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Homeland Security

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Program Overview


The EKU Homeland Security program was established in 2007 in response to the nations growing homeland security needs and challenges. As one of the leading programs in the nation, students receive comprehensive educational opportunities focusing on the safeguarding of life and property through the protection of critical infrastructure, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters, providing counterterrorism and law enforcement intelligence support, and employing the latest security technologies.

Courses provide students with an understanding of the homeland security enterprise to include the program’s areas of Disaster Management, Intelligence Studies, and Security Operations and Management. Graduates of the program are prepared to join program alumni in rewarding careers throughout both the public and private sectors.

For more information visit the Homeland Security website.

 


 

Career Opportunities

 

  • Corporate/Industrial Security
  • Customs and Border Protection
  • Dignitary Protection Services
  • Disaster Services (Red Cross, etc.)
  • Emergency Management
  • Geospatial Services
  • Information Security
  • Law Enforcement (Federal, State, and Local)
  • Legal Professions
  • Park and Forestry Services
  • Transportation Security
  • U.S. Intelligence Community
  • U.S. Military Services

 


 

Bachelor’s Degree

120 Credit Hours
39 hours: Gen Ed / Univ. Requirements
42 hours: HLS Core
39 hours: Free Electives

Minors

Total: 18 Credit Hours

  • Disaster Management

Associate Degree

Total: 60 Credit Hours
36 hours: General Education
  3 hours: University Requirements
12 hours: Concentration Requirements
  9 hours: Free Electives

Certificates

Total: 15 Credit Hours

  • Homeland Security
  • Intelligence Studies
  • Security Management

Course Descriptions

HLS 101 – Introduction to Homeland Security
Principles and practices associated with the emerging discipline of homeland security. Policies, directives, national plans, and legislation that shape and define the ongoing evolution of homeland security. Key issues include civil liberties, diversity, relationships to public safety, and private and national security.

HLS 210 – Cyber and Physical Security
Principles of cyber and physical design and application to include assessments and subsequent identification of countermeasures as well as policy development and implementation in an effort to safeguard life and critical infrastructure.

HLS 260 – Disaster Preparedness and Response
Examines disaster preparedness and response context, concepts, theories, principles, programs, and requirements. Students apply course concepts using case studies and real-world scenarios.

HLS 280 – Mis, Dis, and Mal-Information
Examines Mis-, Dis-, and Mal-information (MDM) from a homeland security perspective. Students build skills in assessing and evaluating information from social media and other information sources.

HLS 301 – Critical Infrastructure Protection
Identification, prioritization, and protection of critical infrastructure including information technology, telecommunications, chemical, transportation, energy, water, medical, and emergency services.

HLS 320 – Security Management
Evolution and application of traditional and current theories in leading and managing corporate and government/industrial security operations. Areas covered include management, supervision, and leadership of a security organization.

HLS 391 – Risk Analysis
History and process of vulnerability and risk assessment (VRS) as it relates to the protection of critical assets and infrastructure. Instruction in common VRA techniques used in both the public and private sectors.

HLS 395 – Homeland Security Policy Analysis
Develop homeland security policy and legal research and analytic skills. Includes coverage of international and U.S federal, state and local policy and legal issues.

HLS 401 – Intelligence Process
Key questions facing the U.S. intelligence community and its role in homeland security, national defense, and international affairs, with a focus on policy, oversight, and intelligence support. Collection, analysis, sharing, and dissemination of information within and between local, state, and federal government agencies and the private sector.

HLS 404 – National Security Threats and Responses
A study of contemporary U.S. national security threats and responses from homeland security and intelligence perspectives. 

HLS 430 – Terrorism and Violent Extremism
Coverage of politically-motivated extremist violence in the United States. Includes discussion of definitional issues, radicalization, major attacks, current threats, and principal extremist groups and their ideologies.

HLS 461 – Disaster Resilience
Concepts, theories, principles, programs, and requirements of pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation; governmental programs, planning and practice; hazard and threat modeling and analysis; team building; case studies; project development.

HLS 465 – Unconventional Threats and Responses
Addresses concepts, theories laws and authorities, principles, programs and requirements associated with unconventional threats to our nation that most likely would result in mass casualties, and pose large scale responses and cascading threats.

HLS 495 – Leadership and Ethics
Examines theories and practical applications of leadership and ethical decision making. Senior capstone course requiring synthesis of prior coursework in homeland security.

Information based on EKU’s 2024/2025 course catalog and is subject to change. Visit the HLS Course Catalog for the most recent course listings.

Information is based on EKU’s 2024/2025 course catalog and is subject to change.

College of Justice, Safety, and Military Science


521 Lancaster Avenue
Stratton 354
Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: 859-622-3565
Email: jus.dean@eku.edu

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