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The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, through the Center for Homeland Security (CHS), has developed a set of graduate courses leading to a Certificate in Homeland Defense. These courses are available at the UCCS campus as well as online.
The homeland defense courses have been offered to military, DOD employees, and defense contractors since August 2003. Beginning in the fall of 2004, the program became available to those in the community with an interest in and desire to prepare for jobs related to homeland security and homeland defense. As employment opportunities expand in the private sector and at all levels of the public sector, alumni of this program will be well-positioned to serve as administrators, executives, analysts, and consultants in the growing homeland security/homeland defense field.
Students completing all four courses receive a certificate from UCCS. In addition, the courses may be used to complete the Master of Public Administration degree offered by the University of Colorado Graduate School of Public Affairs and as electives in selected other graduate programs at the university.
Certificate Program Requirements
There are four, three-credit courses in the certificate program. These courses are designed to be taken in the order in which they appear below. Students may change the order in which they take these courses with the permission of the instructor.
PAD 5950: Introduction to Homeland Defense
This course provides an overview of homeland security, with an emphasis on homeland defense and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), its mission, the other government organizations it interfaces with, and constraints on those relationships. Course participants will gain an understanding of homeland security and homeland defense from the perspectives of the primary national-level players: the Department of Defense, USNORTHCOM, and the Department of Homeland Security. Major topics include the national strategy for homeland security, strategic and military force approaches to countering the terrorist threat, civilian and military roles, military-civil relationships based on Posse Comitatus, the National Guard, and USNORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) roles and missions.
Prerequisite: Experience and/or academic work in civil government or military-related areas preferred.
PAD 5951: Interagency Relationships in Homeland Security and Homeland Defense
This course provides an in-depth study of the relationships between and among the many agencies involved in homeland security and homeland defense ranging from Federal departments to individual state agencies to local first responders. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the roles, missions, capabilities, and significant issues of those agencies with which USNORTHCOM interfaces. Major topics will include the homeland security policymaking process, organization theory and public management dimensions for homeland security agencies, intergovernmental and interagency relationships, consequence and disaster management, legal issues, and information sharing.
Prerequisite: PAD 5950 or permission of instructor.
Students wishing to take PAD 5951 first must apply for advanced placement into the program by completing the form. Advanced placement students have already earned a masters degree in a field related to homeland security or homeland defense and have significant career experience in these fields.
PSC 598 : Understanding the Threat
Understanding the source of the threat can help in dealing with terrorists and others who could threaten our homeland. This course will provide attendees with an understanding of the source of threats that may help them in developing effective methods of deterring, preventing, and defeating those threats. Topics may include the history of terrorism, psychology of terrorists, terrorist organizations and support, terrorism organizations, international law, weapons of mass destruction, and asymmetric threats. Current readings and research will be emphasized. Students will investigate a specific threat and determine from that knowledge how best to deal with that threat.
Prerequisite: An undergraduate course in psychology is preferred.
INFS 682 : Protection of Critical Infrastructures
Course introduces the set of critical infrastructures, with emphasis on threats, vulnerabilities, and information infrastructures. The principles of systems engineering with emphasis on risk-based decision making and systems thinking will be presented. A term project is required.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of information systems and network security preferred. |
