Certificates in Homeland Security
Security since September 11, 2001 has taken on new meaning in our everyday lives. The security of our transportation systems, our ports, our business and industry and how we routinely address our security issues have been fundamentally altered. Security concerns have ratcheted up and threatened our ability to move about freely or to live like we did prior to that fateful day in September 2001.
Security is no longer an alarm system or a security officer patrolling the premises. Security has taken on new meaning and new methodologies in today’s world. The ability to identify security risks, analyze their potential and work to mitigate the associated risk while allowing the freedom of movement for employees, students or the general public is now a sophisticated business model.
- What are the security issues we face today in keeping us safe?
- What is risk in the security arena?
- How do we analyze risk?
- What role does the security officer play in the security process?
- What is security on a global basis?
The certificate courses offered in Homeland Security provide insights to these issues. Students discuss these security and risk issues at length, analyze the potentials and venture into the new world of security. Courses include:
- Introduction to Security
- Security Issues in Today’s World
- Elements of an Effective Security Program
- Security Risk Analysis
- The Role of the Security Officer and Facility Security Plans
Introduction to Security
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an overview and introduction of the history of security programs from feudal England to today’s formal security programs. Additionally, the student will gain a working knowledge of the current strategies adopted by private and public agencies in response to the security events of September 11, 2001. Students will be given examples of today’s security concerns, potential risks and will work to chart its potential impact to an agency and define the role of security.
Security Issues in Today’s World
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the specific security threats and issues facing organizations. The course will focus in the areas of terrorism, retail theft, transportation and cargo security, workplace violence and drugs. Additionally, students will be provided with an overview and working knowledge of traditional problems such as burglary, robbery, labor disputes, espionage, and piracy. Finally, the course will discuss the future of security.
Elements of an Effective Security Program
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the relationship between threat and the use of protection systems and its interdependences. Students will be given examples of physical protection methods as well as how to formulate a Design Basis Threat. The Course will discuss the types of adversaries and the potential consequences to an organization. Students will be given an overview of effective security training and qualification programs as well as strategic planning and budgeting.
Security Risk Analysis
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the use of risk management tools to determine the probability of an event occurring and the potential cost should that event occur, as well as identifying traditional alternatives for optimizing risk management strategies. Students will be provided with the concept of risk analysis and challenged to understand the concept of security as a comprehensive integrated function of the organization. The instructor will provide a view of the loss prevention function and how it might be contrasted with more limited security responses. Students will be given examples of potential risk and will work to develop a prototype of a threat assessment.
The Role of Security Officer and the Facility Security Plan
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an overview of the roles and responsibilities of key personnel in a professional security program. Additionally, the student will learn about physical security and its relationship with security planning to include facility security plans, security vulnerability analysis, training and qualification plans, post orders, and emergency contingency plans. The course will focus on the technical writing that is found in today’s security program.