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Undergrad Border and Homeland Security (BOR) Course Descriptions

3101 Introduction to Homeland Security (1-0). Students focus on a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of homeland security from an all-hazards perspective. They examine threats to homeland security, including natural and technological disasters, as well as intentional threats of domestic and international terrorism, including weapons of mass destruction. The processes whereby strategic intelligence is gathered and disseminated are analyzed and accompanied with practical assignments where students gather and assess open-source and subscription open-source intelligence on one topic of their choice. This project is presented along with analysis and recommendations within a class portfolio context. Students review the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-government organizations, and individual citizens in homeland security. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Border Security 3301.)

3301 Studies in Homeland Security (3-0). This course introduces the student to the field of Border Security Studies. Students focus on a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of border security from an all-hazards perspective. Border security is viewed as a fundamental component of Homeland Security, and as such students examine a wide variety of threats to the homeland. This course incorporates the concepts of critical infrastructure, gathering and analysis of strategic intelligence, and develops the student’s technical writing skills. Students review the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-government organizations, and individual citizens in homeland security. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Border Security 3101.)

3307 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3-0). This course introduces students to the wide range of modern communications technologies. Use of these technologies by government and business entities for intelligence gathering, their limitations, and vulnerabilities are introduced to students. An overview of the history of computer hacking is covered. Additionally, a brief overview of law and policy concerning cyber communications are discussed beginning with the National Security Act of 1947. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Intelligence and Analysis 3307.)

3309 Information Security and Protection (3-0). This course prepares students to assess the security needs of computer and network systems, recommend safeguard solutions, and manage the implementation and maintenance of security devices, systems, and procedures. Reviews of past hacking, criminal, and terrorist (state and non-state) attacks on information networks are a component of this course.

3320 History of Terrorism (3-0). Students examine the phenomena of terrorism, counterterrorism, and the associated violence from a historical perspective with a focus on terrorism impacting America. Students describe the social context of terrorism as it relates to the actions of various terrorist groups, how terrorism appears to be a war fought on a different level by a set of different rules, and the emergence of leaderless terrorism (a loose network of groups with common goals apparently acting in isolation towards similar ends). Students conclude the course with discussions on fighting terrorism in the United States, including the potential problems of loss of civil liberties and other obstacles to counterterrorism.

3322 Weapons of Mass Destruction (3-0). This course for the non-scientist is a study of chemical, biological, and radiological science involved in the different forms of weapons of mass destruction. Identification of critical infrastructure and the associated threats are analyzed. The course covers topics of basic science, treatment, and short- and long- term effects, among other issues central to understanding hostile WMD agents.

3323 Wildlife Crimes (3-0). This course is designed to begin with an overview of the world’s wildlife and conservation crime problem from a global perspective as well as the United States Fish and Wildlife Department. The wildlife crime problem is a preferred economic business practice of many organizations, including transnational organized crime groups and some terrorist organizations. The modules created for use in this course are designed to progress from the world view of wildlife and conservation crime to a more localized perspective that encompasses the full spectrum of social, political, and economic issues affecting the United States. Finally, the violence and threat emanating from many wildlife criminal organizations will be studied, and future trends and implications will top off the course. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Criminal Justice 3323.)

3340 Legal Issues in International Relations (3-0). Students receive an in-depth overview of laws, policy, strategy, organization, and plans for dealing with various natural, accidental and premeditated threats to homeland security. Students review the respective and relative roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-government organizations, and individual citizens for U.S. national security. Students discuss various policy and strategy issues, including balancing security and civil liberties and information sharing and protection and the USA Patriot Act.

3343 International Law (3-0). Introduces the student to the basic principles and practices of international law and legal regimes. Examines traditional and emerging topics in the field: human rights, the Law of the Sea, the Law of Armed Conflict, War Crimes Tribunals, and the International Criminal Court.

4071 Internship (1-6 SCH). This course is designed to familiarize students with the application of knowledge gained in course work and with operations and problems in the field of border and homeland security. Students must be pursuing a degree in Border Security. Approval of instructor is required.

4191, 4291, 4391 Research. Individual research problems for superior students majoring in homeland and border security. May be repeated for a total of six semester hours credit.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing. Approval from the Chair of the Department is required prior to enrollment.

4301 Critical Communications Infrastructure (3-0). This course focuses on how cyber communication systems function, their interconnectivity, and vulnerabilities. The course materials focus on processes and policies associated with hardening and protecting critical communications infrastructure from natural hazards, potential terrorist threats, and attacks associated with modern warfare.

4302 Space Imagery and Security (3-0). This capstone course discusses the use of space-based assets to support Homeland Security and Intelligence efforts. Included are the limitations of the technologies, available commercial technologies, and the discussion of the legal, moral, and political issues surrounding the use of these technologies in a democratic society. Students will design and present a project as part of this course. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Intelligence and Analysis 4302.)

4303 Digital Footprints (3-0). A digital footprint is the data users leave behind on digital services. This course explores the inner workings of our digital world. Students will learn about the two main classifications of digital footprints: passive and active. The course covers terms related to internet technology and the dynamics of the internet while examining the mechanism and tools used to break down user and server information. (Credit may not be earned for this course and Intelligence and Analysis 4305.)

4310 Maritime Security (3-0). This course provides students with a broad knowledge of port and coastal security issues and the efforts necessary to protect critical infrastructure. It examines the critical importance of ports of entry (ocean, land, and air) to trade and their vulnerability to disruption and attack. It also examines several contemporary issues, including the importance of sea borne trade to the North American and United State economies, the vulnerabilities of ports to disruption and asymmetric attack, critical port security incidents, and defensive measures to protect ports from disruption or asymmetric attack. Topics also include immigration, an overview of the federal, state and local organizations involved in port and coastal security, and non-U.S. approaches to border and coastal security.

4321 Trends in Terrorism and Counterterrorism (3-0). This is a seminar course in which students examine new and growing threats including: narco-terrorism, environmental terrorism, terrorist recruitment methods, genomic terrorism, and threats to critical infrastructure. Students progress from analysis of past terrorism to present and future responses by national and international counterterrorism. Students consider historical defenses as well as new concepts and innovations for the prevention and mitigation of terrorist attacks.

4330 Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Planning (3-0). Effective emergency planning is the key to surviving natural and man-made disasters. Risk analysis and the formulation of a comprehensive plan, followed by a vigorous and continuing testing program, are essential elements to surviving an emergency. Topics covered include threat assessment, risk analysis, formulating a response plan, staffing an emergency operations center (EOC), interagency coordination and liaison, managing an actual incident, and conducting effective follow-up analysis. Student will select a critical infrastructure component within their communities, evaluate/establish strategic planning to respond to a disaster at that location, consider environmental impacts of a disaster, and present a portfolio of their analysis and response plans in an appropriate format. Actual case studies are discussed. Students are expected to participate actively in role-playing responses to disaster scenarios provide by the professor.

4344 Terrorism and Homeland Security (3-0). This survey course addresses the legal and policy lessons from the past regarding the War on Terrorism. The course examines definition of domestic and international conflict; its modalities (e.g., armed conflict, terrorism, economic coercion, and environmental degradation); types of threats (e.g., nuclear, biological, and chemical); the public law of conflict management; and the U.S. response to external conflict within the confines of domestic and international legal principles recognized by the United States (including constitutional issues.)

4345 Federal Immigration Law (3-0). In this seminar course the student is introduced to Federal Laws dealing with Border Security issues, in particular, U.S.C. Title 8, Title 18, Title 19, Title 21, and Title 31. Overviews of the laws, coupled with discussion of their implementation by the federal courts, are interactively discussed by the student and professor.

4351 Critical Infrastructure Protection (3-0). The evolution and principles of critical infrastructure, in both the private and public sectors, vital to their community, state, or the nation are identified. Risk assessments are performed and students address risk mitigation plans and appropriate countermeasures to a variety of threats from an all-hazards perspective. Includes instruction in homeland security policy, critical infrastructure policy, threat assessment, physical security, personnel security, operational security, contingency planning, case analyses of specific industries and systems, redundancy planning, emergency and disaster planning, security systems, and intelligence operations.

4354 Professionalism and Ethics in Criminal Justice Agencies (3-0). The study of theories and practices in areas of legality, morality, values, and ethics as they pertain to criminal justice. Included will be such topics as police corruption, brutality, and methods of dealing with such practices, as well as the concept of profession and professional conduct. This course is for Border Security or Criminal Justice majors and minors only. (Credit may not be earned for this course and for Criminal Justice 4354.)
Prerequisite: Senior status.

4381 Special Topics (3-0). A seminar in selected homeland and border security topics. May be repeated once for credit when topic varies.

4389 Seminar in Homeland and Border Security (3-0). This capstone course ties together the wide-ranging issues associated in the discipline of Homeland Security, focusing students in conducting research into issues associated with securing the nation’s borders from a variety of transnational threats in a dynamic environment.
Prerequisite: Senior status.