With the onset of terrorism and heightened threats both at home and abroad, Homeland Security is a growing, increasingly complex program within the Criminal Justice field. Homeland security professionals address key functions of threat prevention, crisis response, and operations recovery. Given that homeland security is a responsibility shared by several different government agencies, professionals in this field require cooperation from all sides, including the private sector and individual citizens. Ideal for anyone entering law enforcement, private security or public administration, this course provides students with an overview of homeland security issues, threats and emergency management to ensure they understand the context within which their roles and responsibilities contribute to the overall effort to deter and mitigate against the effects of these new threats.

This program is designed to prepare successful participants to work in various Homeland Security agencies at a local, state or federal level. Specifically for those learners whose career-focus is in counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, national security or government security, this program is a great way to examine new and different subject areas within this growing field. The program provides an overview of the elements involved in the homeland security function, as well as the challenges critical, infrastructure managers in government and industry can/will face.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Evaluate the changing context of terrorism
• Discuss how terrorism is different from other types of violence
• Examine the concept of terrorism
• Discuss of the relationship between product counterfeiting and terrorism
• Evaluate the impact of the Internet and social media on terrorism
• Examine cyber terrorism
• Examine how transportation systems are at risk and protected from terrorist threats
• Examine the effects of terrorism on public health
• Describe new background material on active terrorist groups
• Describe the U.S. approach to emergency management
• Discuss recent research on violent, financial, and planned terrorist attacks
• Define homeland security
• Discuss the use of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
• Describe the ethical considerations involved in homeland security issues
• Describe the use of communication technologies in emergency situations
• Examine the role of various fields in preparing for and responding to emergencies

Detailed Program Objectives

• The Shifting Definition of Terrorism
  • Changing context of terrorism
  • Current research on defining terrorism and targeted violence
  • Discussion of how terrorism is different from other types of violence, such as mass shootings
• Practical Criminology, Radicalization, and Types of Terrorism
  • Relating indicators of radicalization and terrorism to other forms of crime
  • Discussion of current research on risk and protective factors related to radicalized opinions and radicalized actions
• Terrorism and the Media
  • New evaluation of the impact of the Internet and social media on terrorism
  • Research update on how terrorists use the Internet and social media for recruitment, radicalization, and operations planning
• Background to the Middle East - Terrorism in Israel and Palestine
  • Updates on Hezbollah and Hamas
  • New trends in terrorism in Israel and Palestine
  • New background material on active terrorist groups
  • Analysis of Hezbollah's changing political role in Lebanon and the Syrian Civil War
• Revolutionary and Counterrevolutionary Terrorism
  • Significant expansion on discussion of domestic terrorism threats, updating the current terrorist threat environment
  • Discussion of recent research on violent, financial, and planned terrorist attacks that have occurred in the United States
• Domestic Terrorism
  • Discussion of the conceptualization of domestic terrorism and domestic violent extremism (DVE)
  • Analysis of militia groups, sovereign citizens, and the reemergence of far right extremist groups as significant threats
  • Discussion of research on lone wolf actors and how they are similar to and different from group-affiliated terrorists
• An Introduction to Homeland Security
  • Discussion of defining homeland security
  • Current research on fusion centers and the intelligence process
  • Updates on research on terrorism plots
• Organizing Homeland Security
  • Discussion of the use of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
  • Discussion of the relationship between immigration and terrorism
• Homeland Security and Constitutional Issues
  • Updates to the USA Patriot Act and legal/political changes
  • Evaluation of the expansion of executive powers
• Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, and the Future
  • Discussion of the role of community policing in a homeland security framework

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the opportunity to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Homeland Security (CJ-HSS)

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.