The Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HS/EP) Program is a Career and Technology Education instructional program which integrates government, academia, and private sector training/educational initiatives to help students understand how the United States and its interests worldwide are protected against threats to public safety, both natural and manmade, through effective communication, preparedness, detection, prevention, response and recovery. The program offers three career strands: Homeland Security Sciences, Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, and Information/Communications Technology. These three strands align with the six mission areas of the United States Department of Homeland Security: Intelligence and Warning, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Key Assets, Border and Transportation Security, Domestic Counterterrorism, Defense against Catastrophic Threats, and Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Students are expected to:
- Outline the essential characteristics of national and international acts of terrorism.
- Classify the roles, functions of, and interdependency between local, federal and international law enforcement, intelligence and military agencies.
- Develop effective strategies to generate information necessary for intelligence and Law Enforcement organization agency heads to make timely, effective and efficient decisions on the directions and methods of Homeland Security policies and operations.
- Examine the global and national issues and policies concerning terrorism and Homeland Security.
- Employ technology for general and critical legal research, writing and case management.
- Demonstrate proficiency in communication, problem-solving, and team building skills.
- Explain and justify the ethical standards needed for careers in the Health and Human Services Cluster.
- Participate in internship experiences that include exposure to multiple career areas within the chosen program strand. and
Explore career opportunities within the Human Resource Services Cluster and Homeland Security Pathway.
This course will introduce students to Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness guidelines, concepts, and action plans. Emphasis will be placed on unique aspects of public safety and public health. Various methodologies for intelligence gathering and dissemination will be explored and will introduce students to various local, state, and federal assets
Prerequisite: Foundations of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
This course will introduce students to Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness threats to public safety and health, decontamination, protection, detection and identification, and planning concepts. Emphasis will be placed on the utilization of science to protect the public against chemical and biological threats. The course will explore various methodologies and capabilities and limitations for individual and collective protection, handheld and fixed detection, and field sampling and laboratory identification. Students will prepare a chemical and biological incident response plan as an end of course assessment.
Prerequisite: Homeland Security Science
This course will focus on developing the student’s scientific research, problem solving and writing skills. Emphasis will be placed on research and analysis, technical writing, team dynamics, and laboratory analysis and skills. The course will actively engage the student in market survey techniques, technical publication layout and design, team building skills and role play, and proper implementation of laboratory instrumentation and equipment.
Prerequisite: Homeland Security Science Research Methods and Applications
The Internship/Capstone Experience is the culminating course for the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program. This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to extend and apply their classroom learning. Students will have the option of completing an industrymentored project or internship. They will play an integral part in determining which type of experience will be most beneficial and supportive of their individual goals. At the end of the course, students will compile a working portfolio which documents their academic and technical skill attainment and present it for critique.