Bachelor of Science in
Homeland Security
In today’s world, there is daily evidence of the need for security. Natural disasters and the effects of climate change are costly and can devastate entire communities. The threat of terrorism is present globally, and the need for cybersecurity increases as technologies develop.
Embry-Riddle’s Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security degree program, one of the very first in the nation, empowers its graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful throughout the homeland security enterprise.
It provides students with a foundation in security and a solid core of homeland security-related courses, along with University General Education requirements. Students can customize their degree program with specialized tracks in:
- Emergency Management
- Terrorism Studies
- Forensic Accounting
- Military Science
- International History
- Global Conflict Studies
- Cybersecurity
Students can choose how to specialize their homeland security bachelor’s degree:
- By taking two minors, 15-credit hours each
- By taking one minor and another 15-hour block of approved and related courses
The homeland security major curriculum is founded in outcome-based methodology and uses:
- analysis of marketplace needs
- intelligence from U.S. military
- governmental experts
- practicing professionals
Students learn to:
- conduct strategic planning
- build continuity plans
- design & evaluate exercises for emergency response to disasters
DETAILS
About Homeland Security at the Worldwide & Online Campus
With the ever-changing needs of the government and its role in protecting its citizens, the Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (BSHS) degree aims to meet those needs as well as the needs of the private sector.
The bachelor’s program will help develop highly marketable skills for its graduates such as the ability to perform risk analyses, write emergency management plans and understand how to identify and protect critical infrastructure.
Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in:
- Federal or state government
- Universities
- Military
- Private sector
For students who choose to pursue their master’s degree, a 4+1 degree option is available.
The Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (BSHS) degree is based on the needs of the U.S. government and its citizens and the needs of the private sector. The BSHS degree combines the University's General Education requirements with a solid core of homeland security courses and minors in international relations, cybersecurity, or several other minors available to the student. In addition, this degree allows the student to take maximum advantage of transfer credits and electives to explore breadth in related areas of study.
The Homeland Security degree is designed for students interested in obtaining a solid foundation in many of the domains of the growing homeland security enterprise. It includes terrorism studies, law and policy, emergency management, risk analysis, intelligence, physical security, environmental security, asymmetric warfare, and decision making/strategic planning. In addition, students can choose from two ways to specialize in their homeland security education; either through (a) taking two minors or (b) one minor and at least a 15 credit "coherent block of courses" (with permission from the BSHS program coordinator). Senior capstone projects require students to work with local organizations to solve real homeland security or emergency management challenges. Internships or cooperative work experiences optimize the student's professional preparation and credentials.
The goal of the degree is to produce highly marketable graduates with entry-level skills such as the ability to perform risk analyses, write emergency management and continuity of operations plans, design and evaluate exercises, design and perform physical security evaluations, design and deliver professional briefings, and understand how to identify and protect critical infrastructure. Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in federal or state government, universities, and the military or private sectors. In addition, the BSHS program is ideal preparation for further study in graduate school, including law, public policy, or emergency management, intelligence analysis, business, criminal justice, political science, national security studies, international affairs, and other related fields.
B.S. in Homeland Security students who wish to continue to a master's degree may enroll in the BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 program as outlined in this program.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
General Education
| General Education | ||
| Embry-Riddle courses in the general education categories of Communication Theory and Skills, and Humanities and Social Sciences may be chosen from those listed below, assuming prerequisites are met. Courses from other institutions are acceptable if they fall into these broad categories and are at the level specified. | ||
| Communication Theory and Skills | 9 | |
| ENGL 123 or equivalent | 3 | |
| ENGL (above ENGL 106) / SPCH / COMD | 6 | |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 12 | |
| Lower-Level Humanities | 3 | |
| Lower-Level Social Science | 3 | |
| Lower-Level or Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Any Physical and Life Sciences | 6 | |
| Any Mathematics 6-hour sequence above MATH 106 | 6 | |
| Any Computer Science/Information Technology | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| Homeland Security Core** | ||
| HLSD 110 | Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSD 155 | Foundations of Information Security | 3 |
| HLSD 215 | Introduction to Industrial Security | 3 |
| HLSD 280 | Professional Skills in Homeland Security | 3 |
| EMGY 310 | Fundamentals of Emergency Management | 3 |
| HLSD 315 | Critical Infrastructure Security, Resilience, and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| HLSD 320 | Homeland Security Law and Policy | 3 |
| SCTY 488 | National Security Issues and Terrorism | 3 |
| SCTY 315 | Studies in Intelligence I | 3 |
| or SCTY 385 | Intelligence Collection and Analysis | |
| HLSD 290 | Environmental Security | 3 |
| HLSD 360 | Strategic Planning and Decision Making in Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSD 405 | Emergent Topics in Homeland Security | 3 |
| or HLSD 415 | Immigration and Homeland Security | |
| HLSD 410 | Exercise Design and Evaluation in Homeland Security | 3 |
| HLSD 495 | Homeland Security Capstone I | 3 |
| HLSD 496 | Homeland Security Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Breadth Area or Choose Minors
| Breadth Area/Minors** | ||
| Students complete their breadth requirement by either two non-duplicating minors (minimum 30 credits total), or one minor and a "coherent block of study" (minimum 30 credits total) that is determined with consent of Program Coordinator. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
| Program Support** | 9 | |
| SFTY 201 | Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health | 3 |
| or SFTY 409 | Aviation Safety | |
| Select one of the following safety courses: | 3 | |
SFTY 315 | Environmental Compliance and Safety | |
SFTY 462 | Health, Safety and Aviation Law | |
| STAT 222 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| **For students in the Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security degree program the RSCH 202 prerequisite for Core, Program Support, or Minor courses are waived since RSCH 202 is not required for the program. | ||
Electives
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Choose Any 300-400 Level Course | ||
| Total Degree Requirements | (Minimum) 123 | |
| * | Minnesota student residents refer to State of Minnesota Course Requirement statement for Humanities requirements. |
BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 Program, A Unique Opportunity
The BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 program is for exceptional students committed to continuing their education through the master's degree. This fast-paced program an accelerated BSHS leading to an M.S. in Human Security & Resilience (MSHSR) degree program in five academic years. The 4+1 option allows qualifying students to substitute either three MSHSR graduate courses covering similar concepts and principles for three required courses:
Students accepted into the 4+1 program spend three academic years in undergraduate-level study. At the beginning of their senior year (having earned at least 75 credit hours with a 3.00 CGPA), they may take up to three graduate-level courses that will meet undergraduate and graduate program requirements (when a B grade or better is achieved). Students must complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate/graduate course credits for their Bachelor of Science degree.
Upon completion of the BSHS requirements, students will be enrolled in graduate school and can complete their MSHSR degree in one year. In any graduate course taken by an undergraduate student, the student must earn a grade of B or better. If the student earns a grade of C or F in any of the MSHSR graduate courses taken for BSHS credit, the student will be removed from the 4+1 program, have credit awarded to the BSHS degree only, and may continue to complete the BSHS degree.
Courses such as MHSR 530 (Environmental Security) can be taken in lieu of HLSD 290 (Environmental Security). MHSR 520 (Principles of International Conflict Resolution) can be taken in lieu of HLSD 320 (Homeland Security Law and Policy). Any 500-level MHSR course can be taken in place of the BSHS 300/400-level elective.
Students initiate program acceptance through their Academic Advisor or Campus Advisor; to help ensure program criteria are met. Student Advisor will complete the request for processing into the 4+1 program.
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