Department of Security Studies

SCST 2363. Intro to Homeland Security. 3 Hours.

This introductory course is designed to familiarize students with the field of security studies. Topics include Surveys, threats, and challenges from terrorist attacks, to pandemics to climate change.

SCST 2364. Homeland Sec Research Methods. 3 Hours.

Students gain knowledge about research design and methodology. Students develop the ability to analyze and critically evaluate data, ideas, arguments, and policy. Students also hone critical thinking skills and enhance their ability to be effective consumers of data.

SCST 2365. Intro to Emergency Management. 3 Hours.

Students study the evolution of emergency management in the United States from early community-based response practices to the current robust national system focused on risk analysis, communications, risk prevention and mitigation, and social and economic recovery. Students examine benchmark policies, regulations, and directives that form the basis of the emergency management field. Students engage in case study research and gain exposure to current and emerging trends in emergency management domestically and internationally.

SCST 2366. Introduction to Cybersecurity. 3 Hours.

Students examine the problem of cybersecurity from a homeland security perspective. Students explore the diversity of threats and security measures in cyberspace from a non-technical perspective and with a focus on laws, strategies, and policies. Security issues, from crime to espionage to cyberwar, will be considered on both the micro and macro-level.

SCST 2368. Transportation Security. 3 Hours.

Students examine a wide range of facets that comprise the field of transportation security. As part of this course students assess the capabilities and vulnerabilities of the transportation network as well as explore the agencies and governance issues impacting transportation security. Students gain an understanding of the various transportation systems (road, rail, maritime, and aviation). Students also explore the layers of security and understanding the role of government and the private sector in securing the transportation system.

SCST 3380. Law and Ethics in Homeland Sec. 3 Hours.

Students examine key legal and ethical challenges facing the homeland security enterprise. Constitutional questions relating to the separation of powers at the federal level, questions of federalism, the balance between security and civil liberties, and the impact of technology (drones, cameras, facial recognition, etc.) on homeland security law and ethics are also analyzed.

SCST 3381. Climate and Security. 3 Hours.

Students explore national security and homeland security challenges associated with global climate change. Students critically examine the role of governments, the media, the scientific community, and other institutions in the conceptualization and mitigation of the multiple consequences of climate-based risks. Topics covered include the impact of mass urbanization, water conflicts, and the effects of climate change. Students also explore the impact of climate change on water security, emerging diseases, and natural disasters.

SCST 3383. Energy Security. 3 Hours.

Students study the architecture of the energy sector, one of the Department of Homeland Security's sixteen designated critical infrastructure sectors. Students examine the main energy sector nodes and their interdependencies with other sectors, evaluate insider and outsider threats and hazards, and apply proper risk assessment models to reduce the energy sector's vulnerability. Students become acquainted with alternative energy sources, renewable technologies, and best management practices of energy resources for a sustainable future. Credits 3.

SCST 3384. Water Security. 3 Hours.

Students explore water as a national security and homeland security issue. Topics covered include: mass migrations and civil wars caused by climate change and droughts, floods, extreme weather events, transboundary water issues, water's interdependencies with other critical infrastucture sectors, water governance systems including criminal governance in ungoverned spaces, centralized state and local non-governmental organization (NGO) network governance systems, sustainable water development, and the security implications of an aging water infrastructure. Credits 3.

SCST 3385. Bioterrorism and Biowarfare Preparedness and Response. 3 Hours.

Students investigate the threat posed to the United States by bioterrorism. Issues include analysis of top pathogens of concern, principles of disease weaponization, and dual-use technology, and other bioterrorism related topics.

SCST 3386. Health Access and Homeland Security. 3 Hours.

Students examine the connection between health access and US homeland security. Topics include how physical and financial barriers to health access reduce overall health security and pandemic preparedness, the impacts of state and federal-level healthcare policy on American health security, and the relationship between healthcare infrastructure preparedness and resilience to pandemic response.

SCST 3393. Public Health in Homeland Sec. 3 Hours.

Students explore those aspects of the public health discipline and profession that fall under the homeland security umbrella. Students examine the nature of communicable diseases and pandemics, the role of syndromic surveillance, quarantine laws and policies, and the role of international, federal, state, and local agencies in coping with pandemics. Students also explore cases of major pandemics and the lessons learned from these events and their respective outcomes.

SCST 3394. Global Terrorism & Homeland Security. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of the threat of terrorism as it relates to U.S. homeland security. Using a multi-dimensional approach that draws from international relations, law, and police strategies, the course emphasizes research and analysis. Students also examine international strategies aimed at reducing terrorist incidents.
Prerequisite: SCST 2363 recommended.

SCST 4076. Independent Studies in Security Studies. 1-3 Hours.

This course is designed to give students flexibility to pursue study of a topic under the supervision of a faculty member where the topic will be studies more deeply than in a traditional course or where there are no available courses on the topic. Variable Credit (1-3).
Prerequisite: Approval of the Department Chair and the instructor directing the readings.

SCST 4301. Chemical and Energy Sector Resilience. 3 Hours.

This course will focus on specific operational issues pertaining to the chemical and energy critical infrastructure sectors, including specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient systems and the maintenance of continuity of operations. The course will provide security professionals in the chemical and energy sectors, and those planning careers in these areas, with the tools to understand threats, conduct assessments, engage in planning and manage crises.

SCST 4302. Healthcare Sector Resilience. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on specific operational issues pertaining to the healthcare critical infrastructure sector, including specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient healthcare systems that can provide an appropriate level of care for patients. The course provides security professionals in the healthcare sector, and those planning careers in this area, with the tools to understand threats, conduct assessments, engage in planning and manage crises.

SCST 4303. Transportation Sector Resilience. 3 Hours.

Students will explore operational issues pertaining to the transportation critical infrastructure sector. This includes identifying specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient transportation networks and continuity of operations. Students will learn the tools to understand threats, conduct assessments, engage in planning and manage crises to develop careers as security professionals in the transportation sector.

SCST 4304. Global Health Security. 3 Hours.

Students analyze the challenges of infectious disease control globally, as well as key elements of global health security. Topics include types of diseases and disease threats, disease transmission, social and economic consequences of disease, and the homeland security implications of pandemics.

SCST 4305. Binational Health Challenges. 3 Hours.

Students examine critical binational health challenges with an emphasis on the United States-Mexico border. Issues include analysis of binational disease surveillance and prevention programs, balancing state sovereignty with disease prevention, and binational health collaborations between the United States and Mexico.

SCST 4362. U.S. Security Post 9/11. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of the evolution of issues, processes, and policies related to U.S. security and safety that evolved after the cold war era. Specifically, the course will address the spectrum of security threats and safety hazards that have emerged post 9/11 and that continue to emerge, such as Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE), pandemic, environmental, and cybersecurity as well as the policies and processes instituted to address them. Credit 3.

SCST 4363. Homeland Sec Intelligence. 3 Hours.

This course examines the development of U.S. intelligence studies and explores the role of intelligence in supporting the formulation of homeland security policies. It positions intelligence within specific homeland security missions of Protect, Respond, and Recover, and among actors who support the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) under those missions. It exposes learners to complex government-private sector policies, plans, partnerships, processes, procedures, systems, and technologies for intelligence gathering as well as information sharing.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

SCST 4364. Homeland Sec & Emergency Mgmt. 3 Hours.

This course familiarizes students with processes, agencies, and individuals involved in the national preparedness and response to high consequence events. Students examine homeland security strategies, emergency and disaster management principles, and human, physical, and operational resilience concepts. Students are exposed to approaches to collaboration, communication, and coordination when planning for, mitigating against, responding to, and recovering from the complex safety and security problems of the twenty-first century (e.g., extreme weather, environmental incidents, health pandemics, terrorism).
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

SCST 4365. Border Security. 3 Hours.

This course covers security issues related to U.S. air, land, subterranean, and maritime borders. The course covers an interdisciplinary range of topics including immigration, drug trafficking, contraband smuggling (tariff evasion), potential for terror plots involving the border, the political realities of border fence construction, state surveillance in the border region, concepts of borderlands, civil liberties, and issues related to the border. The course introduces students to the various agencies that cooperate to provide border security and to the foreign relations issues that arise around nation-state borders.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

SCST 4366. Drug Policy and Security. 3 Hours.

This course examines the problem of illegal drugs from a security perspective. Because drug profits have been identified as a major funding source of violent criminal actors and terrorist networks, students in this course explore the vertical integration of the drug trade and examine its relationship to homeland security.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

SCST 4367. Critical Infrastructure Security. 3 Hours.

Globalization has made society increasingly reliant on technology for every facet of human endeavors. As a result of the reliance on interdependent technology society has become more vulnerable to major disruptions. This course familiarizes students with the concept of Critical Infrastructure (CI), the risks it faces, and how to protect against them. Students explore opportunities associated with infrastructure-related public-private partnerships, information sharing, risk analysis and prioritization, risk mitigation, performance metrics, program management, incident management, and investing for the future.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

SCST 4368. Technology and Homeland Sec. 3 Hours.

Students explore the impact of a range of technologies on homeland security decision-making. Students analyze technologies designed to provide greater security (such as CCTV - closed circuit television - and facial recognition technologies and sensors, security technologies, and computer networks). Students also examine technologically-based threats including artificial intelligence, 3D and 4D printing, nanotechnology, and synthetic biology.

SCST 4370. Intelligence Analysis. 3 Hours.

Students explore intelligence analysis and apply structured analytic techniques to eliminate cognitive biases in their writing and analysis. Topics covered include: post-mortem analysis, devil's advocacy, target-centric and network analysis, visualization techniques, avoiding politicization of intelligence, Delphi method, and Red Hat analysis. Students will apply these techniques to the analyses of real world national and homeland security case studies both individually and collaboratively.
Prerequisite: SCST 4363 Homeland Security Intelligence.

SCST 4373. Homeland Def and Civil Support. 3 Hours.

Students examine the role of the U.S. military in homeland security and homeland defense. Students gain knowledge of the role of the federal military and National Guard forces in countering terrorism as well as particular consideration of the Coast Guard, North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command in defense support to civil authorities and in the provision of homeland defense.

SCST 4377. Special Topics in Sec. Stud.. 3 Hours.

This course offers students the opportunities for structured coursework on emergent issues or other topics for which courses do not exist in the course catalog.

SCST 4379. Comparative Homeland Sec. 3 Hours.

Students explore homeland security strategies and policies pursued by other countries. Students study other countries' experiences in coping with homeland security-related issues (such as counterterrorism, public health, and emergency management). Students also gain an understanding of the framework, approaches, restrictions, and powers under which other countries operate, as well as an understanding of the international dimension of homeland security threats.

SCST 4386. Interagency and Public Communications in HS. 3 Hours.

Students explore the role of strategic communications in homeland security with a focus on crisis communications. Students will study theories of crises, principles of crisis communications, reputation management, ethical considerations, and other topics. Students will analyze the successes and failures of various crisis communication strategies in the context of case studies of selected disasters.

SCST 4387. Strategic Planning for Homeland Sec. 3 Hours.

Students examine characteristics of strategic planning within the Homeland Security enterprise in order to understand planning challenges and opportunities within it. Students will learn how to engage in environmental scanning evaluate and measure Homeland Security plans and programs, and gain experience in Homeland Security policy planning.