Main Content
Syllabus
HLS 201: Introduction to Homeland Security (3)
This course provides knowledge about the government organizations charged with securing the sovereign borders of the United States, the laws and policies they enforce, and the geopolitical, economic, and legal issues they face.
There are no prerequisite courses for HLS 201.
Overview
This course serves as the foundation for all subsequent homeland security-related courses. As such, it proposes to introduce the student to the post-9/11 American strategies shaped by congressional statutes, executive branch executive orders and directives, the current organizational structure for executing Homeland Security activities, and by the key strategies and plans impacting every level of government from the national strategic level to the local levels of government--including both the public and private sectors.
The approach used in this course comprises a combination of lecture, forum discussion, role-playing problem solving with feedback, collaborative learning, and personal interviews with local homeland security-related stakeholders.
Course Objectives
This course will provide and focus on the central missions of homeland security: domestic security, emergency preparedness and mitigation, intelligence, and technology. The course identifies the key policy participants at the federal, state, and local levels along with critical legislative and legal policy issues relevant to the implementation and execution of homeland security activities. The design of the course is to provide an overview of the discipline of homeland security with the objective of gaining a good understanding of the many aspects and opportunities in the homeland security arena.
By the end of this course, students will be able to do the following:
- Better understand the concept of homeland security, from a historical perspective to its establishment as a key component of our nation’s effort to thwart terrorism.
- Explain the organization of homeland security at the federal, state, and local levels of government, its key players, and its critical mission areas.
- Understand how the concept of homeland security has changed our nation’s priorities and the evolving and changing threats against the United States.
My hope at the conclusion of your course studies is that you will have a greater understanding and appreciation of the dedicated efforts of the men and women who comprise the homeland security enterprise. Their tireless efforts over the past 10 years have made our nation safer and more secure.
Finally, the course is structured to provide you an overview of the mission of the world of homeland security with the objective of you contemplating working in the field. The course will be interactive and class participation will be emphasized and monitored by your instructor throughout the semester.
Materials
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
E-Reserves
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
IT Service Desk
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Expectations for Writing Assignments
In this course, you will be given several writing assignments in the form of discussions, written assignments, and a final research topic paper.
You should cite sources using the American Psychological Association (APA) style, the most commonly used style within the social sciences. If you have questions about literature searches or citing sources, please ask the instructor or see the University Libraries' Citation Guide.
While content is important and will reflect the majority of your grade in these writing assignments, the quality and clarity of the writing will also be evaluated.
Your assignment grade may be reduced for not following these directions or for submitting the assignment after the due date, without prior approval.
| Assignment Category | Writing Expectations |
|---|---|
|
Discussions (Lessons 1-5) | Your initial post should be a minimum of 250 words. Please also provide at least three (3) credible sources to support your work. Do not use personal pronouns in your initial response. Each response should be a minimum of 100 words. Each response requires at least one (1) cited credible source. Do not use contractions. |
| Written Assignments (Lesson 3 and 4) | Minimum two (2) pages response. Be sure to use APA formatting. Your title page, abstract pages, and reference list are not a part of the total page count. You need to have a minimum of four (4) different citations. |
|
Topic Paper |
The final paper will be 10-20 pages written using APA 7th formatting, This assignment requires a minimum of 20 citations. |
Grading and Course Requirements
The following table provides an at a glance look at the assignments for this course.
| Assignment Category | Grade Weight |
|---|---|
| Topic Paper | 30% |
| Discussion Forums | 25% |
| Exams | 20% |
| Written Assignments | 15% |
| Group Presentation | 10% |
Here are a couple of handy tips to maximize your points and grade:
- Read the directions! (e.g. if the discussion board says to make a substantial initial post and make follow-up comments on at least two other posts, do that on time to get all the points!)
- Use APA to format papers, citations, and reference lists.
- If life happens and you run into a delay, let me know as soon as practical (preferably ahead of time) and we'll work out a solution. Otherwise there is a penalty for late stuff.
- Keep up with the schedule for discussion boards and the paper topic proposal, outline, etc.
- Academic integrity! All written submissions will be submitted to Turnitin to check for plagarism.
Grades will be based on the following grading scale:
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 94% to 100% |
| A- | 90% to 93% |
| B+ | 87% to 89% |
| B | 84% to 86% |
| B- | 80% to 83% |
| C+ | 76% to 79% |
| C | 70% to 75% |
| D | 60% to 69% |
Assignment Deadlines
Unless noted otherwise, all weekly activities are due by 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Sunday at the end of the lesson week.
Assigned Readings
Students should read each assignment thoroughly as provided in the course schedule. Also, I suggest you get into a habit of reviewing a daily source of information that provides an update on current issues. Readings may be assigned from the course text, a supplemental text, library e-Reserves, websites, or supplemental resources.
Discussion Forums
You will engage in thoughtful discussion during the first half of the course. Discussions are to be well written responses that reflect your own ideas as well as information and ideas from your readings.
Initial Post
- Respond to each discussion forum question(s) by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Thursday of the lesson week. Your initial post should be a minimum of 250 words. Please also provide at least three (3) credible sources to support your work. Do not use personal pronouns in your initial response.
Follow-Up Posts
- Respond to two of your fellow students by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Sunday. The objective of this interaction is to develop a discussion thread that stimulates critical thinking and in-depth dialogue. Each response should be a minimum of 100 words. Each response requires at least one (1) cited credible source. You must use the required header. Do not use contractions.
Topic Paper
The final assignment for this course is a topic paper and will be completed as a group. Each group will select a contemporary homeland security issue. Each group will write a 10-20 page (not including your title or reference page) research paper utilizing APA 7th edition style formatting. The topic paper requires a minimum of 20 citations.
Your work on the topic paper will begin during the second half of the course and is broken into 5 deliverables:
- Select topic
- Draft outline
- Develop research question and theory
- Annotated bibliography
- Literature review
- Submit Final Project
Your group will submit one document for each of the topic paper deliverables. Your group will receive one grade for the final project and one grade for each of the various deliverables. Group members will NOT be graded individually. It is important that all group members adequately contribute to the project. If yourself or a group member is not fulfilling their responsibilities please alert the instructor immediately.
Midterm and Final Examinations
Students are expected to take the examinations at the specified times found in the syllabus. Each of the examinations will have the following structure:
- Be comprised of 20 multiple-choice questions.
- Be open book.
- Be 90 minutes, timed.
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.- Course begins:
- Course ends:
- Course length: 16 weeks
NOTE: All assignments will be due no later than 11:59 pm ET, Sunday evenings unless otherwise specifically stated.
Course Introduction & Lesson 1: Roles and Responsibilities of Government
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security:
9/11 Commission Report:
Other Readings
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 2: Pre-9/11 Strategic Setting
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
9/11 Commission Report:
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 3: Homeland Security: The Concept, the Organization
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
9/11 Commission Report:
Other Readings Review the following: E-Reserves
*You can access this resource via the Library Resources link on the course's left navigation. |
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Videos: |
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 4: The Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
E-Reserve
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| Videos: |
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 5: Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings
Review the following: |
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 6: Hazards: Mitigation/Prevention and Preparedness
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Timeframe: |
Note: this is a two week lesson. |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 7: All Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery
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Timeframe: |
Note: this is a two week lesson. |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings
E-Reserves
*You can access this resource via the Library Resources link on the course's left navigation. |
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 8: Intelligence and Counterterrorism
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Timeframe: |
Note: this is a two week lesson. |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings Review the following:
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 9: Cybersecurity
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Timeframe: |
Note: this is a two week lesson. |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings
Review the following: |
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Assignments: |
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Break
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
N/A |
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Assignments: |
N/A |
Lesson 10: Terrorism in the United States
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
Other Readings
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Assignments: |
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Lesson 11: Reflections and Future Aspirations in the Field of Homeland Security
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Timeframe: |
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Readings: |
Textbook Understanding Homeland Security
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Assignments: |
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Course Access
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Graduation
NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
University Policies
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Military
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Time Zone
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
Additional Course Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.