Online Undergraduate Certificate in Foundations of Homeland Security

This course will examine the essential characteristics of national and international acts of terrorism. Students will compose a historical timeline reflecting methods and outcomes used by national and international law enforcement and military agencies to counter and combat terrorism. Students will choose effective strategies to generate critical information for local, national, and international law enforcement agencies. Students will write clear, concise, and accurate reports to provide relevant information based on accurate data analysis and sound recommendations.

This course will examine the relationship between intelligence analysis and security management. Students will be able to explain the components, methods, and techniques of the intelligence cycle and discuss them specific to threats facing the United States government, as well as private industry. Students will be able to articulate basic intelligence policies and functions of the United States government. Students will discuss important concepts specific to the foundation and goals for security, terrorist activity, and threats to national and international safety.

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding and knowledge of modern transportation and border security challenges as well as techniques to combat those challenges. The course will address changes in infrastructure technology as well as the technology that TSA has to respond to events. We will explore prevention, detection, response, and mitigation. Transportation and border systems of particular interest in this course include, but are not limited to: seaports, ships, airports, aircraft, train stations, trains, railways, highways, bridges, trucks, buses, and pipelines. Students will emerge with a greater understanding of potential threats to our borders and transportation systems, as well as preparation and responses to these threats.

Effective emergency planning is the key to surviving natural and man-made disasters. Risk analysis and the formulation of a comprehensive plan, followed by a vigorous and continuing testing program, are essential elements to surviving an emergency. Topics covered include threat assessment, risk analysis, the formulation of a plan, emergency operations center (EOC) staffing, coordination with supporting agencies, the importance of liaison continuity, actual incident management, and effective follow-up analysis. Various actual case studies are discussed. Students build upon their knowledge and use the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) developed in EDMG101. If they have not taken the course, a generic completed HVA will be provided to develop a section of an Emergency Operation Plan. Students will also have the ability to work through a self-paced optional “refresher” module on the creation of the HVA.

This course is a study of the theory and practice of incident command, the various methods of incident command, and specific focus on the Incident Command System (ICS) used in crises, disasters, and emergency management response systems. The roles and responsibilities of the ICS system are identified. The different agencies and incidents in which the ICS system is used are discussed. Cases are studied in order to assist students in understanding the management and leadership complexity associated with modern emergencies and disasters. The student will participate in a 2D/3D simulation and take on a new role within an incident command scenario shifting from being an information producer, to an information consumer, and decision-maker. The scenario will feature a terrorist event at a university graduation where students will be required to activate their incident command system, working the scenario to its conclusion using decision-making points throughout.

This course explores psychological and behavioral perspectives of terrorism. Specifically, the course examines the circumstances underlying why people radicalize and join terrorist groups, engage in terrorist activities, assume various terrorist roles, and, in some instances, de-radicalize and disengage from terrorist activities.

This course provides an in-depth study of the history of CBRN agent and material development and use by nations, nation-states, state-sponsored organizations, and terrorists. This course further examines CBRN threats worldwide and reviews CBRN Arms Limitations, Treaties, Organizations, Regimes and Agreements. Finally, the course discusses various approaches to deter use of CBRN agents, materials, and weapons.