In a world increasingly shaped by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and pandemic threats, extreme weather events such as flash flooding and rapidly intensifying hurricanes, and geopolitical instability, the need for a prepared public health workforce has never been more urgent.
The new, innovative MS in Health Security from the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University stands at the intersection of science, leadership, and crisis response—equipping students with the practical tools and critical insight to protect population health in times of uncertainty.
Built on Tulane’s longstanding legacy of public health leadership and deep ties to the Gulf South’s complex disaster landscape, this forward-looking program prepares graduates to strengthen preparedness systems, respond to biological threats, manage emergency communications, and shape policy in high-stakes environments. 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.
Offered both online and in-person, the MS in Health Security provides students with immersive case studies, substantial faculty expertise in the health security field, and strong partnerships with agencies like the CDC, large hospital systems, and others in the health security enterprise.
Tulane’s MS in Health Security is more than a degree—it’s a call to the front lines of public health. Join a new generation of professionals ready to safeguard communities, build systems that endure, and lead through the crises that define our time.
Want to learn more about health security?
Applicants must meet the school's admission and application requirements for entrance into master's programs at the WSPH.
Please visit the university course catalog for:
What is health security?
Health security is the practice of protecting people and communities from health threats that can disrupt lives, economies, and critical systems. It includes preparing for, responding to, and recovering from infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, extreme weather, bioterrorism, cyberattacks on health systems, and other emergencies that affect public health.
Unlike traditional emergency response, health security also emphasizes prevention, resilience, risk assessment, policy, and coordination across healthcare, government, emergency management, and the private sector. As global travel, climate-related hazards, and emerging diseases increase, health security professionals help ensure communities can anticipate threats, minimize their impacts, and recover more quickly. They work to strengthen healthcare systems, improve emergency preparedness, develop response plans, and protect vulnerable populations. In short, health security is about safeguarding the health and well-being of populations before, during, and after crises.
Is health security the same as disaster management?
Disaster management is an important part of health security, but health security is a broader field. Disaster management focuses on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies such as hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, and other disasters. Health security includes those responsibilities while also addressing ongoing and emerging threats such as infectious disease outbreaks, food and water safety, cybersecurity in healthcare, biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, and the resilience of healthcare systems. It also emphasizes prevention, public health policy, surveillance, and collaboration among healthcare organizations, government agencies, and community partners.
In other words, disaster management asks, "How do we respond effectively when disaster strikes?" Health security asks that question as well, but also, "How do we prevent health threats, strengthen systems, and keep communities safe before crises occur?" Disaster management is one critical component within the larger discipline of health security.
What jobs are available in health security?
Health security graduates work in a wide range of organizations that protect communities from health threats and strengthen emergency preparedness. Career opportunities exist in federal, state, and local public health agencies; hospitals and healthcare systems; emergency management organizations; nonprofit organizations; international agencies; consulting firms; and private industry.
Common roles include emergency preparedness coordinator, public health emergency planner, health security analyst, emergency management specialist, disaster response coordinator, healthcare resilience manager, continuity of operations planner, risk assessment specialist, and public health policy advisor.
Graduates may also work in global health security, humanitarian response, biodefense, or business continuity planning. The field continues to grow as governments and organizations invest in preparing for pandemics, climate-related emergencies, cyber threats, and other complex health risks. Health security professionals combine expertise in public health, emergency management, leadership, and policy to help organizations anticipate challenges, respond effectively during crises, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Why did Tulane change the degree name?
Tulane changed the degree name from an MPH in Disaster Management to an MS in Health Security to better reflect the breadth of the curriculum and the evolving needs of today's workforce. While disaster management remains a core component of the program, graduates are prepared to address a much wider range of public health threats. The new name more accurately represents the interdisciplinary skills students develop and aligns with the language increasingly used by employers, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and international institutions. It also reflects how the field has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic, with greater emphasis on preventing health threats, strengthening systems, and protecting communities before, during, and after emergencies. The curriculum remains grounded in preparedness while expanding to meet the challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.
Tulane does still offer a 15-credit Certificate in Disaster Management.
Department Chair: Melissa Gonzales, PhD
Program Director: Stephen Murphy, PhD
Department Administrator: Mykiel Chambers
Email: enhs@tulane.edu
Phone: 504.988.3786 or 800.862.2122
Health Security Explained: Beyond Disaster Management
Career opportunities in health security and disaster management
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