This program emphasizes protecting people, animals and plants from natural and man-made biological hazards. By integrating public health, risk management and homeland security, you’ll become prepared to address critical challenges, such as pandemics, bioterrorism and other biosecurity risks.
Courses develop your expertise in evaluating safety programs, creating plans to mitigate biological threats, managing crises and minimizing societal harm. Additionally, you’ll build leadership skills essential for guiding response and recovery efforts, enabling you to navigate high-pressure situations confidently and effectively.
This program is a concentration of ASU’s online primary Master of Arts in emergency management and homeland security degree. You’ll take a number of the same courses as the general program, but with two courses focused on biosecurity and threat management.
How biodefense and biosecurity compare
Biodefense, a subset of biosecurity, focuses on protecting human health and the environment from biological agents used as weapons. It involves developing medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and treatments, and creating strategies for detecting and responding to biological threats.
Biosecurity, on the other hand, focuses on preventing the accidental or intentional release of harmful biological agents. This includes safeguarding dangerous materials from theft or loss and ensuring their safe handling and storage through strict policies and procedures.
With rising concerns about biological weapons and infectious disease outbreaks, biodefense is rapidly growing. Increased investments from governments, research institutions and private organizations have created a strong demand for professionals in this field.
Arizona State University’s Master of Arts in emergency management and homeland security with a concentration in biosecurity and threat management prepares you for careers related to public health, emergency response and biodefense. This degree provides you with the knowledge needed to keep people, animals and plants safe from the effects of hazardous biological agents.
This program blends general emergency management content with critical areas of biosecurity, including public health and disaster management. Key topics you'll explore include hazard governance, integrated threat management, program evaluation, bioterrorism response, public health crisis leadership and more.
The impressive faculty in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions inspire the next generation of public service leaders through real-world solutions to issues in areas such as child welfare, safety, city management, human trafficking and water scarcity. Faculty highlights include:
- Fellow of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
- Fellow of the American Psychological Association.
- Member of the National Academy of Public Administration.
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is a comprehensive public service college dedicated to addressing social problems through teaching, research and service. Our programs, which range from public policy and social work to criminal justice and emergency management, are designed to prepare graduates to make a difference in their communities.
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academic programs offered online.
To apply to the biosecurity and threat management concentration, you must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
You’re eligible to apply to the program if you have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in criminology or criminal justice, public administration or public service, sociology or social work, public safety or fire service management, parks and recreation management, applied sciences, environmental sciences or geography, public health or another closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's degree. Alternatively, applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in an applicable master's degree.
Applicants must provide:
- Graduate application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Proof of English proficiency (for students whose first language is not English).
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A written statement, at least one page long. The statement should describe your educational and career goals and long-term professional development strategy.
- Evidence of current employment in an organization in this field, or at least two years’ prior professional experience in this or a related field, or a bachelor's degree in a related area.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”