Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Program Overview

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The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management was established to provide students with a broad view of homeland security and emergency management issues focusing on policy considerations and aligning with the five National Preparedness System mission areas of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Course work includes, but is not limited to, homeland security, emergency management, public safety, and business continuity issues. The program is intended for students who want to learn the fundamentals of homeland security and emergency management and prepares them for the day-to-day decision making required in the post-9/11 era. 

NOTE:

• How Students Earn Credit in the Area of Study: All credits in this area of study may be completed with Thomas Edison State University courses and/or courses from other accredited institutions. Prior learning assessment (PLA) and/or examinations may also be used.
• A total of 18 area of study credits must be from courses at the 3000 level or above.

Credit Distribution

I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.  For more information see About Our General Education Program.  To plan your program please contact an academic advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-1010	Writing for Success	3
ENC-1020	Writing for Success II	3
COM-2090	Public Speaking	3
MAT-1050	Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics	3
SOS-1100	Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today	3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-1010	Our Changing World: An Introduction to Sociology	3
ETH-2200	Leading the Way: A Path Towards Ethical Leadership	3
POS-1100	American Government	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

SOC-2100	Marriage and the Family	3
HIS-1130	American History I	3
FIL-1100	Exploring American Cinema	3

Select two featured courses:

SOC-2910	Criminology	3
HIS-1140	American History II	3
HIS-1210	Introduction to World History I	3
HUM-1030	Introduction to the Humanities III: Music	3
PHI-1300	Introduction to Critical Reasoning	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Knowledge of Human Cultures.

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

EAS-1010	General Earth Science	3
BIO-2080	The Science of Nutrition	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Scientific Knowledge.

II. Area of Study (39 Credits)

A. Required Courses (21 Credits)

SOC-3220	Cultural Diversity in the United States	3
HLS-3550	Critical Thinking for Homeland Security	3
SOS-4400	Terrorism	3
HLS-4100	Counterterrorism: Constitutional and Legislative Issues	3
HLS-4200	Homeland Security: Preparedness, Prevention, and Deterrence	3
HLS-4290	Protecting the Homeland: Response and Recovery	3
SOS-4920	Research Methods in Social Sciences	3

B. Area of Study Electives (Choose 15 Credits)

LDR-3050	Foundations of Leadership	3
CRJ-3030	White-Collar Crime	3
CRJ-3810	Victimology and Criminal Behavior	3
CRJ-4840	Public Policy, Crime, and Criminal Justice	3
CIS-3010	Management Information Systems	3
COM-3300	Interpersonal Communication	3
COM-3350	Intercultural Communication	3
HIS-3561	War and American Society	6
MAN-3110	Organizational Behavior	3
POS-3150	International Relations I	3
POS-4200	Conflict in International Relations	3
PSY-3790	Social Psychology	3
PSY-3310	Introduction to Counseling	3
SOC-3840	Gangs	3
SOS-3600	Games People Play: Game Theory in Life, Business, and Beyond	3
SOS-3700	Challenges in U.S. and Global Public Health	3

C. Capstone (3 Credits)

HLS-4980

Homeland Security Capstone

3

III. Electives (36 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences.

Total Credit Hours: 120

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management program will have the ability to:

• use key terms, concepts, theories, and answer critical questions in area of study;
• describe the historical development of the field, its origins, old and new, conceptual framework, and the interdependence of this field with research findings in other fields;
• demonstrate independence and collaboration while participating in decision-making activities in a variety of settings;
• define and apply appropriate constitutional legal principles to the design and implementation of strategies related to homeland security and emergency management;
• seek out, research, and evaluate all available information regarding homeland security and emergency management concepts, strategies, and tactics, and select new or established methods based upon good analysis and best practices;
• demonstrate the emergency management process of planning, organizing, response, and mitigation of potential threats and disasters;
• describe the psychological and sociological impact of natural and man-made disasters on community members, businesses, and government, and apply this knowledge to emergency management strategies and practices; and
• define and apply established principles of command and control, in cooperation with other agencies, in the assessment and mitigation of natural and man-made disasters.