In the homeland security area, there is considerable discussion about concepts such as all-hazards approach, emergency and disaster management, risk prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management and consequence mitigation, and others. Educators are still grappling with what makes up the various applied and research fields of study, and what are the academic disciplines inherent in this emerging field. While terms and practices emerge some clarity is slowly becoming evident. For some of the areas within the homeland security arena, however, concepts are not so distinct that they can be studied independent of one another. For example, there is a spirited debate as to whether or not counter-terrorism is intrinsically the dominant theme of an all-hazards approach to risk management. The Department of Homeland Security has adopted an all-hazards approach to incident planning and response, but there is considerable focus on preventing terrorist activity and preparing to respond to terrorist threats. Clear and definitive guidelines have not yet evolved in this emerging field and it is clear the subject is complex in theory and practice. The immaturity of the field prevents consensus and accepted standards from emerging. The fully developed degree program at APUS prepares students for the complexities of this field, along with preparation in a number of areas across the homeland security and emergency management spectrum. In its degree programs, APUS takes an integrated approach that reflects this discipline in its current emergency state. |
