This course serves as one of the foundation courses for the Online Homeland Security graduate program. Students will be provided an in-depth examination and evidence-based approach to the complex and critical role of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its partners. The course structure will examine contemporary criminal justice and emergency management organizations and how they will work with the DHS to develop national security and emergency response management policies. It will examine Homeland Security's comprehensive influence on federal, state, and local criminal justice organizations since 9/11.

This course serves as one of the foundation courses for the Online Homeland Security graduate program. It will provide an advanced level of examination of the cultural, geographical, and historical analysis of political developments in South America, the Middle East, and far-eastern Asia. Countries of Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Arab states, Turkey, Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, Pakistan, and India, will be primarily placed under the scope of this course. Students will learn about U.S. Gulf Policy, energy security & independence, deadly migrant routes from South America, conflict in the Middle East, and the rise of transnational crime. Furthermore, this course will discuss the impact of post-cold war theories like Huntingdon's Clash of Civilizations, Fukuyama's The End of History, and finally, the effect of environmental geopolitics on U.S. domestic politics.

This course introduces the theories and practices of data analytics and geographic information systems (GIS) and how they are used to develop solutions to real problems within the homeland security field. Students will be introduced to the concepts, techniques, and tools needed to conduct a meaningful analysis of data and GIS products. The focus will be on integrating these techniques and their application to understanding how the interpretation of information informs policy decisions in homeland security. This course requires a basic level of computer proficiency and skill. This course serves as one of the foundation courses for the Capstone course in the final semester of the program.

This course provides a critical introduction to the topic of terrorism, including definitional and conceptual problems; domestic and international terrorism; key terrorist groups, motivations, and methods; terror finance; and increasing overlap between terrorism and organized crime. It also discusses the key terror related events and groups, and current and future security challenges.

Students will delve into management theory as a concept and structure. This course will discuss Organizational Theory and Homeland Security strategies. Although organizations share similar elements and features, this course provides a comprehensive overview of organization theory, particularly related to homeland security. This course is also a complete guide for writing and implementing a strategic plan for your organization. Lessons delve into why a plan is needed and explain the difference between a business plan, long-term planning, and a strategic plan. Students will learn how to make managerial decisions on budget and allocate the resources between and within the federal, state, local, and tribal agencies.

This course examines the Internet in its broader social and policy context, focusing on cyber threats. The course will introduce the concept and principles of network security. It will provide a conceptual construct of how to think about securing networks and critical infrastructures in the U.S. The course examines public policy, national security, U.S. law, and international norms. This course will also discuss how information superiority and information dominance influence operations associated with establishing and maintaining cybersecurity. It also introduces students to how internet technologies currently under development may affect homeland security in the future.

This course on transportation and border security will examine the potential threats to critical infrastructure, transportation networks, and border security due to terror and transnational crime threats. The course will specifically examine the history of terrorism as it relates to these significant vulnerabilities, particularly since the start of the new millennium and from a global perspective. The course will continue with a comprehensive analysis of the following key factors:

• Critical and metropolitan infrastructure
• Bridges and tunnels
• Commuter roadways
• Commuter transit
• Passenger air travel
• Commercial railways
• Commercial shipping
• The trucking industry
• Passenger cruise lines
• National railways and busses
• Border and airport security
• Transnational human and contraband smuggling
• Corruption within border and customs enforcement organizations

This course introduces different types of public health and environmental health disasters, their consequences, and the role of homeland security agencies and health practitioners in preparedness, response, and recovery during a health crisis. Through course lectures and readings, case studies, discussion, and debate, students will learn and understand the foundational concepts of the public and environmental health community's role in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. More specifically, students will learn more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s work, the nation's health protection agency, and how it protects our country against dangerous health threats and responses. The course is also designed to develop proficiency in analyzing and evaluating the public health response to disasters and identifying solutions and methods for improvement. Certain case studies will also be examined around the world.

This course examines the Critical Infrastructure of the United States. It provides an in-depth analysis of its vulnerabilities to secure the effective protection of people, physical entities, and critical information and support systems in natural disasters and accidental or intentional man-made incidents of significant destruction. The course will guide students in the theories and practice of threat analysis, physical protection, conducting vulnerability studies, and risk assessments of Critical Infrastructure Networks and their elements. In addition, it will examine the Critical Infrastructures identified by the United States Department of Homeland Security and how disruption of these sectors could affect the public and private aspects of Homeland Security. The culminating project for the course will be creating a comprehensive threat analysis of one part of the Critical Infrastructure, including an in-class presentation.

This course will survey the legal history of homeland security measures undertaken by the United States government since its founding as applied within the framework of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and international law. Additionally, the post-9/11 environment of homeland security and the legal authority and consequence of U.S. actions within the United States and extra-territorially will be explored and discussed in class.

The effects of contemporary trends on homeland security agencies are studied. This class is designed to cover some of the emerging threats and public safety issues at the time. It will delve into an in-depth analysis of those issues by requiring students' case study analysis method. Topics are subject to change based on the security threat assessment of the time. Still, they primarily include natural disasters, foreign influence activity, immigration, human right violation, human trafficking, terrorism, and public health crises. The use of real-world cases and scenarios will guide student learning by providing an opportunity to perform critical analysis. Students must write a threat assessment paper and present the assessment at the end.

This course will focus on developing the final project, and all students who will graduate are required to enroll. In their last semester, students must create a project that should demonstrate "a question of practical importance" within the homeland security field. Students will demonstrate achievement of the program learning outcomes by linking together the major concepts, skills, and examples of ethical leadership in the entire program curriculum. Students will develop a plan to research, collect, and revise course artifacts that comprise the final project. The format will be proposed by the student and approved by the instructor. The creative project must demonstrate originality and follow the department's style requirements - currently, the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual. A capstone is often multifaceted, meaning a presentation or performance, a paper, and research all come together to complete the project. This is not a thesis course.

Students must choose his/her advisor by submitting a one-page outline of the project/research to the Program Director. A minimum of three mandatory meetings with the advisor must occur during the capstone experience.

A capstone project progresses in three stages as determined by the student and the advisor:

1. Project development stage - submit IRB paperwork, if necessary, and develop all materials needed to implement your project.
2. Research stage – evidence-based topic (sampling/data collection)
3. Write-up & presentation of results stage - (open to the public), obtain final approval from the committee or advisor.

Special Requirements: 

• Students who have acquired possible employment or an internship may use this experience as part of their Capstone course credit.
• Students can only enroll in the capstone project after completing the 24 credits of the program.