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Homeland Security Leadership and Policy
This specialization emphasizes rigorous research exploring advanced concepts and methods with the goal of helping you develop your skills in applying theory and emerging concepts to create innovative approaches to complex problems. You will have the opportunity to select from a variety of courses that cover topics such as terrorism, strategy, intelligence, emergency management and critical infrastructure security issues. As a graduate, you will be prepared to seek out senior leadership positions in public administration, law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies.
General Degree Requirements
Admission to the DBA program requires a master's degree from an accredited institution.
The DBA program may be completed in 54 credits. The University may accept a maximum of 9 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of "B" or better.
Completion Period for Doctoral Degrees
Northcentral University allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less. Normal time to complete varies depending upon course take rate and credits transferred in.
Foundational Competencies for DBA Programs
- Graduate-Level Research Methods Competency - DBA students are required to complete BTM7102 and BTM7103, BTM7109 and either BTM7108 or BTM7106 at Northcentral.
- Graduate-Level Statistics Competency - DBA students are required to complete BTM7104 Business Statistics at Northcentral.
- Computer Competency - Doctoral students are required to have computer skills necessary for completing a dissertation. Students must be able to prepare documents using advanced word processing skills (e.g., creation of tables and figures, headers and footers, page breaks, tables of contents, hanging indents). Students must use computer programs for the statistical analysis of data (e.g., SAS). Students must produce a computer-based presentation (e.g., PowerPoint) for their dissertation oral presentation.
Course Length
All new students enrolling in the Doctor of Business Administration program are automatically enrolled in courses that are eight weeks in length. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
Specialization Course 1 | ||
BTM7102, BTM7102-8 | Business Research Methodology | This Doctoral level course provides students with an overview of the research process, and an opportunity to learn about business research methodology and the components of a dissertation. The course will also provide the student with the opportunity to identify and develop a research topic, define a research problem, describe the purpose of the research study, and establish associated research question(s). The student will prepare a Topic Paper and a preliminary annotated bibliography for the dissertation topic in the Signature Assignment. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
BTM7103, BTM7103-8 | Research Design | In this course, the Student acquires the basic skills necessary for the interpretation and application of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. The student will examine the formal research process carefully, with an emphasis on practical applications and skill development. Critical concepts and principles intrinsic to research paradigms, study designs, and methods of inquiry are presented to empower the students ability to formulate and respond to research questions. The resources listed below from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center are critical resources throughout the whole research process students are highly encouraged to become deeply familiar with the resources from the Northcentral University Dissertation Center. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
BTM7106, BTM7106-8 | Quantitative Research Design | Quantitative Research Design - Prerequisites :BTM7102, BTM7104 A few months prior to this course, students must consult with their Academic Advisors to consider whether the alternate course on Qualitative Research Design (BTM7108/BTM7108-8) might better suit their plans for a dissertation. This course is an examination of qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, mixed methods, and case studies. |
Specialization Course 5 | ||
BTM7109, BTM7109-8 | Planning Dissertation Research in Business | Students in this course will begin the process of writing a dissertation for a research or professional doctorate. The course will address the University dissertation process and aids to successfully complete a dissertation, including self-care and time management. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
BTM7101, BTM7101-8 | Foundations for Doctoral Study In Business | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a doctoral degree in Business. Doctoral level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
MGT7019, MGT7019-8 | Ethics in Business | No longer are ethics and social responsibility, including the green movement, something organizations can ignore or do "if they have funding left over at the end of the year. Ethics are required by local, state and federal legislation and today, more than ever, stakeholders at organizations are being held accountable for their actions and societal harm. Doctoral students in this course, through a series of essays and papers, will learn about current laws and their application to business; and how to maintain an ethical perspective within the context of a global framework. |
SKS7000, SKS7000-8 | Doctoral Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies | Students will analyze and apply knowledge in 12 business areas necessary to address a wide variety of business-related situations. The focus of the course is demonstrating core proficiencies in the following business areas: Marketing, Business Finance, Accounting, Management, Legal Environment of Business, Economics, Business Ethics, Global Dimensions of Business, Information Systems, Quantitative Techniques and Statistics, Leadership, and Business Applications. The intent is not to introduce these core business concepts, but rather to verify a graduate-level threshold competency within each. The course includes a comprehensive case study that will allow students to demonstrate their competency within all 12 professional component areas. |
BTM7104, BTM7104-8 | Statistics I | This course provides an introductory exploration of statistics for the doctoral student. It includes instruction on the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics, and introduces inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts to help the Student understand statistical methodology used in education, and also more generally, developing a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
HS7000-8 | Homeland Security and Terrorism | This Doctoral level course serves as an introduction to the study of homeland security and will provide an overview of the practical discipline including readings on the various government agencies involved in different aspects of homeland security. The course will also include an overview of the terrorist threat faced today and an examination of how that threat came into being. |
HS7004-8 | Local Emergency Management and Civil Preparedness | In this course, students will analyze the operations and preparedness of local emergency management systems and their ability to respond to natural and manmade disasters. students will learn how the Incident Command System functions and use it to plan the use of emergency response organizations. students will explain and assess local community capabilities to maintain the safety of their populations and the processes through which local emergency response agencies can request assistance. |
HS7010-8 | Aviation and Ground Transportation Security | In this Doctoral level course, students will closely examine the aviation, ground, and maritime transportation networks with regard to the security demands now placed on them. The course assignments include the exploration of the actual threat to each industry with regard to the appropriate counterterrorism measures within each component from a domestic and global perspective. Regulatory agencies, both domestic and international will be reviewed in conjunction with international treaties. |
HS7013-8 | Intelligence and Law Enforcement | In this Doctoral level course, students will take a critical look at the integration of intelligence operations and law enforcement in the realm of homeland security. Topics will also include the composition of the U.S. intelligence community, roles of various U.S. intelligence agencies, and issues facing the U.S. intelligence community. The course provides the knowledge necessary to effectively utilize strategic intelligence in the law enforcement and public safety realm. |
HS7014-8 | Strategy, Resiliency, and Coping with Fear | In this Doctoral level course students will have an opportunity to gain a conceptual understanding of the meanings of strategy, national interests, elements of power, and asymmetric threats. students also will explore the meaning of the concept of resiliency as well as how terrorists use fear to their advantage. An understanding of these concepts will aid any homeland security professional in performing their duties and protecting the populace. |
HS7020-8 | Security of the Maritime Transportation System | The asymmetric threat posed by maritime terrorism has become an increasing concern to security experts throughout the world. This Doctoral level course explores the world of maritime terrorism. The course provides students an opportunity to analyze a variety of risk issues, key challenges, and both national and international strategies including the International Maritime Organization's International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
DIS9401B | Doctoral Dissertation Research I | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9402B | Doctoral Dissertation Research II | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9403B | Doctoral Dissertation Research III | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
DIS9404B | Doctoral Dissertation Research IV | In this course sequence, students work progressively on completing each doctoral dissertation milestone toward the completion of the professional doctorate degree. These milestones include Committee and University approval of a dissertation concept paper, a dissertation proposal paper, an approved IRB application by the Northcentral University Institutional Review Board, the collection and analysis of research data, the preparation and approval of the final dissertation manuscript, and the successful completion of the oral presentation. Courses are taken continually and sequentially until all dissertation milestones have been completed. Throughout these courses, students often work independently but are required to be in communication with the Chair of their Dissertation Committee at least once a month. These courses are graded utilizing Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) as the grading criteria. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Doctor of Business Administration tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your DBA program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s DBA costs below:
- Per credit cost: $829
- Per 3 credit course cost: $2,487
- Program cost: $44,766
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
