Online Homeland Security Degrees

The term 'homeland security' is a reference to the national effort by governments to protect territory from man-made and natural hazards, both internal and external. The term is used in the USA to refer to the United States Department of Homeland Security itself.

Homeland security is officially defined by the US National Strategy for Homeland Security as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur".

The term became prominent in the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks; it had been used only in limited policy circles prior to these attacks.

Outside of the US, many nations have reorganized government structures in consistance with homeland security. In 2003 Canada created a Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Many European nations' efforts in homeland security are increasingly coordinating their activities at the European Commission.