Online Bachelor of Science Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies

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Security is a broad and critical field that includes nonprofits, law enforcement, public utilities, hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), government, and the private sector. At East Carolina University®, we’re committed to helping you advance your career and your impact with our online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies degree completion program.

The program teaches the real-world complexities of the emergency management system to help you coordinate solutions at international, federal, state, and local levels. You’ll graduate with a multifaceted understanding of global security challenges and how to address them, preparing you for a meaningful and impactful career as a security professional.

No matter your goals, you’ll receive the personalized academic attention, career support, and applicable curriculum you need to find success in the real world.

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What You’ll Learn

ECU Online’s BS in Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies is designed to give you a practical skill set that leads to immediate employability. During your time in the program, you’ll gain expertise in areas such as:

  • Environmental health
  • Geography
  • History
  • Political Science
  • Criminal justice
  • Homeland and international security
  • Threats and policy responses

Career Outcomes With a Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies Degree

A BS in Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies can prepare you for roles across the emergency management spectrum. Outcomes include careers in:*

Border and Homeland Security

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • National Security Agency (NSA)
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • State and local law enforcement
  • Secret Service

Intelligence and Analysis

  • U.S. military
  • Private sector intelligence roles (e.g. corporate security analyst)
  • Federal Civil Service agencies
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Department of State
  • Department of Defense (DoD)

Global Security

  • U.S. military organizations
  • NATO and the United Nations
  • Regional security organizations
  • Department of State
  • Think tanks
  • Nonprofit organizations

Curriculum & Courses

Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies is a strong major that requires both hard and soft skills, which are reinforced in our curriculum. The BS degree requires 120 total credit hours, with 40 hours of general education courses.

Keep in mind that as a degree completion program, we accept transfer credits, which may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate. The required Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies courses include the following:

General education requirements - 40 credit hours

For information about courses that carry general education credit, view the General Education Program section.

Research and seminar courses - 6 credit hours

SECS 1000 - Introduction to Security Studies
SECS 4000 - Senior Seminar in Security Studies

Required courses - 9 credit hours

JUST 1000 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
POLS 2020 - Introduction to International Relations
POLS 3031 - Research Design for Political Science

Required writing course - 3 credit hours

POLS 2090 - Writing for Political Science
or a program director approved rhetoric or writing course

Elective courses - 24 credit hours

Choose 2 courses from at least 4 different prefixes with no more than 12 hours from any one prefix.
Choose a minimum of 24 credits from the below electives:

ANTH 3027 - Human Diseases and Ancient Environments
BIOL 4150 - Pestilence, Politics and Conquest
EHST 2110 - Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences
EHST 3350 - Safe Water
EHST 3351 - Safe Water Laboratory
EHST 3370 - Waste Water Management
EHST 3371 - Waste Water Management Laboratory
EHST 4350 - Vector Borne Disease Ecology
EHST 4351 - Vector Borne Disease Ecology and Laboratory
EHST 4520 - Biological and Chemical Health Hazards
EHST 4530 - Physical and Radiological Health Hazards
EHST 5010 - Principles of Toxicology
EHST 5011 - Principles of Toxicology and Laboratory
EHST 5800 - Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
EHST 5801 - Solid and Hazardous Waste Management and Laboratory
GEOG 2300 - Environment and Society
GEOG 2350 - Climate Change: Science and Society
GEOG 3003 - Political Geography
GEOG 3430 - Geographic Information Systems I or
PLAN 3430 - Geographic Information Systems I
GEOG 4250 - Environmental Impact Analysis
GEOG 4325 - Resources, Population, and Development
GEOG 4340 - GIS for Health Studies
GEOG 4410 - Advanced Cartographic Design and Production
GEOG 4430 - Geographic Information Systems II or
PLAN 4430 - Geographic Information Systems II
HIST 3121 - American Military History to 1900
HIST 3122 - American Military History Since 1900
HIST 3260 - The United States and the Middle East, 1783 to the Present
HIST 3350 - War and Society
HIST 3680 - Women and Gender in the Middle East
ICTN 2150 - Network Fundamentals
ICTN 2151 - Network Fundamentals Laboratory
ICTN 2900 - Fundamental Network Security
ICTN 2901 - Fundamental Network Security Laboratory
ITEC 3800 - Cost and Capital Project Analysis
JUST 3101 - Conflict Management
JUST 3500 - Principles of Criminal Law
JUST 3501 - Criminal Procedure
JUST 4005 - Organized Crime
JUST 5000 - Comparative Criminal Justice
PLAN 1900 - Sustainable Cities
PLAN 2410 - Introduction to GIS in Planning
PLAN 4015 - Disaster Planning
POLS 3080 - Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction
POLS 3144 - American Foreign Policy
POLS 3155 - National Security Policy
POLS 3180 - The US Intelligence Community
POLS 3260 - Middle Eastern Political Systems
POLS 3290 - Conflict and Peace in the Post-Cold War Era
POLS 3291 - Politics of Genocide in the Twentieth Century
POLS 3293 - International Organizations
POLS 4382 - Politics of Terrorism
POLS 4383 - War in the Modern Age
POLS 4983 - Internship in Political Science
RELI 1690 - World Religions
RELI 2691 - Classical Islam
RELI 3691 - Islam in the Modern World
RELI 3800 - Religion and Violence
SOCI 3219 - Sociology of Immigration
SOCI 2220 - Sociology of Deviant Behavior
SOCI 3235 - Population Trends and Problems
SOCI 3600 - Power and Politics in Society
SOCI 3330 - Criminology

Minor or approved structured electives - 18 credit hours
"I fully encourage anyone who might be considering distance education, to give East Carolina University serious consideration. Living at home and taking classes online meant that I had much more flexibility in my schedule and the ability to work full time without sacrificing my education. As a result, I was able to graduate on schedule, without any debt, and with a useful degree."
‐ Mariah James, ECU Online Graduate

Tuition and Financial Aid

Per Credit Hour

$386 per credit hour plus fees*

*$463 plus fees for out-of-state students

Credit Hours

120 CREDIT HOURS*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours

Financial Aid Assistance Available

FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

ECU online program tuition for in-state students is just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $463 per credit hour plus fees. With transfer credits and financial aid, your bachelor’s degree is within reach.

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Person W Checkmark

STRONG EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Recent graduates have gone into roles within government organizations such as the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and private organizations like Raytheon, Google, and Oracle.

Advance Your Career

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

The program will deepen your understanding of human behavior, empowering you to make the transition to management or increase your impact in your current role.

Transfer Friendly

TRANSFER-FRIENDLY

You can transfer credits from coursework you’ve already completed and fast-track your path to a BS—with just 42 core credits required for our online security studies degree.

Beyond Academics

BEYOND ACADEMICS

Our focus on individualized attention, student support, and careermservices ensures that you leave not only with academic proficiency but also the tools for advancement.

Top Ranked

TOP RANKED

ECU was ranked in the top 10 of America’s Top Online Colleges 2023 by Newsweek, meaning that you’ll graduate with a degree respected by employers nationwide.

Community Connection

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

ECU is more than a university—it’s a community. Even as an online student, you’ll benefit from a powerful network of peers and faculty who truly care about your success.

The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!

Student-Centric Online Learning Experience

We understand that on-campus learning doesn’t work for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice a robust student experience. That’s why our programs are immersive, accessible, and tailored for those with determination.

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Admissions

Online undergraduate students are required to have a minimum of 24 hours of transferable credits for admission. Students are evaluated under the transfer applicant criteria below:

  • A minimum of 24 hours of transferable college-level coursework (complete or in progress).
    • Only courses with a grade of “C” or higher from regionally accredited institutions are eligible to transfer and can be used to gain admission.
    • Students under the age of 21 will also be expected to meet NC High School Minimum Course Requirements and are required to submit a final high school transcript.
  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework attempted.

Undergraduate Students Application Materials

  • A completed online application .
  • All official transcripts from each college, technical institute, or university attended, if applicable. Send transcripts to:

    Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    Mail Stop 517
    East Carolina University
    Greenville, NC 27858-435

    We also accept electronic transcripts from most transcript services. Please request to have them sent directly to transfer@ecu.edu .

Residency Determination

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) has been established by the North Carolina State Legislature as the centralized service for determining residency for students. If you are a student applying for admission and claiming in-state residency for tuition purposes, you must visit NCresidency.org NCresidency.org to verify your residency.

If you’ve already completed the residency verification process and obtained your Residency Certification Number (RCN), you can enter your RCN when filling out our application. If you do not already have your RCN, you may submit your application and then come back and enter your RCN once you have it.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Residency page , or contact RDS at 1-844-319-3640 or rdsinfo@ncresidency.org .

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits are generally required to complete an online bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University?

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at ECU.

Can I transfer credits from other institutions to an online program at East Carolina University?

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply.

Are online programs at East Carolina University accredited?

Yes. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation .

What financial aid resources are available for students enrolled in online programs at East Carolina University?

ECU online program tuition for in-state students starts at just $386 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition starts at $463 per credit hour plus fees. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

About ECU Online

ECU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and was the first university in North Carolina to offer online degrees. We’ve continued to enhance the online experience ever since. As an established institution in North Carolina, we pride ourselves on offering a student-first, community-centric experience that empowers graduates to complete their online degrees from a reputable institution that employers recognize.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from Payscale. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. ECU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions