B.S. in Homeland Security

The Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (BSHS) degree is based on the needs of the U.S. government and its citizens and the needs of the private sector. The BSHS degree combines the University's General Education requirements with a solid core of homeland security courses and minors in international relations, cybersecurity, or several other minors available to the student. In addition, this degree allows the student to take maximum advantage of transfer credits and electives to explore breadth in related areas of study. 

The Homeland Security program is the first BS in Homeland Security program in the nation accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Education (CAEMHSE).

Students will earn the FEMA | Emergency Management Institute Professional Development Series (PDS) certificate as part of this program.

The Homeland Security degree is designed for students interested in obtaining a solid foundation in many of the domains of the growing homeland security enterprise. It includes terrorism studies, law and policy, emergency management, risk analysis, intelligence, physical security, environmental security, asymmetric warfare, and decision making/strategic planning. Students can choose how to specialize their homeland security bachelor’s degree by taking two minors, or choose one minor and  at least a 15-credit “coherent block of study” from transferred military credits, FAA licenses, or approved college credits (with permission from the BSHS program coordinator). Senior capstone project requires students to work with local organizations to solve real homeland security or emergency management challenges. 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 skills such as the ability to perform risk analyses, write emergency management and continuity of operations plans, design and evaluate exercises, design and perform physical security evaluations, design and deliver professional briefings, and understand how to identify and protect critical infrastructure. Graduates of this program will find employment opportunities in federal or state government, universities, and the military or private sectors. In addition, the BSHS program is ideal preparation for further study in graduate school, including law, public policy, or emergency management, intelligence analysis, business, criminal justice, political science, national security studies, international affairs, and other related fields.

B.S. in Homeland Security students who wish to continue to a master's degree may enroll in the BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 program as outlined in this program.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Students will:

• Deliver professional presentations and communications based on scholarly research they conduct.
• Engage in all phases of the intelligence cycle, including techniques, strategies, and counter-intelligence concepts.
• Identify information security threats, cybersecurity challenges, and countermeasures.
• Demonstrate mastery of homeland security knowledge and tools.
• Recognize concepts of ethics and professionalism within the homeland security enterprise.
• Interpret the legal and policy structure of the homeland security and intelligence enterprise.
• Evaluate exercises of their design applicable to the disciplines of homeland security.
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary or emergent threats, including natural, man-made, and technological hazards.
• Define 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.
• Analyze environmental hazards and characterize their relationship to U.S. homeland/national security.
• Analyze elements of strategic planning and decision making.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
General Education

General Education
Embry-Riddle courses in the general education categories of Communication Theory and Skills, and Humanities and Social Sciences may be chosen from those listed below, assuming prerequisites are met. Courses from other institutions are acceptable if they fall into these broad categories and are at the level specified.
Communication Theory and Skills		9
ENGL 123 or equivalent		3
ENGL (above ENGL 106) / SPCH / COMD		6
Humanities and Social Sciences		12
Lower-Level Humanities		3
Lower-Level Social Science		3
Lower-Level or Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences		3
Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences		3
Any Physical and Life Sciences		6
Any Mathematics 6-hour sequence above MATH 106		6
Any Computer Science/Information Technology		3
Total Credits		36

Core/Major

Homeland Security Core**
HLSD 110	Introduction to Homeland Security	3
HLSD 155	Foundations of Information Security	3
HLSD 215	Introduction to Industrial Security	3
HLSD 280	Professional Skills in Homeland Security	3
HLSD 320	Homeland Security Law and Policy	3
EMGY 310	Fundamentals of Emergency Management	3
HLSD 315	Critical Infrastructure Security, Resilience, and Risk Analysis	3
HLSD 360	Strategic Planning and Decision Making in Homeland Security	3
SSES 401	Applied Research Methods in Security and Emergency Services	3
SCTY 315	Studies in Intelligence I	3
or SCTY 385	Intelligence Collection and Analysis
SCTY 488	National Security Issues and Terrorism	3
HLSD 290	Environmental Security	3
HLSD 405	Emergent Topics in Homeland Security	3
or HLSD 415	Immigration and Homeland Security
HLSD 410	Exercise Design and Evaluation in Homeland Security	3
HLSD 495	Homeland Security Capstone I	3
Total Credits		45

Breadth Area or Choose Minors

Breadth Area/Minors**
Students complete their breadth requirement by either two non-duplicating minors (minimum 30 credits total), or one minor and a "coherent block of study" from transferred military credits, FAA licenses, or approved college credits (minimum 30 credits total) that is determined with consent of Program Coordinator.
Total Credits		30

Program Support**		9
EMGY 400	Introduction to Incident Command System	3
EMGY 405	Disaster Policy and Management	3
EMGY 430	Emergency Management and Contingency Planning	3

**For students in the Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security degree program the RSCH 202 prerequisite for Core, Program Support, or Minor courses are waived since RSCH 202 is not required for the program.

Total Degree Requirements

(Minimum) 120

BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 Program, A Unique Opportunity

The BSHS to MSHSR 4+1 program is designed for exceptional students who are committed to continuing their education at the master's level. This fast-paced program offers an accelerated path from a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (BSHS) to a Master of Science in Human Security & Resilience (MSHSR), completing both degrees in five academic years. The 4+1 option allows qualifying students to substitute three MSHSR graduate courses that cover similar concepts and principles for three required undergraduate courses.

Students accepted into the 4+1 program spend three academic years in undergraduate-level study. At the beginning of their senior year (having earned at least 75 credit hours with a 3.00 CGPA), they may take up to three graduate-level courses that will meet undergraduate and graduate program requirements (when a B grade or better is achieved). Students must complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate/graduate course credits for their Bachelor of Science degree.

Upon completion of the BSHS requirements, students will be enrolled in graduate school and can complete their MSHSR degree in one year. In any graduate course taken by an undergraduate student, the student must earn a grade of B or better. If the student earns a grade of C or F in any of the MSHSR graduate courses taken for BSHS credit, the student will be removed from the 4+1 program, have credit awarded to the BSHS degree only, and may continue to complete the BSHS degree.

Students have the flexibility to substitute certain courses. MHSR 530 (Environmental Security) may be taken instead of HLSD 290 (Environmental Security). Similarly, MHSR 520 (Principles of International Conflict Resolution) can replace HLSD 320 (Homeland Security Law and Policy). For the third MHSR course option, students may choose either MHSR 515 as an alternative to SCTY 488 or MHSR 540 in place of EMGY 310. Additionally, with the approval of both the BSHS and MHSR program chairs, other course substitutions may also be permitted.

Students initiate program acceptance through their Academic Advisor or Campus Advisor; to help ensure program criteria are met. Student Advisor will complete the request for processing into the 4+1 program.