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Schedule

  1. Course Starts: 
  2. Course Ends: 
  3. Course Length: 16 weeks

NOTE: All due dates reflect North American Eastern time (ET).

Introductory Lesson (required)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Getting Started Lesson/Module
Assignments:
  • Introduction Discussion Forum
  • Student Questionnaire Form
  • Academic Integrity Statement

Note: Students must view all Introductory Lesson content and submit all forms and assignments in order to unlock Lesson 1. 
 Lesson 1-- Legal Framework for Homeland Security
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 1 content
  • U.S. Constitution: Articles I, II , III, and IV, and the first 10 Amendments
  • Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (The 9/11 Commission Report, 2004) - Chapter 1
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapter 1
Assignments:

Participate in the Discussion Forum

  • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
  • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 2 -- Legal Framework for Homeland Security (continued)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 2 content
  • Browse: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Key DHS Laws.
  • Doyle, C. The USA PATRIOT Act: A Sketch. CRS Report for Congress, 2002.
  • House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. USA FREEDOM Act.
  • Bazan, E. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: Legal Requirements for Federal and State Roles in Declarations of an Emergency or a Major Disaster. CRS Report for Congress, 2005.
  • Brown, J.T., McCarthy, F.X., and Liu, E.C. Analysis of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013. CRS Report for Congress, 2013.
  • FEMA. Ensuring Civil Rights During the COVID-19 Response (2020)
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Crisis Standards of Care and Civil Rights Laws (2020)
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress (2013).
    • Chapter 6.
Assignments:
  • Post in the Topic Paper #1 Selection Forum
    • The recommended additional textbook, Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018), is an excellent resource to inform your topic choices and serve as foundation/point of departure for your topic papers. 
  • Participate in the Discussion Forum
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 3 -- Legal Framework for Homeland Security (continued)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 3 content
  • Homeland Security Act of 2002:  Legislative History and Pagination Key. CRS Report for Congress, 2003.
  • Analysis for the Homeland Security Act of 2002
  • Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (The 9/11 Commission Report, 2004) - Chapters 3, 12, and 13
  • Summary: Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (congress.gov)
  • Bullock, J. et al. (2013). Introduction to Homeland Security (4th ed.) 
    • Chapter 1, Homeland Security: the Concept, the Organization
    • Chapter 4, Governmental Homeland Security Structures 
      • Figure 4.1 is blurry. Please view it in the separate document below.
        • ​Figure 4.1
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Discussion Forum
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
  • Watch: "Perspectives" interview with Jason Klitenic
Lesson 4 -- Executive Branch Policies and Strategies
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 4 content
  • Cancian, M.F. et al. Formulating National Security Strategy: Past Experience and Future Choices (2017)  
  • Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, March 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR): Read the latest available QHSR
  • National Strategy for Homeland Security (2007) ​
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapter 3
Assignments:
  • Post in the Executive Summary Feedback Forum #1
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 5 -- Executive Branch Policies and Strategies (continued)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 5 content
  • Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission Report) Chapter 2
  • The National Security Policy Process: The National Security Council and Interagency System  pages 5-48
  • Memorandum on Renewing the National Security Council System: The White House
  • Department of Homeland Security organizational chart
  • Presidential Policy Directive-8 (PPD-8), National Preparedness (2011)
  • The Strategic National Risk Assessment in Support of PPD 8: A Comprehensive Risk-Based Approach Toward A Secure and Resilient Nation
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress (2013)
    • Chapters 1-2
Assignments:
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
  • REMINDER: Ensure you complete your FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses prior to Lesson 8 and upload the certificates of completion into the respective Drop Boxes found in Lesson 7.
Lesson 6 -- Executive Branch Policies and Strategies (continued)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 6 content
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress (2013)
    • ​Chapters 3-4
  • Ridge, T. The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...and How We Can Be Safe Again, Chapters 1-2
    • e-Reserve 
  • Wise, C.R. "Organizing for Homeland Security”  
    • ​e-Reserve
  • Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (The 9/11 Commission Report, 2004) - Chapter 2
Assignments:Participate in the discussion forum.
  • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
  • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.

Topic paper #1 is due this week.

  • Upload your topic paper to the drop box.
  • Your paper must be uploaded as a MS Word document and meet all the requirements as delineated in the Getting Started Lesson and in the syllabus.
  • Use the following file naming convention: Last name_first name_topic paper #

Post in the Topic Paper #2 Selection Forum

  • The recommended additional textbook, Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018), is an excellent resource to inform your topic choices and serve as foundation/point of departure for your topic papers. 

Ensure you complete your FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses prior to Lesson 8 and upload the certificates of completion into the respective Drop Boxes found in Lesson 7.
Lesson 7 -- Executive Branch Policies and Strategies (continued)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 7 content
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress(2013)
    • Chapter 5
  • “Homeland Security: Must we Trade Civil Liberties for National Security?" - From Pious, R. The War of Terrorism and the Rule of Law," Chapter 1
    • ​ e-Reserve
  • Wise, C.R. "Organizing for Homeland Security after Katrina: Is Adaptive Management What's Missing?”  
    • ​e-Reserve
Assignments:

  • Participate in the discussion forum.

    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
  • Ensure you have completed your FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses and uploaded the certificates of completion into the respective Drop Boxes.
  • Complete the mid-course survey
Lesson 8 -- Homeland Security Plans and Programs
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 8 content
  • Background “Think Piece” for the Emergency Management Roundtable Meeting at EMI [Emergency Management Institute], March 5-6, 2007 on What is Emergency Management? And What are the Principles of Emergency Management? Blanchard, Wayne B. (2007)
    • pages 5-38
      • e-Reserve ​​
  • The Search for Principles of Disaster Management - Etkin, D. and Davis, I. (2007)
    • e-Reserve
  • “What if Katrina Hit in 2020?  The Need for Strategic Management of Disasters” - McGuire, M. and Schneck, D. (2010) 
    • e-Reserve
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024  
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Strategic Plan 2018-2022
  • COVID 19: FEMA’s Role in the Response and Related Challenges, United States Government Accountability Office (July 14, 2020)
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapter 2
Assignments:
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 9 -- Homeland Security Plans and Programs (cont'd)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 9 content
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapter 4
  • The National Preparedness Goal
  • The National Preparedness System
  • Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Guide
  • Overview of the National Planning Frameworks
  • National Planning Frameworks Update: What's New
Assignments:
  • Post in the Executive Summary Feedback Forum #2
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 10 -- Homeland Security Plans and Programs (cont'd)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 10 content
  • National Disaster Recovery Framework (including the appendices)
  • Quarantelli, E.L. A Half Century of Social Science Disaster Research: Selected Major Findings and their Applicability (2003) 
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapter 4.4
Assignments:
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 11 -- Homeland Security Plans and Programs (cont'd)
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 11 content
  • National Prevention Framework
  • National Mitigation Framework
  • National Response Framework
  • Federal Interagency Operation Plans (FIOPs)
  • ​FIOPs Overview
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapters 4.4, 7, and 10
Assignments:
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.  
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 12 -- The National Protection Framework
Timeframe: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 12 content
  • National Protection Framework
  • Strategic National Risk Assessment (2011)
  • McCarthy, F. and Brown, J. Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies. CRS Report for Congress (2014)
  • Brown, J. Deployable Federal Assets Supporting Domestic Disaster Response Operations: Summary and Considerations for Congress. CRS Report for Congress (2014)
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress (2013) 
    • Chapter 7
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security (2018)
    • Chapters 4.4 and 5
Assignments:Watch:
  • "Imagination First and The Guiding Lights - The importance of creativity and mentorship in Homeland Security" from the CHDS "Viewpoints" Series
  • Topic paper #2 is due this week.
  • Upload your topic paper to the appropriate Drop Box in CANVAS.
    • Your paper must be uploaded as a MS Word document and meet all the requirements as delineated in the Getting Started Lesson and in the syllabus.
    • Use the following file naming convention: Last name_first name_topic paper #.
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 13 -- Federal Interagency Operational Plans
Timeframe: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 13 content
  • Response Federal Interagency Operational Plan (FIOP)
    • National Protection Framework
  • Recovery Federal Interagency Operational Plan (FIOP)
  • Mitigation Federal Interagency Operational Plan (FIOP)
Assignments:Participate in the discussion forum.
  • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.  
  • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Sunday.
Lesson 14 -- Ensuring Long-Term Success
Timeframe: 
Readings:
  • Consume the Lesson/Module 14 content
  • Journal of Strategic Security, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2013), Article 3
  • Lundberg, R., and Willis, H.. “Assessing Homeland Security Risks: A Comparative Assessment of Ten Hazards.” Homeland Security Affairs, Vol. 11 (December 2015), Article 10
  • Willis, H. H. et al. Homeland Security National Risk Characterization: Risk Assessment Methodology. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018.
  • Brody, M. “Enhancing the Organization of the United States Department of Homeland Security to Account for Risk.” Homeland Security Affairs, Vol. 16 (April 2020), Article 3
  • Warrick, T. and Durkovich, C. Future of DHS Project: Key Findings and Recommendations. The Atlantic Council of the United States (August 2020)
  • Kettl, D. System Under Stress (2013)
    • Chapter 7
  • Kilroy, R.J. Threats to Homeland Security(2018)
    • Chapter 13
Assignments:
  • Participate in the discussion forum.
    • Reply to the discussion question by Thursday.
    • Respond to two of your fellow classmates by Friday.

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