In the homeland security area, there is considerable discussion about concepts such as all-hazards approach, emergency and disaster management, risk prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management and consequence mitigation, and others.  Educators are still grappling with what makes up the various applied and research fields of study, and what are the academic disciplines inherent in this emerging field.

While terms and practices emerge some clarity is slowly becoming evident. For some of the areas within the homeland security arena, however, concepts are not so distinct that they can be studied independent of one another. For example, there is a spirited debate as to whether or not counter-terrorism is intrinsically the dominant theme of an all-hazards approach to risk management.  The Department of Homeland Security has adopted an all-hazards approach to incident planning and response, but there is considerable focus on preventing terrorist activity and preparing to respond to terrorist threats. 

Clear and definitive guidelines have not yet evolved in this emerging field and it is clear the subject is complex in theory and practice.  The immaturity of the field prevents consensus and accepted standards from emerging.  The fully developed degree program at APUS prepares students for the complexities of this field, along with preparation in a number of areas across the homeland security and emergency management spectrum.  In its degree programs, APUS takes an integrated approach that reflects this discipline in its current emergency state.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of homeland security, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

• Examine the historical and evolving concept of homeland security within the broader political and national security system of the contemporary nation-state.
• Recognize the detailed mitigation, planning, response, and recovery phases to and from a homeland security incident.
• Differentiate among the various homeland security threats, to include those that are manmade, technological, and natural.
• Discuss the strategic, operational, and tactical threats presented by chemical, nuclear, and biological agents, to include agent characteristics and delivery systems. 
• Distinguish among and assess the various homeland security approaches, techniques, and processes, such as analytics, indications, warnings, and forecasting.
• Explain the key administrative and command and control elements of the evolving homeland security relationships among the intelligence community; Department of Homeland Security; interagency processes and institutions; federal, state, and local intergovernmental relations; and a comprehensive U.S. homeland security strategy.

Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Courses (27 semester hours)
CJ395 / EDM 220 - Emergency Planning
GM160 / HLS 211 - Emergency Response to Terrorism
GM260 / HLS 212 - Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Hazard
GM261 / HLS 213 - Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Command
IR310 / HLS 101 - Homeland Defense
MM325 / EDM 340 - Consequence Management
SS460 / POL 410 - Public Policy
SS489 / HLS 301 - Homeland Security Organization
RQ300 / COL 300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing

Major Courses (12 semester hours)
Take four (4) of the following courses:
CJ370 / SCM 370 - Principles and Theory of Security Management
CJ372 / SCM 372 - Risk Analysis and Loss Prevention
CJ410 / HLS311 - Border and Coastal Security
CS305 / ISS 362 - IT Security: Attack and Defense
GM263 / HLS 215 - Regulatory Issues in Weapons of Mass Destruction
GM316 / ISS 381 - Cyber Law and Privacy in the Digital Age
IR311 / HLS104 - Chemical and Biological Defense
IS102 / HLS 153 - The International Terrorist
IS201 / HLS 225 - Intermediate Terrorism
IS202 / HLS201 - Islamic Terrorist Groups Cultural Heritage
IS310 / INT 433 - Threat Analysis
IS349 / HLS 320 - Intelligence and Homeland Security
IS386 / INT 423 - Cyber Warfare
MC406 / TLM 381 - Hazardous Materials Management
MC444 / EDM 420 - Risk Communications
MC445 / HLS 312 - Port Security
MC491/ FSC 321 - Community Fire Mitigation and Protection
MC495 / FSC 405 - Fire Safety and Risk Reduction
PY431 / PSY 431 - Psychology of Disaster
RQ313 / INT 315 - Foreign Intelligence Organizations 
SC403 / EDM 240 - Chemistry of Hazardous Materials
SS440 / HCM 426 - Quarantine 

Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
GM497 / HLS 498 - Senior Seminar in Homeland Security
Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.

Electives (42 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours