Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Program Description
AS and BS Degrees: Homeland Security and Emergency Management degree programs integrate security studies and emergency management principles necessary to effectively prevent, plan for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from all hazards. Deterrence of intentional acts of terror and mitigation of the impacts of other hazards that threaten the United States by building strong capabilities and enhancing the capacity needed to cope with these hazards is key to the enterprise. The multidisciplinary security and emergency management-based programs are designed to meet the needs of current and future professionals providing administrative oversight, systems and structures, operational and risk management, protective measures, and leadership during disasters.
Accelerated BS to MS: Students may apply for an accelerated BS to MS program, in which up to two approved graduate courses can be applied to part of their undergraduate curriculum. These credits will count towards both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Minor: Earning a minor in Homeland Security and Emergency Management is an excellent way to prepare for unexpected events and crises that can result in community chaos and disrupt school operations, businesses, hospitals, and countless other impacts involving life safety risks and economic losses. The multidisciplinary nature of various professionals who come together to respond and recover from crises creates a need for baseline knowledge about the risks we face and how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and build a more resilient community.
Student Learning Outcomes
Our goal is to educate and develop homeland security and emergency management professionals positioned to build resilient communities to current and future threats in an all-hazards environment. The following program educational objectives have been established for students in this program:
- Students will demonstrate project management skills and practice the interdisciplinary nature of careers in homeland security and emergency management.
- Students will demonstrate specific knowledge, skills and abilities and apply critical thinking skills to process and analyze all-hazard threats.
- Students will model national core competencies and principles applied within the homeland security and emergency management enterprise.
- Students will evaluate different approaches and methodologies to design, implement and assess plans, policies, and procedures using current and emerging technology.
- Students will collect and analyze relevant, critical information and disseminate timely intelligence required by decision-makers to protect the public against all hazards.
- Students will identify and engage with community stakeholders to capitalize on the synergy created by partnerships and collaboration.
- Students will operate as service-oriented, ethical professional leaders across the wide homeland security and emergency management landscape.
Career Development and Professional Growth Objective
Within two to three years of graduation, the majority of our graduates in homeland security and emergency management will be working in governmental agencies, non-profit agencies, or private industry and in many cases will be engaged in advanced degrees. After five to ten years, many of our graduates will have established themselves as leaders within their fields and communities. Examples of some careers under the HSEM umbrella include: Pandemic Preparedness Specialist, Intelligence Analyst, 911 Operator/Manager, Cyber Security Specialist, Emergency Manager, Debris Management Planner, Critical Infrastructure Security Manager, Public Information Officer, Security Program/Project Manager, Damage Assessment Specialist, and Volunteer and Donation Manager.
Advising Information
This program requires students to achieve certain grades in order to advance each semester. Specific information is available in the major academic plans (MAPs). All homeland security and emergency management courses are delivered in an online format.
Course sequencing should be arranged to meet individual needs. In addition to other degree requirements, 36 credits of general education are required for this program. As such, students are strongly encouraged to make an advising appointment with Krystal Lyman at 208-373-1760 or scotkrys@isu.edu for more information.