B.S. in Homeland Security and Intelligence

Bachelor of Science

The Department of Security Studies and International Affairs (SSIA) offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security and Intelligence (HSI) based on the needs of the U.S. government and its citizens and the needs of the private sector. The HSI degree combines the University's General Education requirements with a solid core of homeland security and intelligence courses as well as available minors in uncrewed aircraft systems, geographic information systems, strategic foreign languages, military science, forensic accounting, global conflict studies, terrorism studies, cybersecurity, or other minors available to the student. In addition, this degree allows the student to take advantage of transfer credits and electives to allow for breadth in related areas of study. 

The Homeland Security and Intelligence degree is designed for students who have an interest in obtaining a solid foundation in many of the domains of the homeland security and intelligence enterprises, including terrorism studies, law and policy, emergency management, risk analysis, critical thinking, physical security, environmental security, asymmetric warfare, and decision making/strategic planning. Students then choose one of two ways to specialize their homeland security education, either through (1) taking one minor or (2) at least a 15-credit "coherent block of courses" (with permission from the HSI program coordinator). Senior capstone projects require students to work with local organizations to solve actual homeland security or emergency management challenges. A simulation lab course will provide immersive learning experiences. Internships or cooperative work experiences optimize the student's professional preparation and credentials. The goal of the degree is to produce highly marketable graduates with entry-level capabilities such as performing risk analyses, analyzing intelligence, writing emergency management and continuity of operations plans, and designing and evaluating exercises. In addition, students create and perform physical security evaluations, deliver professional briefings, and determine how to identify and protect critical infrastructure. Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in federal or state government, universities, the military, or the private sector. In addition, the HSI program is ideal preparation for further study in graduate school, including law, public policy, emergency management, intelligence analysis, business, criminal justice, political science, national security studies, or international affairs.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security and Intelligence requires successful completion of a minimum of 125 credit hours and is generally completed in eight semesters as outlined below.  The breadth area requirement can be accomplished by either:

• Completing one minor (a minimum of 15 credit hours)
• Completing a coherent set of coursework of at least 15 credits approved through the advising process

All Homeland Security and Intelligence majors must complete a senior capstone course HSI 490 and a 3-credit (at least 300 hours) internship at some point during or after their sophomore year. All university requirements for eligibility for internships apply; the HSI program works with Career Services to administrate all internship experiences.

Students transferring into the program who have earned academic credits in homeland security-related coursework or professional experience may be granted credit hours to be applied to the degree program with approval from the program coordinator.

Students will:

• Interpret the legal and policy structure of the homeland security and intelligence enterprise.
• Evaluate emergency management policies and strategies, including emergent threats.
• Analyze terrorism, its origins, ideologies, and goals.
• Assess U.S. critical infrastructures using risk-based methodologies and resiliency concepts.
• Apply risk management and analysis principles to homeland security and intelligence issues.
• Compare concepts of human and environmental security as applied to homeland and intelligence.
• Analyze elements of strategic planning and decision making.
• Engage in all phases of the intelligence cycle, including techniques, strategies, and counter-intelligence concepts.
• Identify information security threats, cybersecurity challenges, and countermeasures.

General Education Requirements

For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Education guidelines, please see the General Education section of this catalog. These minimum requirements are applicable to all degree programs.

Communication Theory and Skills (COM 122, COM 219, COM 221 or COM 222 or COM 223)		9
Humanities - Lower level		3
Social Sciences - Lower level (PSY 101 or equivalent)		3
Humanities or Social Sciences - Lower or Upper level		3
Humanities or Social Sciences - Upper level		3
Computer Science		3
Mathematics (recommend MA 120 and MA 220)		6
Physical Science (lab must be included)		6
Total Credits		36

Homeland Security Core Courses

CEHS 396 Co-Op/Internship or HSI 491 *		3
CYB 155	Foundations of Information Security	3
HSI 110	Introduction to Homeland Security	3
HSI 115	Critical Thinking and Analysis	3
HSI 215	Introduction to Industrial Security	3
HSI 220	National Security Enterprise	3
HSI 250	Indications and Warning	3
HSI 310	Fundamentals of Emergency Management	3
HSI 315	Critical Infrastructure Security, Resilience, and Risk Analysis	3
HSI 320	Homeland Security and Intelligence Law and Policy	3
HSI 323	Government of the U.S.	3
HSI 325	Terrorism: Origin, Ideologies, and Goals	3
HSI 328	History of U.S. Intelligence	3
HSI 350	Intelligence Systems and Structures in Homeland Security	3
HSI 360	Strategic Planning and Decision Making in Homeland Security	3
HSI 405	Emergent Topics in Homeland Security	3
HSI 410	Exercise Design and Evaluation in Homeland Security	3
HSI 470	Intelligence Experiential Learning Laboratory	1
HSI 490	Senior Capstone in Homeland Security	3
SS 207	Introduction to Research Methods	3
Total Credits		58

 Specified Electives

Choose any 2 courses (courses from General Education may count toward a Minor but not toward Specified Electives)		6
HSI 290	Introduction to Environmental Security
Any upper level CYB course not otherwise being used toward your degree (must meet prerequisites)
Any upper level HSI course not otherwise being used toward your degree (must meet prerequisites)
Any of the specified GCS courses not otherwise being used toward your degree (must meet prerequisites)
Total Credits		6

*

Students with a 2.5 CGPA or higher may enroll in the internship program at the equivalent of three or more credits to be taken during or after their sophomore year.  Students must see their professional advisor and meet with the Career Services Office to be enrolled in and receive academic credits for their internship.  Students unable to take CEHS 396 may substitute HSI 491 (Thesis) with prior approval of HSI Program Coordinator.   

Breadth Area

All Homeland Security and Intelligence majors must complete coursework to complement the HSI core courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete their breadth requirement by a minor (minimum of 15 credits) or a "coherent block of credits" (minimum of 15 credits), determined with the consent of the Homeland Security and Intelligence Program Coordinator. All minors are located in this catalog's Minor Course of Studies section.

One Minor or One Coherent Block		15
Courses from General Education may count toward a Minor but not toward Specified Electives.

Program Support

AS 319	UAS Law	3
GEO 210	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
MA 210	Introduction to Data Science	3
UNIV 101	College Success	1
Total Credits		10

Total Degree Credits

125

Freshman Year
		Credits
COM 122	English Composition	3
CYB 235	Computer and Network Technologies	3
or CS 118	Fundamentals of Computer Programming
or CS 120	Introduction to Computing in Aviation
or BA 125	Foundations in Business Data Analytics
HSI 110	Introduction to Homeland Security	3
CYB 155	Foundations of Information Security	3
	HU 14X Elective	3
MA 120	Quantitative Methods I	3
	Physical Science Lecture with lab	4
HSI 115	Critical Thinking and Analysis	3
HSI 215	Introduction to Industrial Security	3
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
UNIV 101	College Success	1
	Credits Subtotal	32.0
Sophomore Year
COM 219	Speech	3
COM 223	Intelligence Writing	3
or COM 221	Technical Report Writing
or COM 222	Business Communication
SS 207	Introduction to Research Methods	3
HSI 250	Indications and Warning	3
HSI 220	National Security Enterprise	3
HSI 310	Fundamentals of Emergency Management	3
	Lower or Upper Level Humanities or Social Science Elective	3
MA 220	Quantitative Methods II	3
	Physical Science Lecture	3
GEO 210	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	3
	Credits Subtotal	30.0
Junior Year
HSI 315	Critical Infrastructure Security, Resilience, and Risk Analysis	3
HSI 320	Homeland Security and Intelligence Law and Policy	3
HSI 325	Terrorism: Origin, Ideologies, and Goals	3
HSI 350	Intelligence Systems and Structures in Homeland Security	3
HSI 360	Strategic Planning and Decision Making in Homeland Security	3
MA 210	Introduction to Data Science	3
HSI 323	Government of the U.S.	3
HSI 328	History of U.S. Intelligence	3
	Breadth Area (Minor or Coherent Block)	6
	CEHS 396 or HS 491 (Thesis offered Summer C only)	3
	Credits Subtotal	33.0
Senior Year
	Upper Level Humanities or Social Science Elective	3
AS 319	UAS Law	3
HSI 405	Emergent Topics in Homeland Security	3
HSI 410	Exercise Design and Evaluation in Homeland Security	3
HSI 470	Intelligence Experiential Learning Laboratory	1
HSI 490	Senior Capstone in Homeland Security	3
	Specified Electives	6
	Breadth Area (Minor or Coherent Block)	9
	Credits Subtotal	31.0
	Credits Total:	125