Academic Catalog

Homeland Security (HLSC)

HLSC 170  Introduction to Homeland Security  3 cr.  

This course surveys the many challenges of maintaining the safety and security of citizens, key assets, and critical infrastructure in a democratic society. Past and present efforts to strike a balance between individual liberty and national security is examined, including historical case studies, current events, and legal analysis. The entire homeland security apparatus is dissected by agency mission, function, capability, and interaction with related agencies both domestically and internationally.

HLSC 171  Fundamentals of Emergency Management  3 cr.  

This course introduces issues pertaining to domestic preparedness and the management of an all-hazards approach to emergency operations. A primary focus of the course is to explain the importance of incident preparation and consequence management. The four aspects of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery) will be emphasized. Other topics include hazard identification, evolution of disaster response, and agency interoperability.

HLSC 172  Domestic and International Terrorism  3 cr.  

This course introduces students of various disciplines to the field of terrorism from both a domestic and an international perspective. The related field of homeland security is also examined in the context of national security. It provides a pragmatic background of the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities. This is both a theoretical and practical introduction for people who aspire to or are already working in fields confronted by the threat of terrorism. Major areas of focus include historical origins of terrorism, influences that lead to extremist views and radicalization, financing, the media, constitutional issues, and conflicting ideologies.

HLSC 173  Introduction to Security  3 cr.  

Exploring the realm of security management is undertaken from a historical and legal perspective within the framework of structural, electronic, informational, and human protection systems. Major areas of focus throughout the course include risk assessment, planning, program implementation and administration, intelligence gathering, investigations, and industrial and institutional security. The qualities and competencies of effective security leadership are also analyzed with particular emphasis on the importance of ethical behavior and professional conduct.

HLSC 174  Introduction to the Intelligence Function  3 cr.  

This course introduces students to America's intelligence community that is charged with collecting, analyzing and interpreting raw information that is eventually disseminated in the form of intelligence products. It also explores the implications of accessing, retaining, and acting upon such intelligence in a democratic society. Throughout the course, specific emphasis will be on preserving the civil liberties of the citizenry while defending against threats to national security.

HLSC 201  Organizational Integration and Management  3 cr.  

This course studies the inter-organizational contexts that are necessary to render efficient and effective government services and to provide safety and security to citizens on a day-to-day basis and during a crisis. Students will study critical relationships among various governmental agencies, NGO's, and private sector agencies. This course will provide students with the essentials of organizational theory, intergovernmental relations and the implementation of homeland security related policy and strategies.

HLSC 210  Risk Management and Analysis  3 cr.  

This course will introduce students to the nature of risk management and analysis. Students will explore the related fields of security and risk from both personal and operational viewpoints. Associated concepts and methods will be applied in the context of real world events. Particular emphasis will include analyzing the sources of risk, methods of calculating risk, factors influencing assessments of risk, and decisions involving the controlling of risk.

Prerequisite(s): HLSC 173