Online Master of Science in Health Security
Prepare With Vision. Respond With Empathy. Lead With Clarity.
Turn Challenges Into Change, Starting at Tulane
Our communities depend on public health leaders focused on crisis and emergency response — not just in the face of natural disaster, but also pandemics, infectious diseases, and broader threats to population health.
The online MS in Health Security equips students with the practical tools and critical insight to protect population health in times of uncertainty. Whether responding to a disease outbreak, planning for extreme weather-driven health disruptions, or coordinating across agencies during a national emergency, students will gain the interdisciplinary training needed to lead.
Tulane graduates are on the front line of public health emergency management. Will you join us?
Located in New Orleans, a city known for its preparedness and disaster recovery, the MS in Health Security program offers unparalleled real-world expertise.
You'll engage with a cohort of peers from a variety of professional backgrounds, enhancing your educational experience and expanding your professional network.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn from and work alongside faculty members in hands-on projects in the field, where you'll apply classroom knowledge to real-world crisis scenarios.
What Will You Learn?
The online MS in Health Security allows you to develop expertise in critical areas, including crisis communication, environmental monitoring, and the psychosocial effects of disasters.
One of the first degrees with a focus on disasters and population health to be accredited, the MS in Health Security remains one of the few with this focus across the U.S.
The program prepares you to:
- Apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate local and global threats to public health associated with natural and human-made disasters
- Integrate public health strategies in each core component of disaster management: prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery
- Implement population-based interventions to protect communities, particularly vulnerable populations
- Evaluate the capacity of public health systems to effectively respond to natural and intentional disasters
- Apply international, federal, and state regulatory policies, guidelines, and authorities to address public health needs during disasters
What Can You Do With an MS in Health Security?
Tulane’s holistic curriculum will prepare you for various emergency and crisis management roles. When you graduate from the online MS in Health Security program, you'll be a competitive candidate for jobs such as:
Hospital Emergency Manager
Average Annual Salary: $98,658*
Emergency Management Director
Median Annual Salary: $83,960**
Environmental Scientist and Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $78,980**
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Average Annual Salary: $51,707***
*Salary data according to ZipRecruiter
**Salary data according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
***Salary data according to Payscale
Explore the online MS in Health Security curriculum
The online MS in Health Security is a 45-credit degree program that gives you the skills to prepare for, respond to, and manage the public health aspects of natural and human-made disasters both locally and globally.
Foundational Course Requirements:
- Foundations in Public Health
- Biostatistics for Public Health
- Epidemiology for Public Health
Program Course Requirements:
- Fundamentals of Environmental Health Sciences
- Exposure Assessment
- Health Security Threats
- Psychosocial Aspects of Disaster
- Disaster & Emergency Communication
- Outbreak and Disaster Response Readiness
- Project Management for Public Health
- One Health Approaches to Disease
Students gain practical experience in the field through an applied thesis project that requires investigating and developing evidence-based solutions for a real-life health security challenge.
Meet Your Environmental Health Sciences Faculty
You will learn from an interdisciplinary faculty body in a research-focused department. Meet the Environmental Health Sciences faculty.
Academic Excellence in Public Health
The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has been accredited since 1947, and all current programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Funding Your Degree
U.S. citizens and permanent residents should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for federal financial aid and work-study. The Celia Scott Weatherhead School’s school code is 002029. Tulane Financial Aid can provide additional assistance.
Merit-Based Scholarships
All master’s program applicants who have submitted and completed their applications by the priority deadline are automatically considered for scholarships without any additional application. You must apply by the priority deadline to be considered for scholarships upon admission. Students who are eligible for any of the scholarships below will be considered for them at any time, not just for priority deadlines. Priority applicants who qualify for any of the scholarships below will receive the higher-value scholarship package. Scholarships are available, with nearly half of all new students receiving some kind of merit-based award. Scholarship amounts may vary. Tulane employees using the tuition benefit are not eligible for scholarships. Scholarships awarded are intended to cover university tuition and fees.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Weatherhead School is deeply passionate about the mission of the Peace Corps and is dedicated to supporting volunteers throughout their academic careers. We offer incoming returned Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) a scholarship equal to 35 percent of tuition.
Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship
Managed by the Celia Scott Weatherhead School Office of Global Scholars, the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship is awarded to three RPCVs each year. The application for the Coverdell scholarship will be displayed to eligible students within the admitted student portal.
McNair Scholars
Tulane WSPH offers a scholarship in the amount of 50% of tuition to McNair scholars enrolled full-time in master’s programs.
Please note that if you belong to more than one of these groups, you will receive the higher-value scholarship.
Miscellaneous
The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is also a useful resource for options on financing your degree.
Graduate-level students (pursuing master’s/PhD) seeking aid to supplement any assistance being offered by the Weatherhead School and/or the various departments may work with Tulane Financial Aid.
Admissions
General admissions requirements for all programs* include the following:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning
- Academic achievement — typically a GPA above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
*Program-specific admission requirements may vary. Please review the requirements for your program of interest.
Applications that are submitted and complete by the final deadline will be considered for funding opportunities (no additional application required).
How to apply
Prospective Online MPH students will apply through the WSPH Application Starter.
The nonrefundable application fee for the Online MPH is $75. Applicants may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Contact your enrollment advisor for more information..
Materials required:
- Official transcripts sent directly from all US/Canadian institutions attended (can be mailed or electronic). Any transcript you upload yourself is NOT considered official.
- A personal statement that clearly and directly addresses the following:
- Why are you applying to the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University, and the MS program in particular?
- How will earning the MS help you achieve your professional goals?
- What have you learned from successes and/or challenges in your past educational, professional, and/or personal experiences? Please use specific examples, as applicable.
- Resume/CV
- Minimum of 2 letters of recommendation
All application materials must be received for your application to be reviewed. Please note that we are only able to accept bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited universities and colleges.
Applications that are submitted and completed by the priority deadline will be considered for funding opportunities (no additional application required).
Earned your degree abroad?
International students (or students who have earned their degree outside the US or Canada) must submit a course-by-course evaluation of international coursework. Evaluations can take a month to complete from the time the agency receives your international transcript(s), so we recommend getting an early start on this process in order to ensure the evaluation is received by the deadline for which you are applying. We can accept WES, ECE, and TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluations. Please have this evaluation sent directly to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu. If you use TEC (formerly known as SpanTran), please be sure to use the custom application they've created, which you can access by clicking here.
International students may also be required to submit proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo). Please refer to the international student section in the FAQ to determine whether you are required to submit scores.
About the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
With century-old roots in the heart of New Orleans, the Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is dedicated to our mission to support the Gulf South while understanding national health issues and addressing pressing global health concerns. At the Weatherhead School, public health is not just a field of study, but of action, where learners gain the real-world skills and competencies to strengthen their communities.
Are you ready to transform community well-being? Take the next steps with Tulane’s online MS in Health Security.
Please visit our Department of Environmental Health Science if you're looking for on-campus programs.