Introduces student to global and intercultural issues regarding homeland security at the national, regional, state and local levels. Discusses the history of homeland security, including its political history, and evolution, particularly as it relates to terrorism. Addresses demands state and local authorities must meet when dealing with national programs and requirements which affect funding and operations on the state and local level during natural or man-made disasters and emergencies.

Examines critical skills used in the management of emergency services operations. Proposes possible applications of the skills using real-life examples. Emphasizes the development process and analytical skills necessary to assess problems in the workplace and select appropriate solutions.

Teaches development, management, and evaluation of departmental safety programs. Includes compilation of accident and injury data from local jurisdictions. Develops programs that target safety concerns identified from research. Students will develop a plan to track effectiveness of safety programs to reduce personal injuries and property damage resulting from accidents within their department.

Teaches action planning procedures for emergency incidents requiring multiple agency operations. Includes determining resources, assigning and placement of resources to mitigate incidents requiring multi-agency responses. Studies coordination of changing roles and responsibilities of fire service based EMS providers with the requirements set forth by local ordinances, state statutes, and federal laws. Presents personnel, resource management, and quality improvement techniques.

Prepares students for developing long-range plans, given current organization status and local resources, emphasizing the attainment of both organizational, and community needs. Teaches planning for growth and for major disasters. Integrates resources and budgets while mitigating the impacts on a community. Develops and evaluates projected training requirements.

Explores basic research designs, the use of selective analytical tools, and common issues faced by public emergency services managers. Examines tools and techniques using research methods to facilitate the decision making process in public emergency services organizations.

Introduces critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) and explores the interdependencies between government and private industry in sustaining and protecting critical infrastructure. Provides an overview of the elements and processes to develop and sustain successful critical infrastructure partnerships and to protect critical infrastructure and key resources.

Examines the general psychological aspects of police, fire, and emergency medical services responders including dimensions of personality, family, organizational, cultural and diversity issues. Examines models of emergency and crisis decision making. Analyzes stress, anxiety, and trauma theories and clinical issues and examines current interventions being used for related disorders and building resilience.

Discusses shared terrorism threats as well as policies and strategies employed by a range of democratic countries to cope with terrorism and other homeland security-related threats. Examines issue areas such as bio-threats, health system preparedness, airport security and anti-radicalization policies across a number of countries. Reviews the practices of other countries and translates those practices into policies applicable in the United States. Prepares students to engage with their international partners at the local, state, or federal levels as Homeland Security becomes an increasingly global undertaking requiring greater international outreach.

Explores advanced leadership topics as they relate to the first responder. Discusses leadership theories used in both emergency and non-emergency environments and develops skills necessary to lead small and large organizations under the unique atmosphere of time, pressure, and consequence. Provides an understanding of the role an emergency services leader plays in a paramilitary environment.

Examines both theoretical and applied aspects of complex humanitarian emergencies and reviews disasters in the context of humanitarian relief. Explores the needs of displaced persons and the systems and practices currently in place to meet these needs. Reviews the principles of preparedness, resilience, and sustainability in terms of short-term response to disasters and long-term community recovery.

Prepares emergency services students to respond effectively to public information needs in both day-to-day emergency circumstances as well as in more extreme disaster conditions. Explores the theory and develops skills to effectively respond in crisis situations. Presents case studies in crisis response that demonstrate how information can help the public prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.

Deals with the operations side of humanitarian action. Establishes principles that can be used in local, national, and international relief efforts. Applies best practices from emergency management to the field of humanitarian services and disaster relief. Meets the global and international requirements to foster greater understanding of, interaction with, and appreciation for, cultures that reflect the diversity present within the local and campus communities, up to the larger state and global context.

Focuses on how planning and policy processes and interventions can help reduce disaster vulnerabilities and increase resilience through effective recovery and mitigation strategies. Explores how demographic changes, human settlement patterns, land-use decisions, and political and social policy dynamics have increased vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.

Examines regulatory, political, and social aspects of government's role in emergency services agencies, including regulatory issues, emergency services operations, employment, personnel issues, roles, legislative issues, and political influence.