HLS-5000 Terrorism and Homeland Security in the U.S.
This course examines the phenomenon of terrorism as it relates to the United States as well as to American interests in other countries, primarily in the time period from the Cold War to the present. The attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, and the subsequent adoption of a formal U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be examined in the context of the global terrorist threat and the more general concept of homeland security. Emphasis is on the identification and understanding of appropriate definitions and concepts so that students may critically evaluate the threats present and the range of responses available in our democratic society. Appropriate historical foundations, as well as essential components of a mechanism for homeland security, will be presented. Other key topics include the relationship between homeland security and preparation; terrorism response and recovery mechanisms; and goals, objectives, and strategies. The importance of coordinating various plans and strategies among local, state, and federal government response organizations will be stressed.
Credits: 3
Delivery Methods: Online
Please contact the schools for availability.
Preview the Online Syllabus 
(Please visit the University bookstore to view the correct materials for each course by semester as the contents of the actual online syllabus may differ from the preview due to updates or revisions)
HLS-5100 Protecting the Homeland: Balancing Security and Liberty
This course will examine the development of various situations that have evolved since the day of the terrorists' attacks, on New York City and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. Since that day, the events which transpired have been seen to have made many Americans feel more vulnerable than ever before. After the events of that day, the United States Congress quickly enacted the USA PATRIOT Act, which permitted a number of extraordinary and unprecedented changes to civil liberties without judicial oversight. This course will examine the USA PATRIOT Act, along with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which were initiated by the events of 9/11. This course will allow students the opportunity to examine and understand why the government and the public began to question and scrutinize the country's intelligence mechanisms, and national security structure and procedures. During this course there will an opportunity to examine the creation, development, and organizational structure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As part of the examination of DHS, there will be opportunities to also examine entities such as the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), which was established after 9/11. This course will also examine other developments including the detention and torture of "enemy combatants" in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and consider whether the nation's security needs justify the consequent restrictions on our freedoms.
Credits: 3
Delivery Methods: Online
Please contact the schools for availability.
Preview the Online Syllabus
(Please visit the University bookstore to view the correct materials for each course by semester as the contents of the actual online syllabus may differ from the preview due to updates or revisions)
HLS-6200 Homeland Security Preparedness: Prevention and Deterrence
This course focuses on how strategic planning, incident management, and intelligence techniques are brought together to provide the necessary foundation for anti-terrorism preparedness. The assignments in this course are designed to give students engagement in these areas. Students will learn how potential acts of terrorism are deterred and prevented through vigilance, observation, and the reporting of suspicious indicators of terrorist acts. Emphasis is placed on the level of planning and management involved in preparedness, prevention, and deterrence, and to the implementation of specific techniques and strategies. The topics that will be covered in this course will include the protection of infrastructures, various aspects of the National Incident Management System, and various aspects of data collection and analysis techniques. In addition the course will address threat and vulnerability assessments, information sharing, resource planning, intelligence failures, and terrorism prevention and deterrence.
Credits: 3
Delivery Methods: Online
Please contact the schools for availability.
Preview the Online Syllabus
(Please visit the University bookstore to view the correct materials for each course by semester as the contents of the actual online syllabus may differ from the preview due to updates or revisions)
HLS-6300 Protecting the Homeland: Response and Recovery
This course focuses on the many response and recovery efforts possible for the various actors in homeland security, both in the public and private sectors. The concept of planning is addressed with a focus on implementation, testing, and evaluation. Students will discuss how best to lead, communicate, and coordinate in response and recovery efforts across jurisdictions and agencies. Technology and information gathering, as tools for planning and responding, are explored. Both government and law enforcement efforts and business continuity planning (BCP) are studied.
Credits: 3
Delivery Methods: Online
Please contact the schools for availability.
Preview the Online Syllabus
(Please visit the University bookstore to view the correct materials for each course by semester as the contents of the actual online syllabus may differ from the preview due to updates or revisions)