Course Requirements: Political Science/Homeland Security Track, BA
Homeland Security Majors Choose a Specialization
Courses required for this major are listed below. You'll take all of the required courses, choose controlled electives, and pick a specialization in Emergency Management or Homeland Defense, each of which offers a variety of classes.
By bringing together key topic areas from several departments, your courses will be an excellent preparation for a career in homeland security and emergency management.
Other requirements for graduation include completion of the liberal studies requirements and a total of 120 credits.
Required Courses
Take all five required courses (15 credits)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 101 | World Politics | 3cr |
| PLSC 111 | Power and Democracy in America | 3cr |
| PLSC 260 | Contemporary Political Ideas | 3cr |
| PLSC 270 | Fundamentals of Homeland Security | 3cr |
| PLSC 300 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3cr |
Controlled Electives
Choose three courses from controlled electives (nine credits)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 250 | Public Policy | 3cr |
| PLSC 283 | American Foreign Policy | 3cr |
| PLSC 355 | Intergovernmental Relations | 3cr |
| PLSC 370 | The Practice of Public Administration | 3cr |
| PLSC 372 | Constitutional Issues in Homeland Security | 3cr |
| PLSC 375 | Crisis Management and Decision Making | 3cr |
Specializations
Choose one specialization and take four courses from that specialization (12 credits).
Specializations offered include:
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Defense
Emergency Management
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 107 | Introduction to Forensic Biology | 3cr |
| BIOL 119 | Emerging Diseases | 3cr |
| BIOL 221 | Environmental Health and Protection | 3cr |
| BCOM 342 | Intercultural Business Communication | 3cr |
| CHEM 105 | The Forensic Chemistry of CSI | 3cr |
| COMM 101 | Communications Media in American Society | 3cr |
| CRIM 205 | Policing and the Community | 3cr |
| CRIM 255 | Law, Social Control, and Society | 3cr |
| CRIM 374 | Environmental Crime and Justice | 3cr |
| CRIM 401 | Contemporary Issues in Criminology | 3cr |
| GEOG 101 | Geography of Human Environment Interaction | 3cr |
| GEOG/RGPL 232 | Urban Landscapes | 3cr |
| GEOG/RGPL 316 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3cr |
| GEOG/RGPL 341 | Climatology | 3cr |
| GEOG/RGPL 343 | Fresh Water Resources | 3cr |
| NMDT 430 | Radiation Biology and Radiation Protection | 3cr |
| NURS 101 | Disaster Awareness | 3cr |
| NURS 102 | Disaster Preparedness and Related Health Issues | 3cr |
| PHYS 101 | Energy and Our Environment | 3cr |
| PLSC 371 | Issues in Public Administration | 3cr |
| SAFE 220 | Hazardous Materials and Emergency Management | 3cr |
| SOC 337 | Society, Globalization, and Risk | 3cr |
Homeland Defense
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BCOM 342 | Intercultural Business Communication | 3cr |
| COMM 101 | Communications Media in American Society | 3cr |
| COSC 316 | Host Computer Security | 3cr |
| COSC 356 | Network Security | 3cr |
| COSC 429 | Digital Forensics | 3cr |
| COSC 454 | Information Assurance Administration | 3cr |
| CRIM 205 | Policing and the Community | 3cr |
| CRIM 255 | Law, Social Control, and Society | 3cr |
| CRIM 321 | Cybersecurity and Loss Prevention | 3cr |
| CRIM 323 | Cybersecurity and the Law | 3cr |
| CRIM/PLSC 344 | Terrorism | 3cr |
| GEOG/RGPL 316 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3cr |
| HIST/PLSC 348 | Top Secret America: The Rise and Reach of the National Security State | 3cr |
| PLSC 350 | The Presidency | 3cr |
| PLSC 388 | Dimensions of National Security | 3cr |
| PLSC 465 | Intelligence Process and Policy | 3cr |
| SOC 337 | Society, Globalization, and Risk | 3cr |