Homeland Security course descriptions

HLS-500: Terrorism and Homeland Security in the U.S. (3 credits)
This course examines the phenomenon of terrorism as it relates to the U.S. as well as American interests in other countries, primarily from the Cold War to the present. The attacks on the U.S. 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 will be included. The essential components of a mechanism for homeland security will also be presented. The relationship of homeland security to preparation, response and recovery mechanisms for terrorism, including goals, objectives and strategies, will be explored. The importance of coordinating various plans and strategies among local, state and federal government response organizations will be stressed. Offered in the July term.

HLS-510: Protecting the Homeland:  Balancing Security and Liberty (3 credits)
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 made Americans feel more vulnerable than ever before.  The Congress hastily enacted the USA PATRIOT Act, which permitted a number of extraordinary and unprecedented intrusions on civil liberties without judicial oversight.  Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ensued, and the government and the public began to question and examine the country’s intelligence mechanisms and security procedures.  A new Department of Homeland Security, which included new units like the Transportation Security Administration, was established.  This course will look at these developments and some of those that they have engendered, such as 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. Offered in the October term.

HLS-520: Preparedness: Prevention & Deterrence (3 credits)
This course focuses on how strategic planning, incident management and intelligence techniques combine to provide the necessary foundation for anti-terrorism preparedness. Topics covered include infrastructure protection, National Incident Management System, data collection and analysis techniques, threat and vulnerability assessments, information sharing, resource planning, intelligence failures, terrorism prevention and deterrence. Offered in the January term.

HLS-530: Protecting the Homeland: Response & Recovery (3 credits)
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. Technology and information gathering, as tools for planning and responding, are explored.  Both government and law enforcement efforts and Business Continuity Planning are studied. Offered in the April term.