About the Program
The Master of Science in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases (BHTA) is a one-year program designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the concepts of biological risk, disease threat, and mitigation strategies. The curriculum covers classic biological threats agents, global health security, emerging diseases, technologies, CBRN risk mitigation, and CBRN security.
Graduates of our program are employed in both public health and security-focused positions across government and private sector organizations. The program aims to broaden the student’s knowledge about prevention, detection and response to chemical, biological and radiological threat agents as well as emerging infectious diseases. Global communication and transportation systems have evolved to a point where diseases and communicable afflictions can now rarely be isolated within their initial or natural epicenter. The first responders to this emergency are the educational institutions capable of producing graduates with knowledge of the science behind such threats and the methods of their detection and prevention.
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Program Contact: Contact the BHTA program
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Degrees Offered
- M.S.
- Certificate
Accelerated program (Georgetown students only)
- B.S./M.S.
Admissions Requirements
For general graduate admissions requirements, visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page. Review the program’s website for additional information on program application requirements.
Application Materials required:
- Application Form
- Non-refundable Application Fee
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page for additional details and FAQs.
- WES Evaluation (if applicable)
- Resume/CV
- GRE (optional, but strongly recommended)
- TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable)
- TOEFL = 80 minimum
- IELTS = 7.0 minimum
Application Deadlines
M.S. Program
- Fall: July 1
Certificate Program
- Fall: July 1
Degree Requirements
M.S. Requirements
- 30 credit hours
- For more information, please view the department’s website
Certificate Requirements
The graduate certificate is composed of four core online courses, which add up to a total of 12 graduate credit hours. All courses are required, and there are no electives. These courses have been carefully adapted for the online environment after being taught for several years on campus as part of the standard curriculum in our M.S. degree program in Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Completion of the certificate program requires successful completion of all required courses with a GPA of at least 3.00.