Courses
HSEM 1105 Introduction to Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 3 semester hours.
This course provides an introduction to homeland security and emergency management including theories, principles, and approaches. Students study the foundations of homeland security and gain knowledge and skills for managing emergencies in order to lessen their impacts on society. Students explore the definition of homeland security, the stakeholders and current issues, consequence management and crisis decision-making, and explore emerging threats under the national security umbrella. Students discuss the philosophy of comprehensive emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 1125 Leadership and Influence: 3 semester hours.
Students will determine how to assess differences in personal values and interpersonal influence styles, and to apply situational behaviors in homeland security and emergency management. Students explore contemporary models of leadership, develop a personal philosophy of leadership, and test their philosophy against practical experiences. The course provides a forum where students identify and consider their own character, personal values, and workplace ethics. Topics include leadership and influence, character traits and values, conflict management, use of power, ethical leadership, and group dynamics. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 1130 Roots of Terrorism: 3 semester hours.
This course studies a combination of factors that support terrorism, including former terrorist groups and terror leaders who evolve into legitimate political parties. It addresses the social aspects of terrorism, and how terrorism can influence the political spectrum and domestic policy. Exploring the social and political roots of terrorism, students will learn the relationship between war and terrorism, the use of terror as a communication tool, and will examine the outcomes of terrorism. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 1160 Emergency Resource Management: 3 semester hours.
Students will explore resource management as part of the Emergency Support Functions to include nontraditional stakeholders with specialized expertise, within the overall framework of an Emergency Operations Center. Performance is based on learning activities applicable to the field of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 2210 Homeland Security Emergency Management Exercise Design: 3 semester hours.
Develop and conduct emergency and disaster exercises to test a community's Emergency Operations Plan and capabilities for responding to, and recovering from natural and human-caused (i.e., terrorism), disasters, and technological and cybersecurity incidents, as well as hazardous materials incidents. Emphasis on exercise design, development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning as part of a comprehensive exercise program. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 2260 Emergency Preparedness and Planning: 3 semester hours.
This course explores the roles, duties, and responsibilities of emergency managers at the local, state, federal, and private levels with an emphasis on the preparedness phase of emergency management. Students will explore key components of emergency response plans. The course provides hands-on experience in plan development. Students will study preparedness from the macro to the micro level exploring issues across the community and layers of government. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 2264 Building Resilient Communities and Mitigation: 3 semester hours.
Students investigate ways to reduce losses from future disasters, emergencies, other events caused by natural and man made hazards. This course explores the principles and practices of hazard mitigation to avoid and prevent future and recurring losses. Resilient communities are those that have taken appropriate actions to minimize the impact of a catastrophic occurrence. Historical examples show that life is never the same after a disaster, but communities that survive and thrive are those that have resiliency. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 2270 Disaster Operations & Response: 3 semester hours.
Students will examine the terminology, players, and management philosophy of the federal Incident Management System (ICS) and its interrelationship with Emergency Operations Centers. This course explores the principles that promote effective disaster response operations and management. Students will conduct a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), analyze the nature of disasters and hazardous materials in the context of response operations and the roles and responsibilities of various homeland security and emergency management actors. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 2296 Independent Study: 1-8 semester hours.
Addresses specific learning needs of individuals for the enhancement of knowledge and skills within the program area under the guidance of an instructor. D
HSEM 2298 Special Topics: 1-6 semester hours.
Addresses the specific needs of industry, enabling students to upgrade technical skills that are not included in the current program curriculum. D
HSEM 3301 Homeland Security and Emergency Management Overview: 3 semester hours.
This course provides an overview to homeland security and emergency management. Students study the foundations of homeland security and this course provides insights to anyone with an interest in public safety and disaster management. Students explore the definition of homeland security, the stakeholders and current issues, consequence management and crisis decision-making, and explore emerging threats under the national security umbrella. Students will examine policy directives, terrorism threats, crisis decision-making, critical infrastructure, cyber security, and forecasting to develop future capabilities by applying academic scrutiny to this emerging discipline. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3310 Integrated Systems and Interface: 3 semester hours.
Students will explore the interconnectivity and interdependence of local, state and federal homeland security and emergency management programs. Students will gain an understanding of how organizational theory applies to emergency management, the broader homeland security mission, and cooperation between various local, state and federal agencies as well as with the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3315 Risk Analysis and Asset Protection: 3 semester hours.
Risk assessment is a key element of asset protection and maintaining essential services for the American public. This course gives students the opportunity to study and analyze risk. Students use different methodologies and conduct risk assessments. Students learn how to process data and leverage the findings to mitigate, prepare and respond to disasters. Once a risk picture exists, security leaders can decide what to protect and analyze the impact of loss of a particular critical infrastructure asset or system. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3320 Emerging Technology in Homeland Security Emergency Management: 3 semester hours.
Government agencies in today?s fast-paced Information Age are more dependent than ever on technology to ensure a common operating picture and effective information sharing among partners. This course provides students a broad overview of homeland security technologies, information systems, surveillance technology, communications systems, and emerging and disruptive technologies. Students will examine the maturity of technologies along the adoption spectrum and develop and apply requirements for influencing future capabilities. This course focuses on technology as a tool to support homeland security and emergency management personnel regardless of functional specialty. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3330 The Psychology and Social Psychology of Terrorism: 3 semester hours.
The phenomenon of terrorism can be traced back to the first century A.D., but the study of terrorism didn?t begin until the 1970s. This course examines the definition of and different categories of contemporary terrorism. Students explore the psychological and sociological dynamics that underlie radicalization of individuals and groups. Students study foundational theories of social construction of reality, social identity theory, social network analysis, heuristics and biases of terrorist individuals and groups. Students use literature related to the complex phenomenon of contemporary terrorism, including Lone Wolf, Suicide Terrorism, and the rise of domestic terrorism. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3335 Cyber Security: 3 semester hours.
Students will study security in the virtual world and learn about the threat, as well as policy issues that thrust cyber activity into the criminal realm, the realm of international conflict, and the rules of war. Students will conduct a threat analysis of different threats, theft of intellectual property, interdependencies and the consequences of attacks, and infrastructure disruption. Students will develop an understanding of the importance and impact of securing cyberspace at the personal, corporate, and governmental levels. Upon developing a sufficient understanding, students will engage decision-making and reporting strategies in the case of a cyber breach. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3365 International Disasters and Humanitarian Aid: 3 semester hours.
Students will explore the issues pertinent to international disasters and the complexities of coordinating the unmet needs and immense anxiety of disaster survivors, including the susceptibility of under-developed countries. Students will study the structure and goals of volunteer organizations providing humanitarian aid and spontaneous digital technology communities, active across the world. This course also examines the actors and interface between natural borders and international humanitarian aid efforts and federal coordinating agencies. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 3398 Special Topics: 1-6 semester hours.
Addresses the specific needs of industry, enabling students to upgrade technical skills that are not included in the current program curriculum. D
HSEM 3399 Experimental Course: 1-6 semester hours.
The content of this course is not described in the catalog. Title and number of credits are announced in the class schedule. D
HSEM 4405 Risk and Crisis Communications: 3 semester hours.
Students will determine the value and purpose of crisis communications and partnership engagement with the whole community. At a time when threats and crises are evolving, and the public receives and produces information via social media platforms, the strategies and tactics to communicate with the public also need to evolve. This course explores the functions of alerts and warnings, stakeholder partnerships, and engagement via new technologies and social media. Students will learn about message mapping, write news releases, write a crisis communication plan, develop speaking points for public officials, and deliver critical public safety instructions at a mock press conference. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4410 Policies, Civil Rights and Leadership: 3 semester hours.
Students will examine the American political system, civil rights issues, and ideologies that influence morals, government roles and policies to keep order. The public fosters an array of opinions and attitudes about homeland security, laws designed to protect lives, government policies and statutes, and conflicts impacting civil rights and liberties. Students will analyze and engage in discourse to explore the overlap and dichotomies between leadership and policy decisions and civilian values and morals. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4415 Strategic Planning & Budgeting: 3 semester hours.
Students analyze, develop, and critique the strategic plans of local, state, and federal agencies, and private sector organizations involved in homeland security. National security and emergency management efforts flow from strategic plans that drive and guide federal grant allocations to states and local jurisdictions. Students will develop and evaluate strategic plans, go through budget reduction exercises, develop project management plans, and write a grant investment justification. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4425 Critical Infrastructure and Business Continuity: 3 semester hours.
Students examine the roles and responsibilities of nontraditional participants in the homeland security and emergency management enterprise. Critical infrastructure and businesses provide essential services supporting the health and welfare of the public on a daily basis and are required by emergency responders to prepare, respond to, and recover from disasters. Students will examine lifeline sectors, Emergency Support Functions, core capabilities, and develop a business impact analysis for a critical infrastructure business. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4450 Threat of Radicalism: 3 semester hours.
This course explores how segments of a society become radicalized and the role of religion and politics in shaping worldwide threats and conflicts present in the world today. Students will explore the misuse and radicalization of religion for the support of political agendas. This course examines the ideologies of Sunni and Shia perspectives and includes a deeper view of how mainstream beliefs play into the international landscape. Students will analyze how extreme viewpoints and centralized or decentralized groups do or do not shape the homeland security environment. Minimum grade of C required. PRE-OR-COREQ: HSEM 1130 or HSEM 4454. D
HSEM 4454 Intelligence and Terrorism: 3 semester hours.
This course examines emerging terrorist threats to the U.S. and strategies to disrupt terrorist plots. Students will explore the life cycle of terrorist organizations and the role of counterintelligence. Students will study how intelligence is used to disrupt terror plots and optimize the homeland security effort. Quality Intelligence provides the homeland security and emergency management leader on any level with a timely analysis of relevant information. Students will apply the intelligence tradecraft, use the analytic and research skills, and examine the legal and ethical conduct required in gathering intelligence. Minimum grade of C required. Prereq: HSEM 1130 or Inst Permission. D
HSEM 4464 Disaster Response and Recovery: 3 semester hours.
This course explores the drivers to continually expand and improve our response and recovery capabilities. Students examine the effectiveness of disaster response and the efficacy of how emergencies are managed through an examination of case studies and the application of social science research. This course examines strategies to improve surge capacity, recovery efforts, and sustainability in a challenging budget environment. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4490 Internship: 1-3 semester hours.
This course enables Homeland Security and Emergency Management students to explore different career paths while they are engaged in this field of study. Students who locate an organization offering an internship related to homeland security and emergency management, will apply their acquired knowledge to real world organizations? goals, objectives and missions. Students will refine their skill sets and build their portfolios with examples of their work, helping to prepare them during future job search activities. Students must secure their own internships with an organization and upon receiving approval from the HSEM director, they will be assigned a faculty advisor for support. PRE-OR-COREQ: HSEM 1105 or HSEM 3301. PREREQ: Permission of the instructor. D
HSEM 4491 Internship: 1-3 semester hours.
This course enables Homeland Security and Emergency Management students to explore different career paths while they are engaged in this field of study. Students who locate an organization offering an internship related to homeland security and emergency management, will apply their acquired knowledge to real world organizations? goals, objectives and missions. Students will refine their skill sets and build their portfolios with examples of their work, helping to prepare them during future job search activities. Students must secure their own internships with an organization and upon receiving approval from the HSEM director, they will be assigned a faculty advisor for support. PRE-OR-COREQ: HSEM 1105 or HSEM 3301. PREREQ: Permission of the instructor. D
HSEM 4494 Practicum: 6 semester hours.
The practicum is the culmination of the learning process where theory is put into practice. Students identify an organization and an organizational representative to serve as a sponsor that has a problem that needs to be solved. Students use analysis, project management, and strategic planning skills to develop and present a robust proposal on how to solve problems and support the organization by identifying and recommending a specific course of action. Proposals might recommend the creation of a hazard identification and vulnerability assessment, or developing a policy, procedure, or plan. Proposals are based on the student?s problem definition and analysis, developing criteria and making recommendations to the sponsor organization. Students work with a faculty advisor and their project sponsor throughout the 16-week term to provide analyzed research results that meet the needs of the partner organization. PRE-OR-COREQ: HSEM 4415 Strategic Planning and Budgeting. D
HSEM 4496 Independent Study: 1-8 semester hours.
Addresses specific learning needs of individuals for the enhancement of knowledge and skills within the program area under the guidance of an instructor. D
HSEM 4498 Special Topics: 1-3 semester hours.
Addresses the special needs of industry, enabling students to upgrade technical skills that are not included in the current program curriculum. D
HSEM 4499 Experimental Course: 1-6 semester hours.
The content of this course is not described in the catalog. Title and number of credits are announced in the Class Schedule.
HSEM 4540 Health and Medical Disaster Management: 3 semester hours.
Course description: Students explore and evaluate public health emergency systems and capabilities related to crises such as pandemics, chemical and bioterrorism threats, contamination, and mass casualty incidents. Delves into managing the impacts of all hazard incidents for vulnerable populations and those with access and functional needs during response and recovery efforts. Develops analytic skills and strategies to improve public health policies, preparedness, and response systems. Minimum grade of C required. D
HSEM 4570 Successful HSEM Leadership: 3 semester hours.
Focuses on the qualities of leadership necessary to direct efforts in the critical arenas of homeland security and emergency management. Incorporates intensive case-studies and scenarios to analyze policies, legal structures, ethical dilemmas facing the homeland security and emergency management professional in a stressful and dynamic work environment. Examines the expectations and efficacy of leadership models, while students leverage their own skills and experience to support the complex adaptive systems needed to address the homeland security challenges beyond the horizon. Minimum grade of C required. Prerequisites: HSEM Majors, Instructor Approval. D
