Courses in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

C EHC 101 (= R PAD 101) Introduction to Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
From hackers to hurricanes, suicide bombing to supply chain interruptions, infrastructure failures to infectious disease outbreaks, the nation's governments, companies and non-profits must prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from a growing array of risks and threats. The fields of emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity are central to those efforts, and there is an ever growing demand for individuals prepared in these areas. Through lectures, discussion, and case studies, students in this course will develop a broad theoretical, substantive, and practical understanding of the fields of emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity. Students will be exposed to various ways to think about, measure, assess and compare risks, as well as how to mitigate them and respond to incidents that do occur. The three disciplines will be explored through the crosscutting themes that tie them together, including prevention, incident management and response, crisis communication, recovery and resiliency. Only one version may be taken for credit.

C EHC 210 Critical Inquiry and Communication in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
This course is designed as an introduction to argumentation and analysis. Students will learn to evaluate arguments, build arguments, evaluate evidence, generate evidence, and present conclusions within the context of public policy and administration. Students will be introduced to a wide range of methods of inquiry (e.g., qualitative case studies, large-N statistical analysis, and survey research) and will explore the strengths and weaknesses of individual approaches. Students will also will explore ethical considerations in policy analysis and research. Finally, students will have multiple opportunities to communicate arguments in both written and oral forms.

C EHC 242 Cybersecurity (3)
The purpose of this class is to acquaint students with the policy issues associated with cybersecurity, this includes issues like cyber-attacks, network security, incident response, cyber crime, cyber espionage, and cyber conflict. Students will look at how government agencies and private sector entities assess and respond to the changing cybersecurity landscape — how they assess the risks they face, how they manage those risks through security procedures and practices, and how they mitigate the impact of attacks that do happen on their systems. Prerequisites(s): C EHC/R PAD 101 recommended.

C EHC 299 Critical Issues in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
This course is designed to bring awareness about critical issues that are arising in the fields of emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity. Through the lectures, readings and class discussions students will develop a broad understanding of the different fields and the issues that they have faced, will face or are currently facing. Specific issues will be selected and announced by the instructor when offered. May be repeated for credit if content varies.

C EHC 310 Research Seminar in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
Over the course of the semester students will be developing hypotheses, constructing research designs, testing hypotheses, and communicating findings. In small groups, they will apply the research skills and knowledge to address a real world question in the areas of emergency preparedness, homeland security, and cybersecurity. The research topic will be selected by the instructor in consultation with an external partner. The course is designed to equip students with the tools necessary for doing independent research in different areas. Prerequisite(s): C EHC/R PAD 101 and C EHC 210.

C EHC 320 Psychology of Terrorism (3)
This course looks at the challenging problem of terrorism from a psychological and social psychological perspective both in terms of how terrorism can be explained at the individual and group level and how psychological factors can interact with other factors to impact when terrorism starts and how terrorist campaigns might end. In addition to studying the theories that have been developed to explain the politics and history of violent political conflict, students will have an opportunity to participate in simulation exercises designed to sharpen their analytic skills in the subject area and to allow them to examine the psychological determinants of behavior in experimental environments. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 321 Human Trafficking (3)
This course looks at the challenging problem of human trafficking from a comparative politics and international perspective both in terms of how human trafficking can be explained and how human trafficking impacts people as well as the efforts governments are taking to try to stop it. In this course, in addition to studying the theories that have been developed to explain the politics and history of human trafficking, students will have an opportunity to participate in data collection designed to sharpen their analytic skills in the subject area. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing. 

C EHC 324 Civil Liberties in Context: Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
In this course, students will examine the tensions between civil liberties and government responses to cybersecurity, homeland security, and emergency preparedness. Students will draw from contemporary and historical case studies and a range of legal materials to develop their own analytical and normative views about the appropriate balance between civil liberties and security. Students will be asked to evaluate how the law governing relevant topics has changed and whether it has changed in desirable ways. Students will also be asked to determine what relevant information not yet possessed to answer these questions. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 325 Critical Infrastructure (3)
Students will be able to gain understanding of what the critical infrastructure sectors are and why they are so vital to the United States. They will obtain knowledge on each sector's assets, systems, and networks, both physical and virtual. Learning that critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility, they will also understand how the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, private companies, and individual citizens play a role in keeping it strong, secure, and resilient. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 343 (= R PAD 343 & R POS 343) Homeland Security (3)
This undergraduate survey course introduces students to the U.S. government response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, specifically, the second largest reorganization of the executive branch that produced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Topics examined include border and transportation security, customs, immigration policy and enforcement; preparedness and capabilities building, response and resilience; critical infrastructure protection; threat and vulnerability assessment and risk management; cybersecurity; counter-terrorism. Although the course is primarily focused on U.S. Federal government activities, it will also examine state and local dimensions of homeland security as well as U.S. government interactions with other countries in the homeland security domain. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 344 (= R PAD 344) Emergency Preparedness (3)
This course provides a study of applicable policies, protocols, and laws that impact the practice of emergency preparedness at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The study includes a brief review of the history of emergency management setting the stage for an examination of "best practices" and philosophies. These drive the nation's preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts of various levels of emergencies and disasters which in turn helps facilitate a community's resilience in the face of disasters. The methodology used in this course includes classroom discussions and activities, studies of applicable case studies, and individual exploration resulting in a well crated paper. Where applicable, simulation activities provide opportunities for the student to "experience" realistic situations similar to real-world emergencies and disaster operations. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): C EHC/R PAD 101 recommended.

C EHC 345 Leadership and Ethics in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
This course provides a foundation for applying philosophical and ethical understanding to homeland security professions by drawing on both theoretical and practical approaches. It includes an overview of philosophical theories of ethics and political philosophy relevant to security practices and policies, as well as opportunities to develop critical thinking and communication skills in their application to particular cases related to homeland security through analysis and discussion. Historical and contemporary material will be examined to investigate issues such as the right to privacy, the nature and value of freedom, the justification of state security, and rights and responsibilities of public officials and health professionals. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 355 Comparative Homeland Security (3)
Studying the cultural, historical and political differences from different countries, students will be able to determine the shared characteristics they play with the U.S. and be able to determine the relevance with current homeland security policies. Students will be able to analyze different policy issues, including both political and public policies

C EHC 356 Transnational Crime (3)
This class introduces the major ideas and problems associated with the study of international and transnational crime in the context of global politics. It will examine transnational criminal activities, illicit markets, those individuals and organizations involved in such crime, and how governments attempt to respond to and cope with such criminality. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

C EHC 389 (= H SPH 389) Introduction to Emergency Health Preparedness and Response (3)
This course provides an introduction to emergency preparedness and response to health threats including natural disasters, infectious diseases, acts of terrorism, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. Federal, state, and local policies underlying emergency management and preparedness are reviewed. The course discusses the distinct contributions of the various sectors of the emergency preparedness and response workforce including public health, healthcare, and emergency management personnel. The importance of community engagement and strong private and public collaborations for effective emergency preparedness and response is discussed. The crucial role of social and cultural factors, including health and healthcare disparities, in emergency preparedness and response are emphasized throughout the course. Current and past catastrophic events in the U.S. and in other countries are examined. Students apply the course content to a simulated catastrophic event of their choice. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 390 Internship Experience in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
This course is intended to give students an opportunity to effectively apply what they have learned in their classroom studies through work in relevant professional settings. Students will work with the staff of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity to secure placement at an off-campus agency or organization, including public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. Alongside that internship, there will be an accompanying class meeting in which students will integrate the theoretical concepts that they have learned in their courses with the practical experience of their internship as well as engage in career preparation activities. Prerequisite(s): C EHC/R PAD 101 and junior or senior standing.

C EHC 393 Simulation: Building Security and Preparedness (3)
This is an intensive four week course that provides the student with an opportunity to blend "practice" with "theory" through a mix of high-end simulations and other blended learning activities. The course is typically offered in four week blocks of time and includes a blend of on-line readings, discussions, and related activities, capstone writing activities, and a residential one week mix of face-to-face classroom instruction with intensive simulation activities. The topics for the simulation course will vary with each one focusing on a core theme within the emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity framework. This course may be repeated once for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.       

C EHC 399 Selected Topics in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
This course is designed to discuss selected topics in the fields of emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity. Through the lectures, readings and class discussions students will develop a broad understanding of the different fields and their specific topics. The topics will be selected and announced by the instructor when offered. May be repeated for credit if content varies.

C EHC 410 Capstone Project in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity (3)
Students will be assigned to a team and each team will be assigned a client with a real world puzzle.The student teams examine the problem, develop an action plan, conduct the analysis, and present a final report and oral presentation highlighting their findings and recommendations. Capstone Projects are designed to be the synthesizing educational experience for students majoring in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity. The experience provides students with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in their academic careers to solve a problem for a client. Prerequisite(s): C EHC 210 and C EHC 310 or permission of instructor.

C EHC 445 (= R PAD 445) Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity (3)
This course provides a broad introduction to cybersecurity and the way in which cybersecurity is viewed, studied, or executed by professionals in industry, government, the military, and academia. For students that approach the topic from a policy management perspective, this class will enhance their understanding of the interaction between social, technical, policy, and management factors that affect the creation and management of secure cyber infrastructure. A brief introduction to the technical side of cybersecurity will be provided. The course will offer technically advanced students an opportunity to better understand management, policy, and political equities involved in cybersecurity. Students approaching the subject from either the technical or policy/management perspective will be equipped to take more advanced technical courses in a multitude of disciplines that make up cybersecurity. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 449 (= R PAD 449) Cybersecurity: Long Term Planning and Risk Management (3)
The goal of this course is to equip decision makers with the principles and methods that will allow for more informed budget decisions as it relates to cybersecurity. First this class will review budgeting basics as well as the core of budgeting for information technology and cybersecurity. Then the class will examine risk management as a total program component of cybersecurity as well as apply it to the budgeting process. Finally the class will take a comprehensive approach to managing IT/IS projects from a risk management, budgeting, and procurement point of view. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 455 (= R PAD 455) Disaster, Crisis and Emergency Management and Policy (3)
The course studies the policies, statutes and priorities established by federal, state, and local governments to plan and prepare for emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events caused by nature, technology, or humans. The course's scope will include all mission areas established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and prioritized by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services as an example of state policies. The course will rely heavily upon primary source documents, and will involve simulations. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 456 (= R PAD 456) Homeland Security Intelligence (3)
This course examines homeland security intelligence at the Federal, State, and local levels. It begins with an overview of the U.S. foreign intelligence community, its mission, history, structure, and capabilities. The course will examine how this community's composition and structure have changed as its mission was fundamentally altered twice, first with the end of the Cold War and then with the rise of terrorism. Next, it looks at the capabilities of new producers of terrorism related intelligence at federal law enforcement agencies and at the Department of Homeland Security. The main thrust of the course is intelligence at the state and local levels. The federal government has worked with the states to create significant intelligence capabilities outside the beltway since the events of 9/11/2001. This course identifies and discusses the state and local customers for homeland security intelligence and examines the degree to which these intelligence requirements are being met. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 457 (= R PAD 457) Intelligence Analysis for Homeland Security (3)
This course provides instruction in conducting intelligence analysis, with emphasis on homeland security issues at the state and local levels. After an overview of the history and structure of the U.S. foreign intelligence community, the class will review the fundamentals of intelligence analysis tradecraft as practiced within the CIA and other federal intelligence agencies. Extensive time is devoted to learning and using structured analytic techniques through student-led analytic exercises on terrorism and major crimes. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 458 (= R PAD 458) Intelligence & U.S. National Security Policymaking (3)
This seminar examines the role of intelligence in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Through critical analysis and case studies, students will develop techniques to increase intelligence's contribution to policy deliberations while ensuring that it does not prescribe policy. The course will assess the most appropriate role for the CIA and the intelligence community in supporting this executive branch process. After an overview of the CIA, its functions, structure, and capabilities, the class reviews the U.S. foreign policy process, key players, and institutional bias. The bulk of the course is devoted to a series of mock intelligence and policy meetings on the Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq crises to critically analyze the CIA's proper role in supporting the policy process. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 459 (= R PAD 459) Homeland Security: Building Preparedness Capabilities (3)
The short but significant history of the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will serve as the starting point for this course which will provide a comprehensive and functional approach to understanding this department and its role. The preponderance of time will be spent in developing an understanding of the nation's effort, led by DHS, to develop preparedness capabilities to prevent, protect from, respond to, and recover from high consequence events caused by acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and accidents. The course will rely heavily upon scenario-based activities and case studies to guide the student through the DHS maze and the nation's preparedness efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 469 (= R PAD 469) Cyber Threats and Intelligence (3)
Cyber threats currently are posed by state and non-state actors whose motivations include financial gain, notoriety, social activism, espionage, and even revenge. This course will examine cyber threats from different angles to introduce students to today's actors; motivations; tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs); and mitigation techniques, while providing insight into the impact of cyber crimes on victim organizations and employees. A variety of case studies will used to study how TTPs are applied, and aid students in understanding attack consequences, responding agency abilities, and the various protection, mitigation, and remediation measures. The course will also examine models of cyber activity, as well as how models from other fields can be applied to thinking about cyber threats. The objective of the course is to provide students with a foundation for leading their organization in prevention, mitigation, and remediation of cyber-attacks. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of the instructor.

C EHC 471 (= R PAD 471) Military Forces in Support of Civil Authorities (3)
This on-line course provides a comprehensive strategic level examination of the Homeland Security Enterprise and the methodology for integrating federal and state military forces in support of civil authorities during the planning, training, and response phases of emergency operations. Federal, state and local civilian authorities are responsible for preparing for and responding to natural and man-made emergency incidents and disasters. Emergency managers often include military forces in their emergency management planning and training programs as necessary to support potentially overwhelmed civilian first-responders during an incident. This course examines various agencies associated with homeland security and focuses on specialized military forces mission support sets such as Weapons of Mass Destruction, Critical Infrastructure Protection and defense of the homeland. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.

C EHC 472 (= R PAD 472) Disasters and Crisis Management in the Public, Private and Nonprofit Sectors (3)
This course will examine how disaster and crisis management has evolved over time in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. It will begin by identifying key issues and challenges facing emergency managers and other crisis management professionals. Then the course will systematically examine the similarities and differences across the various sectors and analyze contemporary trends and common challenges, to include risk management, crisis communication and crisis leadership. Through the use of conceptual models and real-world case studies, the application of theory and practice within the field will be further explored. The course will examine specific events, how organizations responded to those events, and how those events changed and shaped the organizations, and the discipline itself. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.