HLS-5050 Foundations of Homeland Security

This course provides a broad, up-to-date, multidisciplinary overview of homeland security as a contemporary subject of interest and inquiry. Issues of public policy, public administration, law, emergency management, intelligence, border and infrastructure security, public safety, and the social/behavioral impacts of terrorism and homeland security will be considered.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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MPL-5100 Research Methods in Public Service

This course introduces students to the foundations of research study methods with an emphasis on research in the public sector. Concepts presented include study design and selection, data collection guidelines, and study efficacy. A review of data analysis techniques is also featured along with tips on effective presentation of study findings. Ethical issues in research are reviewed to provide greater understanding of the importance of protecting research participants as well as the crucial oversight role of institutional review boards. Students participate in critical evaluations of existing research to engage course content and demonstrate proficiency in course objectives.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6110 International Legal and Ethical Issues

This course examines statutory, constitutional, military, and international legal principles and their relation to the design and implementation of national and international strategies related to homeland security in both the domestic and global arenas. Emphasis will be on legal and due process actions and the legality of those actions in domestic, military, and international settings. There will be an intense focus on the exposure, explanation, and understanding of the existing domestic and international laws and treaties. This course will provide the student with exposure to a multitude of issues in the area of homeland security by examining the basic concept of investigating and prosecuting terrorism and its affect both domestically and internationally. The method of study and exposure to these topics is designed to facilitate the student in the development of the ability to identify, understand, and perform critical thinking and written assessment of concepts directly relating to legal and due process issues relating to terrorism and homeland security challenges.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6250 Technology and Information Security

This course covers a wide range of cybersecurity and technology concepts. War, crime, and terrorism have affected the domains of land, sea, air, and space for decades. As technology has become more pervasive in our society, a fifth domain has become evident: the cyber domain. Traditional crimes and acts of terror have become leveraged with technological capabilities that give criminals and terrorists a greater advantage than before. In addition, this environment makes it more difficult for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent, detect, and prosecute those that commit horrific acts. This course explores topics in information technology security management. It examines the necessary technical, physical, and administrative controls required to protect information and information systems that are likely to become vulnerable to a cyberattack. Topics within the course include cryptography, disaster recovery, business continuity of operations, network and host security, threats and vulnerabilities, access control, forensics and incident handling, and legal issues involving computers.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6400 Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security

This course introduces funding and program administration for homeland security. Following the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States established the Department of Homeland Security and developed new national security requirements to secure the nation's most critical infrastructure. This course will focus on spending in areas such as counterterrorism, defense, intelligence, and securing of critical infrastructure. In addition to covering the financing of these operations, the course will center on security program administration in both the public and private sectors.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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MPL-5200 Program Analysis and Evaluation

This course is designed to introduce basic concepts of policy and program evaluation. These include needs assessment, program monitoring, stakeholder awareness and influence, and assessing effectiveness and efficiency. Students will examine quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research approaches. Social, political, and ethical contexts of evaluation studies will also be discussed.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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MNP-5150 Leading Strategic Change in Public Service

Managing organizational change is challenging at the best of times. In today's dynamic fast-paced global environment, change is a constant component of organizational life. Whether the change is simple or complex, organizations must constantly change or die. Leaders need to act as change agents to envision necessary change and effectively lead an organization through a change initiative. This course prepares participants to lead change within a variety of organizational settings. Models for the creation and communication of change plans are examined to develop an understanding of the specific challenges associated with change. The theory and methods for effective implementation of change plans are used to examine the practical realities of change implementation in modern organizations.

Note: This course builds upon MNP-5020: Leadership and Management in Public Service, although that course is not a prerequisite to MNP-5050. While there is some overlap in content between the two, MNP-5050 has a far greater emphasis on application and skill development than MNP-5020.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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CYB-5100 Cybersecurity Foundations

Cybersecurity Foundations covers fundamental concepts of the interdisciplinary field of cybersecurity by taking into consideration both technical and management aspects. Students analyze cyber threats and vulnerabilities and examine common cyber defense technologies, processes, and procedures. Students are exposed to how cybersecurity can be enforced, in networks, operating systems, and software development lifecycle (SDLC). The course also introduces students to the human, legal, privacy, and ethical aspects of cybersecurity. The goal is to prepare students for advanced study in cybersecurity.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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CYB-5200 Network Defense and Security

Network Defense and Security offers in-depth coverage of secure network design concepts, intrusion detection and prevention systems, network monitoring and mapping tools, web filtering, packet filtering, and advanced malware protection. Proactive methodologies for assessing and analyzing both host-based and network-based vulnerabilities are examined. Appropriate network defense measures and technologies are identified and evaluated. The course also examines the nomenclature of mobile and wireless networks and security of mobile systems and devices.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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CYB-5600 Cyber Forensics and Investigation

This course covers the fundamental concepts, tools, and techniques of digital forensics and cyber investigation. Topics include the identification, preservation, collection, examination, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence for administrative, civil, and criminal investigations. Applications of appropriate tools and technologies used for securing, handling, and preserving digital evidence are explored. The legal and ethical aspects associated with digital forensics and cyber investigation are examined in depth.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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CYB-5700 Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response

This course delves into practical methods and techniques used for assessing and managing cybersecurity risks to an organization. Both quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methodologies are covered. Common cybersecurity risk assessment/management models and frameworks are evaluated and applied. Another major area of focus is cyber incident response and contingency planning consisting of incident response planning, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity planning.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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CYB-5800 Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics

This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to design a cybersecurity strategy in a modern enterprise, including managing people, processes, and technology. Students analyze security organizational dynamics, cybersecurity policy, and governance oversight including audit and control functions to ensure compliance and efficacy. Students also learn to navigate the human, legal, privacy, and ethical aspects of cybersecurity.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-5000 Terrorism and Homeland Security in the U.S.

This course examines the phenomenon of terrorism as it relates to the United States as well as to American interests in other countries, primarily in the time period from the Cold War to the present. The attacks on the United States 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, as well as essential components of a mechanism for homeland security, will be presented. Other key topics include the relationship between homeland security and preparation; terrorism response and recovery mechanisms; and goals, objectives, and strategies. The importance of coordinating various plans and strategies among local, state, and federal government response organizations will be stressed.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-5010 Natural Disasters and Security Planning

This course will investigate a wide range of natural disasters and develop appropriate plans for mitigating resulting problems. Natural disasters include a variety of events from earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and fires to the outbreak of disease and may themselves trigger secondary disaster situations such as chemical spills, nuclear incidents, and power outages. This course focuses on the impacts of disasters on security, critical resources, and key infrastructure.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-5100 Protecting the Homeland: Balancing Security and Liberty

This course will examine the development of various situations that have evolved since the day of the terrorists' attacks, on New York City and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. Since that day, the events which transpired have been seen to have made many Americans feel more vulnerable than ever before. After the events of that day, the United States Congress quickly enacted the USA PATRIOT Act, which permitted a number of extraordinary and unprecedented changes to civil liberties without judicial oversight. This course will examine the USA PATRIOT Act, along with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which were initiated by the events of 9/11. This course will allow students the opportunity to examine and understand why the government and the public began to question and scrutinize the country's intelligence mechanisms, and national security structure and procedures. During this course there will an opportunity to examine the creation, development, and organizational structure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As part of the examination of DHS, there will be opportunities to also examine entities such as the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), which was established after 9/11. This course will also examine other developments including 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.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6100 The Psychology and Sociology of Disaster

This course explores best practices for mitigating the adverse psychological and social impacts of disaster. The course discusses types of disasters, the way trauma typically affects victims, the means for assessing trauma after a disaster, the importance of early intervention during the response phase, and approaches suitable for the longer recovery phase of disaster. This course uses current government and law enforcement sources to discuss specific disasters from the last two decades, both acts of terrorism and natural occurrences.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6200 Homeland Security Preparedness: Prevention and Deterrence

This course focuses on how strategic planning, incident management, and intelligence techniques are brought together to provide the necessary foundation for anti-terrorism preparedness. The assignments in this course are designed to give students engagement in these areas. Students will learn how potential acts of terrorism are deterred and prevented through vigilance, observation, and the reporting of suspicious indicators of terrorist acts. Emphasis is placed on the level of planning and management involved in preparedness, prevention, and deterrence, and to the implementation of specific techniques and strategies. The topics that will be covered in this course will include the protection of infrastructures, various aspects of the National Incident Management System, and various aspects of data collection and analysis techniques. In addition the course will address threat and vulnerability assessments, information sharing, resource planning, intelligence failures, and terrorism prevention and deterrence.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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HLS-6300 Protecting the Homeland: Response and Recovery

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 across jurisdictions and agencies. Technology and information gathering, as tools for planning and responding, are explored. Both government and law enforcement efforts and business continuity planning (BCP) are studied.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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MPL-7100 Public Service Capstone

Candidates for completion of the Master of Public Service Leadership (MPSL), Master of Science and Management (MSM) - Public Service Careers, and Master of Science in Homeland Security (MSHS) degree will complete a project demonstrating their conceptual, analytical, research, and practical management skills achieved through the courses in each program. The project, called a Capstone because it represents a crowning achievement much as a capstone does in architecture, is a 3-credit, one-term requirement that is completed at the end of the program. It is a closely supervised experience resulting in a paper that demonstrates the student's ability to synthesize and utilize the skills and knowledge gained in their graduate program.

Credits: 3

Delivery Methods: Online

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