Homeland Security

Major Map: B.A. Homeland Security

Fisk University's Homeland Security baccalaureate degree program is designed to promote the success of scholars and leaders within a global perspective. Students enrolling in the program will gain an understanding of the modern challenges of transnational security, terror groups, and cyber warfare through a mix of theoretical and applied learning opportunities. At the completion of the program, students will know how to identify and neutralize domestic and international threats and how to perform homeland security investigation.

The purpose of the Homeland Security program is to:

  1. Explore with students the interdisciplinary perspectives on, and approaches to, homeland security.
  2. Have students collaborate with community stakeholders to create prevention, deterrence, preemption, defense, and response strategies and systems appropriate to local, regional, national, and international critical incidents and emergencies.
  3. Instruct students to assess strategic threats and vulnerabilities for the purpose of designing and organizing appropriate strategies.
  4. Facilitate technological and scientific research that focuses on the evolution of existing science and technology and/or the development of new science/and technology that contribute to homeland security.
  5. Assist students in understanding the relationship between travelers, commerce, and borders with homeland security.
  6. Gain an international/comparative perspective on issues related to homeland security.
  7. Enhance students’ understanding of the civil- and human-rights concerns generated by security needs.
  8. Facilitate the identification and delineation of ethical issues related to homeland security.

Learning Outcomes

Students completing the homeland security program will be able to:

  1. Identify origins of the Department of Homeland Security and the laws, constitutional issues, regulations, and policies that regulate their operations daily basis.
  2. Examine and analyze specific problems within the areas of Homeland Security and present the results in both documented and oral forms.
  3. Identify evidence-based strategies that reduce the impact of terrorism and how these plans are evaluated.
  4. Evaluate the growing threats of cyber security and its effect on businesses, communications, politics, and critical network security.
  5. Gain an understanding of Homeland Security issues from a global perspective.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to critically, pragmatically and strategically in the completion of a capstone project that will apply students learning to specific homeland security administration issues.

GET THE COURSES YOU NEED

CORE 100 New Student Orientation 1 credit
CORE 150 Composition 1 3 credits
CORE 131 Mathematics 3 credits
CORE E: SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 4 credits
FREN OR SPAN 101 French or Spanish I 4 credits
CORE 120 Critical Thinking 2 credits
CORE 160 Composition II & Oral communication 3 credits
FREN or SPAN 102 Elementary French or Spanish Ii 4 credits
     
  General Elective 6 credits

 

CORE A: HIS 270 African American History 4 credits
FREN or SPAN 200 Intensive Intermediate French or Spanish 4 credits
HSS 280 Methods and Statistics for Social Research 4 credits
CRJ 200 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 credits
CORE 260 Humanities 3 credits
CORE C Arts 3 credits
HMLS 225 Introduction to Homeland Security 3 credits
HMLS 201 Introduction to Emergency Management 3 credits
PSCI 305 American Constitutional Law 4 credits
CORE 201 Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship 3 credits
HMLS 220 Border and Immigration Control 3 credits
HMLS 365 Social Dimensions of Disasters 3 credits
HMLS Elective 6 credits
CORE D Natural Science 4 credits
CRJ 374 Global Terrorism 3 credits
PSY 348 Abnormal Psychology 4 credits
CRJ 384 Cyber Security 3 credits
     
  General Elective 1 credit

 

CORE 360 The world and Its Peoples 4 credits
CRJ 499 Senior Seminar 4 credits
HMLS 400 Critical Infrastructure Protection 3 credits
  General Elective 4 credits
  General Elective 4 credits
  HMLS Electives 4 credits
  CRJ Internship 4 credits

 

GET RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

  • Complete on-line assessment to ascertain career interests. Discuss these with your academic advisor and staff in the Office of Career Planning and Development. Self-assessments also available through CareerOneStop.org. One of the five assessment tools matches strengths with occupations.
  • Create a core resume. Ask staff in Office of Career Planning and Development to review your resume.
  • Meet with staff in Career Services to identify potential internships.
  • Attend Industry Expo for internship opportunities.
  • Update your resume.
  • Meet with staff in Career Services to identify potential internships.
  • Explore national internships: National Science Foundation research opportunities for undergraduates(link); paid internship opportunities through Resource Guide of Summer Opportunities for Minority Undergraduate Students (link), or through National Internship Guide (link).
  • Attend Industry Expo for internship opportunities.
  • Participate in Career Development Workshops, particularly the LinkedIn session and discipline specific sessions.
  • Shadow professionals in field of interest.
  • Conduct informational interviews in employment sector(s) of interest.
  • Select part-time jobs in field of interest.
  • Attend conferences of professional associations.
  • Update your resume.
  • Consider taking SOC 390, Internship, to gain work experience and college credit.
  • Meet with staff in Career Services to identify potential internships.
  • Explore national internships: National Science Foundation research opportunities for undergraduates(link); paid internship opportunities through Resource Guide of Summer Opportunities for Minority Undergraduate Students (link), or through National Internship Guide (link).
  • Attend Industry Expo.
  • Participate in Career Development Workshops, particularly the LinkedIn session and discipline specific sessions.
  • Shadow professionals in field of interest.
  • Conduct informational interviews in employment sector(s) of interest.
  • Select part-time jobs in field of interest.
  • Attend conferences of professional associations.
  • Update your resume. Be sure to include your research skills.
  • Consider taking SOC 390, Internship, to gain work experience and college credit (can only take once).
  • Shadow professionals in field of interest.
  • Conduct informational interviews in employment sector(s) of interest.
  • Select part-time jobs in field of interest.
  • Attend conferences of professional associations.

GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY

  • Participate in Service Day during New Student Orientation, Homecoming, and the MLK Day of Service.
  • Take advantage of service-learning opportunities offered in courses (e.g., Core 100) and as scholarship requirements.
  • Join student organizations with community outreach programs (e.g., Talented Tenth Scholars Program for males). Attend student organization events to become acquainted with student organizations. Meet with staff in Office of Leadership and Service for list of student organizations.
  • Frequently check Fisk e-mail for news of volunteer opportunities shared by faculty/advisors and by the Office of Leadership and Service.
  • Volunteer as a tutor with on-campus entities (e.g., AESP, THRUST, or GUSTO)
  • Take advantage of service- learning opportunities offered in courses (e.g., Core 100) and as scholarship requirements.
  • Join student organizations with community outreach programs (e.g., Talented Tenth Scholars Program for males). Attend student organization events to become acquainted with student organizations. Meet with staff in Office of Leadership and Service for list of student organizations.
  • Frequently check Fisk e-mail for news of volunteer opportunities shared by faculty/advisors and by the Office of Leadership and Service.
  • Volunteer as a tutor with on-campus entities (e.g., AESP, THRUST, or GUSTO).
  • Participate in Service Day during Homecoming, and the MLK Day of Service.
  • Take advantage of service-learning opportunities offered in courses (e.g., Core 100) and as scholarship requirements.
  • Join student organizations with community outreach programs (e.g., Talented Tenth Scholars Program for males). Attend student organization events to become acquainted with student organizations. Meet with staff in Office of Leadership and Service for list of student organizations.
  • Frequently check Fisk e-mail for news of volunteer opportunities shared by faculty/advisors and by the Office of Leadership and Service.
  • Volunteer as a tutor with on-campus entities (e.g., AESP, THRUST, or GUSTO).
  • Participate in Service Day during Homecoming, and the MLK Day of Service.
  • Take advantage of service-learning opportunities offered in courses (e.g., Core 100) and as scholarship requirements.
  • Join student organizations with community outreach programs (e.g., Talented Tenth Scholars Program for males). Attend student organization events to become acquainted with student organizations. Meet with staff in Office of Leadership and Service for list of student organizations.
  • Frequently check Fisk e-mail for news of volunteer opportunities shared by faculty/advisors and by the Office of Leadership and Service.
  • Volunteer as a tutor with on-campus entities (e.g., AESP, THRUST, or GUSTO).

GET THINKING GLOBALLY

  • Begin foreign language course requirements (placement examination determines beginning course)
  • Begin planning potential study abroad (see staff in Office of Global Initiatives).
  • Be intentional in interacting with international students and students from other subcultures.
  • Pay close attention to textbooks and lectures offering cross-cultural comparisons.
  • Begin foreign language course requirements (placement examination determines beginning course)
  • Begin planning potential study abroad (see staff in Office of Global Initiatives).
  • Be intentional in interacting with international students and students from other subcultures.
  • Pay close attention to textbooks and lectures offering cross-cultural comparisons.
  • Finalize arrangements for study abroad (see staff in Office of Global Initiatives). Meet with advisor to ensure courses earned abroad will meet student course requirements for general studies, electives, and major.
  • Be intentional in interacting with international students and students from other subcultures.
  • Pay close attention to textbooks and lectures offering cross-cultural comparisons.
  • Be intentional in interacting with international students and students from other subcultures.
  • Pay close attention to textbooks and lectures offering cross-cultural comparisons.

GET READY FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

  • Participate in Career Development Workshops, particularly the LinkedIn session and discipline specific sessions.
  • Explore resources for undergraduate students offered by the American Society of Criminology, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Southern Criminal Justice Association.
  • Consider student membership in Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society) American Society of Criminology, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Southern Criminal Justice Association.
  • Participate in Career Development Workshops, particularly the LinkedIn session and discipline specific sessions.
  • Apply for EXCEL program offering professional development opportunities for sophomores with GPAs of 2.8 or higher.
    Explore resources for undergraduate students offered by the American Society of Criminology, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Southern Criminal Justice Association.
  • Consider student membership in Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society) American Society of Criminology, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Southern Criminal Justice Association.
  • Browse joblistings: Idealist.org; CareerOneStop.org; USAJobs.gov; CollegeGrad.com; state employment websites.
  • Attend Industry Expo to meet with graduate school recruiters.
  • Research graduate or professional schools (see petersons.com; gradschools.com).
  • Participate in Career Development Workshops, particularly the LinkedIn session and discipline specific sessions.
  • Attend Industry Expo to meet with graduate school recruiters.
  • Participate in Graduating Senior Boot Camp.
  • Present your senior thesis at regional and local symposia. Compete in undergraduate paper competitions.
  • Prepare for and take Graduate Record Exam or other professional examination (e.g., LSAT).
  • Apply for graduate or professional school. Have personal statement reviewed by staff in Writing Center and Office of Career Planning and Development, and homeland security advisor/faculty member.
  • Request letters of recommendation from faculty members (be sure to give plenty of advance notice of deadlines).

WHERE COULD I GO AFTER GRADUATION?

Selected Job Titles of B.A./B.S. Homeland Security Degree Recipients

(Embarking Upon a Career with an undergraduate degree in homeland security)

Business and Industry: security services, threat analyst, cyber security

Justice System: criminal investigator, special agent, police officer, intelligence analyst

Education: training coordinator

Government: human rights officer, legislative aide, personnel coordinator, director of emergency services

Selected Job Titles that can be earned by Fisk Criminal Justice graduates

FBI agent, Federal Law Enforcement, State and Local Law Enforcement, Intelligence Analyst, Emergency Services Director, TSA officer, Sky Marshal

Sample of Graduate/Professional Degrees that can be earned by Fisk criminal justice graduates

J.D., Ed.D., Ph.D., Masters in Criminal Justice, Masters in Homeland Security