HLS201: Introduction to Homeland Security

Welcome to Homeland Security

PUBPL 201 is an undergraduate course which focuses on providing a broad overview of the world of “homeland security.” This course includes a historical narrative of how the United States dealt with internal matters pre-9/11 as well as provides a contemporary approach to an “all-hazards” effort to threat mitigation. The goal of this course is to provide the student with a solid foundation of the generally accepted body of knowledge required of the homeland security professional.

Lesson Readings & Activities

One of the most important documents you will be using throughout the semester is the course syllabus, which outlines your readings and activities for each lesson and identifies the due date for each assignment. Keep your course syllabus handy, as you will refer to it many times during the course of your weekly activities.

By the end of this lesson, make sure you have completed the readings and activities found in the Course Schedule.

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 12 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.

Methodology, Scope and Approach

Methodology

The methodology used throughout this course is designed to familiarize you with the main issues and challenges facing state, regional, and municipality elected/appointed officials currently working on homeland security-related issues, activities, and programs. You’ll demonstrate your degree of understanding through a series of graded activities–each focused on a major, contemporary homeland security-related topic.

Scope

This course pursues knowledge derived from individual research, analysis, critical thinking, and assessment of the key federal statutes and executive branch vision, policies, strategies, and protocols impacting the public[1] and private sectors.[2]

Course Textbooks

Understanding Homeland Security

The textbook: Understanding Homeland Security by Gus Martin (3rd ed.) will be the primary text utilized throughout the course.

The 9/11 Commission Report

As a result of the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush established the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Informally known as the 9/11 Commission, the objective of the Commission was not to assign individual blame, but to “provide the fullest possible account of the events surrounding 9/11 and to identify lessons learned” (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 2004).

The Commission learned the following:

The institutions charged with protecting our borders, civil aviation, and national security did not understand how grave this threat could be and did not adjust their policies, plans and practices to deter or defeat it. The Commission learned of fault lines within our government, between foreign and domestic intelligence operations and between a myriad of federal agencies. The Commission learned of the pervasive problems of managing and sharing information across a large and unwieldy federal government that had been built in a different era to confront a different danger (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, 2004, p. xvi).

It is imperative to understand the importance of the 9/11 Report. It details the history but as the Commission discovered, terrorism authorities were vague and poorly established prior to September 11. Because of their efforts, legislation has continued to emerge with the objective of solving many of the recognized shortfalls and inefficiencies that existed at the federal level. Accordingly, many statutory improvements and a massive reorganization of the federal government did occur that has dramatically changed the way we manage our all-hazards approach to terrorism. The statutes, presidential directives, and executive decisions that have been issued in large part due to the 9/11 Commission Report will be addressed throughout the course.

Reference

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. (2004). The 9/11 commission report: Final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Washington, DC: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

Getting Started

Basic Steps

To help you get started with your course, please follow the important steps below:

• Syllabus: Read the syllabus thoroughly. The syllabus contains important information about the course, including the course objectives, technological requirements, grading requirements, and reading and assignment schedules. Make sure that you read it carefully, and ask questions if you need the instructor to clarify any points.
• Explore Canvas: If you haven't already done so, take some time to complete the Canvas Orientation. This space has been designed to give students an overview of all of the resources available through Canvas. As time allows, explore the FAQ questions created by the developers of Canvas to learn more.
• Academic Integrity: In any course, whether it is face-to-face or online, as a student of Penn State, you are required and expected to understand and accept our policies on academic integrity and plagiarism.
• University Libraries: Please note that there are course reserves identified for this course. Click on the following link and take a minute to familiarize yourself with the Library Course Reserves for this course. As you progress through the lessons, the course reserves for each week will be listed on the Course Syllabus.

Be Proactive

As a distance learning student, you should be proactive in engaging in your personal learning experience; should you desire to research other sources to better understand the material, please do so.

• Regulate Your Own Learning: You should take responsibility for your own learning as well as your peers' by completing readings and posting meaningful, course-related discussion. Monitor and access your own learning and progress.


• Regulate Your Schedule: Please adhere to the deadlines stated in the syllabus by completing the activities by the due dates. If you find difficulty adhering to a due date, contact your instructor immediately.
   
• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: When you communicate in person, you can use tone of voice, hand gestures, and body language in addition to your words; however, when communicating online, you cannot rely on those additional methods. There are generally accepted methods of behavior for online communication. Keep your lines of communication open at all times and keep asking questions if necessary. Please note the generally accepted methods of behavior for online communication and respect the comments and postings of your fellow students. To minimize unacceptable behavior, it is a good practice for you to read and to acknowledge that you understand the expectations of online netiquette.