PUBPL 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 PUBPL 201.

The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.

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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.

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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.

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Materials

Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.

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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 must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service.  The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.

 

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.

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Technical Requirements

For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:

Technical Requirements

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. Please note that Canvas does not support the use of Internet Explorer. Students and instructors should choose a different browser to use.    To determine if your browser is supported, please review the list of Canvas Supported Browsers. 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. Students will need a PDF reader, such as Adobe Reader.
Hardware	Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution Audio: Microphone, Speakers Camera (optional, recommended): Standard webcam - many courses may require a webcam for assignments or exam proctoring software.
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.

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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.

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One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.

World Campus Help 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!

 

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Expectations for Writing Assignments

In this course, you will be given several writing assignments. For all writing assignments, the final documents should

• include your name(s) in a header on the first page;
• be created in Microsoft Word;
• be created with Arial 11pt font, double-spaced with 1” margins on both sides and top and bottom;
• be the specified length (if one is given);
• include references (which do not count against the page limit); and
• include your last name in the file name.

You should cite the 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 at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/lls/students/apa_citation.html.

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.

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Grading and Course Requirements

Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.

Assignment Category	Points per Assignment	Number of Assignments	Total Points
Discussion Forums	10	10	100
Executive Summary	100	1	100
Information Paper	100	4	400
PowerPoint Presentation	50	2	100
Midterm Exam	50	1	50
Final Exam	50	1	50
Policy Paper	200	1	200
Total Points			1000

Assignment Deadlines

Unless noted otherwise, all weekly activities are due by 2:59 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Monday morning 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 find several discussion forums throughout this course. The objective is to allow for creation of knowledge through communication with classmates and the instructor. 

• Each discussion forum is worth 10 points. To maximize your grade, please make timely and meaningful contributions to the forum, and use current events and external research to support the weekly readings found in the course material. It is best to include points based on facts versus opinions. 
• Respond to each discussion forum question by 2:59 a.m. (ET) Saturday morning of the lesson week. Your postings should be articulate and thoughtful, yet concise. Please include examples where appropriate to support your point of view. It is important to add your own insights, experiences, and additional research as appropriate.
• Respond to two of your fellow students by 2:59 a.m. (ET) Monday morning. The objective of this interaction is to develop a discussion thread that stimulates critical thinking and in-depth dialogue.
• Your submissions will be monitored by the instructor. Remember, common courtesy among your fellow students is encouraged and expected.

Information Papers

Each student will be required to produce several Information Papers throughout the course. These papers are to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Papers should be typed and double-spaced.
• They should be 2 to 3 pages in length (excluding cover, notes and reference pages).
• They must include a listing of references.

The student is responsible for the content and presentation of the paper. Incomplete sentences, faulty paragraphs, and misspelled words are often signs of poor writing and lack of attention to detail. Please proofread your paper before submitting it to the instructor.

Executive Summaries

You will be asked to submit an Executive Summary in the course. This summary will be 500 to 1,000 words in length, no longer than 2 pages, typed, and double-spaced. The template should be

1. state nature of subject,
2. key points,
3. background issues including factual data, and
4. conclusion.

PowerPoint Presentations

A presentation format utilized in both the public and private sectors is the PowerPoint presentation. You will be asked to create several of these presentations as part of a weekly assignment. During the course, follow the template of

1. title slide,
2. agenda slide,
3. topic slides (3 to 5 slides with no more than 5 bullet points on each slide), and
4. summary slide.

Policy Paper

One of the most important assignments you will complete is the submission of a final policy paper. The paper will be due at the end of the semester. The paper, which must be 8 to 10 pages of text excluding cover and reference pages, must relate to a predetermined homeland security policy issue. By Lesson 6, you will be tasked to submit a topic to the instructor for approval. If you have any questions regarding this assignment please contact the instructor for further clarification.

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 25 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.

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Course Schedule

Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time zone (EST or EDT). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.

 

• Course length: 15 weeks

Unit / Lesson	Activity
Lessons 1: Course Introduction	Participate in the discussion forums. Complete the Student Questionnaire.
Lesson 2: Pre-9/11 Strategic Setting	Participate in the discussion forum. Write an Information Paper.
Lesson 3: Homeland Security: The Concept, the Organization	Participate in the discussion forum. Write an Information Paper.
Lesson 4: The Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security	Participate in the discussion forum. Write an Executive Summary.
Lesson 5: Homeland Security Enterprise: The Role of the State	Participate in the discussion forum. Complete the midterm exam.
Lesson 6: Hazards: Mitigation/Prevention and Preparedness	Participate in the discussion forum (Week 1). Select a topic for the Final Policy Paper (Week 1). Create a PowerPoint presentation (Week 2).
Lesson 7: All Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery	Participate in the discussion forum (Week 1). Write an Information Paper (Week 2).
Lesson 8: Intelligence and Counterterrorism	Participate in the discussion forum (Week 1). Create a PowerPoint presentation (Week 2). Write a thesis statement and outline for the Final Policy Paper (Week 2).
Lesson 9: Critical Infrastructure and Cybersecurity	Participate in the discussion forum (Week 1). Write an Information Paper (Week 2).
Lesson 10: Future of Homeland Security	Participate in the discussion forum. Complete the final exam.
Lesson 11: Reflections and Future Aspirations in the Field of Homeland Security	Write your Reflections and Future Aspirations. Submit your Final Policy Paper.

Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).

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 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.
 

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Academic Integrity

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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.

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.

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.

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.

In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.

1. Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor.  As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
2. Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
3. Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
4. Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
   1. Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
   2. Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
5. Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
6. Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
7. For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
   1. Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
   2. Penn State Principles

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.

 

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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.

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