the discretion of the Certificate Advisor and with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate College.  Admission to this certificate program does not constitute admission to any other Missouri State University graduate program. 

Required Courses                                   12 Hours

Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
CRM 740	Foundations of Homeland Defense and Security	3 hrs
CRM 745	Topics in Homeland Defense and Security	3 hrs
PLS 717	Multidisciplinary Approaches to Homeland Security	3 hrs
PLS 719	Strategic Planning and Organizational Imperatives in Homeland Security	3 hrs