MPA – Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Safeguard Your Community
Is the safety and security of your community among your highest priorities? Our online and on-campus Master of Public Administration – Emergency Management & Homeland Security degree can equip you with emergency management skills to identify, assess and prepare for potential threats from domestic terrorism to natural disasters. You’ll delve into case studies, service-learning opportunities, and sophisticated analysis to advance your strategic planning and leadership skills.
Gain Strategic Insight
Explore trends in modern terrorism, counterterrorism tactics, and disaster response planning.
Access Faculty Experts
Be mentored by renowned scholars and skilled practitioners.
Become an Exceptional Leader
Regent University’s MPA program equips Christian servant leaders with exceptional character and competence to promote the public interest.
Earn Your MPA in Two, Three, or Four Years
Full Time: Four semesters (8 8-week sessions; approx. 9 credits per semester) Part-Time: Six to seven semesters part-time (12-14 8-week sessions; 2 courses per semester).
Presented from a Christian perspective, this degree is supported by our respected faculty in Virginia Beach. Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2025). We have also been recognized as a Military Friendly Top 5 School by Military Friendly®, 2024-25, and among the Top 10 Best for Vets Colleges: Online & Nontraditional by Military Times, 2020.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
On completing the Master of Public Administration – Emergency Management & Homeland Security degree, you can:
- Conduct risk assessments and develop solutions to stop potential threats.
- Apply an ethical and compassionate mindset when formulating plans and policies.
- Forecast and diffuse potential threats by developing and implementing strategic action plans.
Career Opportunities
- Intelligence Analysis
- Emergency Management
- Information Security
- Law Enforcement & Public Safety
| GOV 605 | Christian Ethics & the Law of Armed Conflict | 3 | Considers the nature of war and peace, including thought and practice from philosophical and religious viewpoints, with particular reference to the Christian tradition (e.g. just war theory) and the formal law of armed conflict. Cross-listed with LAW 560 and GOV 705. |
| GOV 608 | Public Information Systems Management | 3 | The application of information systems concepts and tools to challenges and opportunities in the public sector focusing on information system trends; managerial use of information systems; hardware, software, and telecommunications; systems development processes and practices; strategic and policy issues in IS, and ethical and moral issues surrounding information system management. |
| GOV 609 | Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience | 3 | Addresses the all hazard approach to critical infrastructure protection with a specific focus on cybersecurity and the use of cyber/IT tools in progressing concepts of risk management, mitigation, preparation, and response and recovery efforts. Includes current National Infrastructure Protection Plan Critical Infrastructure/ Key Resource Sector Specific Plans and the use of the Incident Command System in all hazard emergency management disaster response as per the current National Response Framework. Cross-listed with GOV 709. |
| GOV 660 | Intelligence & National Security | 3 | Explores the role of the various U.S. intelligence agencies in assessing foreign and domestic terror threats, developing effective counterterrorism strategies, and thwarting terrorist aggression. Topics include intelligence collection and analysis, domestic vs. foreign intelligence, uses and limits of intelligence for counterterrorism, ethical issues in intelligence, and intelligence oversight and reform. |
| GOV 667 | Local Government Administration | 3 | Addresses the work of local government managers and leaders in promoting ethical, effective, efficient and accountable government for cities, counties and local and regional authorities. |
| GOV 669 | Public Management | 3 | Examination of the management process in federal government and agencies, focusing on contemporary issues and problems facing the modern-day federal manager, how the manager addresses these issues and with what tools. Uses case studies. |
| GOV 677 | Terrorism & Homeland Defense | 3 | Broadens individual understanding of the ever-changing nature of international terrorism and its consequences on American society at large. It covers the present-day US domestic and external responses to terrorism and focus on the rise of the US Homeland Security Agency. Also, there is a focus on trends in modern terrorism, especially the proliferation of WMD and what the US can do (or is doing) to counter such trends. Cross-listed with GOV 777. |
| GOV 678 | Crisis & Disaster Consequence Management | 3 | Policies and procedures to mitigate, prevent and respond to disaster, the literature of risk, regimes for safety and risk reduction, the ethics of care and compassion, and mechanisms for measuring threat and recovery. |
| GOV 632 | International Security | 3 | This course offers a comprehensive overview of the study of international conflict and security. The goal is to provide students with a solid theoretical and conceptual foundation for understanding the causes, nature, and consequences of key developments in international conflict and cooperation. Cross-listed with GOV 732. |
2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines
All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
| Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
| Session B | Friday, October 11 | Monday, October 21 |
| Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
| Session D | Friday, March 7 | Monday, March 17 |
| Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
| Session F | Friday, June 13 | Monday, June 23 |
Admissions Requirements
Step 1: Apply to Regent University
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts
Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.
Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $930 | 6 | $5,580 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per t2-atpsSemester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $930 | 9 | $8,370 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $750 |
PART-TIME STUDENTS
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA) | $695 | 6 | $4,170 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $900 | 6 | $5,400 |
Full-Time Students
| Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per t2-atpsSemester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts (MA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Master of Arts in Public Administration (MPA) | $695 | 9 | $6,255 |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | $900 | 9 | $8,100 |
Student Fees Per Semester
| University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
|---|---|
| University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.
Whether you are a prospective student or a current student, your questions matter. Please take a few moments to skim our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please contact us.
Andrew Owen, MPA, Class of 2017