Master of Science in Homeland Security - Emergency Management and Public Health Concentration
The Master of Science in Homeland Security (MS-HLS) program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the homeland security enterprise at the strategic policymaking level. The program will be geared towards homeland security practitioners and provide them with analytical and communication tools to allow them to become decision-makers in one or more areas of the field. The program will also expand their knowledge base of other disciplines within the larger homeland security enterprise thus helping them understand the role of a given discipline, such as law enforcement, fire, emergency services, public health, etc. in the larger homeland security picture. The program curriculum is designed for students with previous coursework and/or prior work experience in homeland security. Although prior knowledge or experience in the homeland security field is not required, it is highly recommended.
The Emergency Management and Public Health concentration will focus on understanding challenges and best practices within the Emergency Management and Public Health fields including the management of disasters and public health emergencies.
Outcomes (Core):
- Outline trends in the development and evolution of the HLS enterprise.
- Analyze current policy issues within the HLS enterprise and/or its sub-disciplines.
- Use research to suggest policy solutions to existing HLS problems.
- Explore strategies and institutional frameworks that affect HLS policy.
- Analyze the role of the intelligence community, first-responders, the military, the private sector and others in the HLS enterprise.
- Interpret, synthesize and critique the threat posed by terrorism, natural disasters and public health emergencies.
- Analyze the legal, institutional and policy barriers to unity of effort and enhanced HLS policy and the possible methodologies for circumventing or eliminating those barriers.
- Evaluate the impact of policies within HLS sub-disciplines on the creation of a common HLS strategy and effort.
Outcomes (Emergency Management and Public Health Concentration):
- Explore the challenges and best-practices within the Emergency Management and Public Health disciplines.
- Analyze alternative approaches to strengthening Emergency Management planning and response and the preparedness of the Public Health system, particularly with respect to the managing of public health emergencies.
- Develop effective policies for enhancing emergency and disaster management, syndromic surveillance, quarantine and prophylaxis dispensing.
Degree Requirements
Courses: Core
| HLS600 | Homeland Security Fundamentals | 4 |
| HLS610 | Dynamics of Terrorism | 4 |
| HLS616 | Research, Writing and Critical Thinking | 4 |
| HLS618 | Private Sector Role in Homeland Security | 4 |
| HLS620 | Technology Solutions for HLS | 4 |
| HLS630 | Organizational and Policy Challenges | 4 |
| HLS640 | Vulnerability Analysis and Protection | 4 |
| HLS650 | Homeland Security and Government | 4 |
| HLS685 | Homeland Security Capstone | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Courses: Concentration
| HLS621 | Disaster Emergency Planning | 4 |
| HLS622 | Principles of Disaster Medicine | 4 |
| HLS623 | Emergency Management and Communication in Disasters | 4 |
| HLS624 | Introduction to Public Health | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Total Credit Hours: 52
Area of Study
- Security Studies & Criminal Justice