Homeland Security

HLS 410 - Introduction to Homeland Security

Credits: 4

The primary focus of HLS 410 is to describe the entirety of the homeland security enterprise in the US and to survey many of the major expressions of it, which can become careers in security. This includes a history of homeland security and emergency management disciplines, and the law and policy underpinnings for homeland security and specific units in emergency management, terrorism, intelligence, law and policy, critical infrastructure and risk analysis, corporate security, environmental/human security and cybersecurity.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 415 - Fundamentals of Corporate Security

Credits: 4

HLS 415 will introduce the student to the fundamentals of corporate security including the nature, scope, history, and essential elements of organization (or enterprise) security in the workplace, with emphasis on the private sector. Specific areas include the operational aspects of security strategies for identifying and controlling security exposures, risk management strategies, applicable legal issues, personal protection, property protection, role of intelligence, and concepts of disaster planning and management.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 455 - Introduction to Cybersecurity

Credits: 4

The primary focus of HLS 455 is to provide a survey of the broad field of cybersecurity and information security/assurance. Topics will include a definition of information security, the need for information security and cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors, ethical and legal issues revolving around cybersecurity, risk management and planning, and information/cyber security technology. The role of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in securing the cyberspace and the nation's information-related infrastructures will also be explored.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 480 - Professional Skills in Homeland Security

Credits: 4

HLS 480 prepares students to effectively enter the workforce via an internship or co-op experience. Students learn to prepare a resume and cover letter, practice interviewing, learn about how their personality matches job descriptions, search for internships, and develop an e-Portfolio that describes themselves, their professional aspirations, skills, etc. Professional ethics, decision making, organizational power, basic leadership and management principles and professionalism are discussed and illustrated.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 505 - Political Violence and Terrorism

Credits: 4

This course provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of political violence and terrorism. The class includes inquiry into the theories and justifications for political violence of all types, limited war, asymmetric warfare and the contested term terrorism. Trends and reasons for contemporary violent political extremism as a phenomenon are particularly explored from both the U.S. domestic and international perspectives. Students are introduced to the ideologies, goals, and strategies of select organizations and broader extremist movements.

Attributes: Social Science (Discovery)

Equivalent(s): PS 505

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 510 - Fundamentals of Emergency Management

Credits: 4

This course includes a thorough coverage of the historical and statutory background of emergency management (EM) in the USA as well as the significant laws and policies that have defined and shaped the field, including HSPD 5, HSPD 8, the National Flood Insurance Act, and the Stafford Act. Topics include detailed coverage of FEMA's all hazards approach, the EM cycle, integrated EM, the incident command system, the National Incident Management System, emergency support functions, and risk communications and the homeland security exercise evaluation program (HSEEP) where students are introduced to the both discussion and operations-based exercises and strategies for evaluating exercises. This course culminates with each student writing and formally presenting an integrated emergency management plan.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 415 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 515 - Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience

Credits: 4

This course includes an introduction to critical infrastructure security, resilience, and risk analysis as it is conceptualized, regulated and used in the homeland security enterprise. Topics include the history and evolution of critical infrastructure protection including the composition, characteristics and risks to critical infrastructures. Public-private partnerships and sector-specific plans are examined. Resilience in a global context and risk analysis as a means by which resources and assets are allocated to critical infrastructure(s) is presented.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 415 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 455 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 520 - Homeland Security Law and Policy

Credits: 4

This course is an overview of key legal, policy, and ethical issues in the context of Homeland Security policy and practice. Students examine legal concepts regarding constitutional rights of individuals, legal process, access to courts, the law of war, and national security principles as they relate to homeland security legislation and policy initiatives. Legal principles of due process, habeas corpus, search and seizure. Compulsory process, and international agreements are explored in greater depth. The law of war will be examined in the context of preemptive war and the current National Security Strategy, the status of combatants and detention, Elements of national security law, intelligence collection and sharing, the Patriot Act, and military-civilian relations, etc.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 540 - Prevention and Detection of Fraud

Credits: 4

Fraud detection and prevention are a perpetual concern for organizations, individuals and society. Course topics include fraud causes and behaviors of fraudsters, the fraud triangle, criminal and civil fraud, red flags, financial statement fraud, procurement fraud, bribery, pyramid schemes, money laundering, corporate governance, fraud risk management and responses. Real-world fraud schemes are explored and discussed. Required course for minor in Forensic Accounting. May not be repeated for credit if taken as BUS 460.

Equivalent(s): BUS 460

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 550 - History and Structure of the U.S. Intelligence Community

Credits: 4

National security intelligence is a secret nation-state activity to understand or influence an adversarial entity. The United States has a unique Intelligence Community (IC) of 17 organizations that support policymakers. How did the IC develop? How does each component support its mission? This class provides students with an introduction to the history and structure of the United State IC with a focus on the events and policy that shaped its development.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 555 - Comparative Homeland Security Systems

Credits: 4

This course will encourage students to become cosmopolitan citizens by gaining knowledge and understanding of cultures other than those of the United States. Students will learn to recognize others' values and, ultimately, accept the many ways in which we all are human. For example, using the Irish struggle for independence from Britain and the Troubles as examples, students will examine Anglo and Irish "culture" and how it is influenced by or how it can influence nation-state security, or conversely, the fight for civil liberties and independence. The main systems and structures in both the US and the UK's domestic security enterprises will be discussed as well as the origins, typologies and goals of several terrorist groups, the basics of the intelligence community in both nations, and how intelligence informs the struggle to contain terrorism. In addition, for homeland security majors, this course can satisfy either the terrorism requirement or the intelligence systems requirement (see instructors). Although a major objective of the course is to prepare students to participate successfully in a managed study abroad program (as a separate course: HLS 656, 1 credit), participation in the study abroad trip is a not required component of this course.

Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 580 - Environmental and Human Security

Credits: 4

Students will learn how environmental issues may give rise to socio-political instability around the world which can become threats to US national/homeland security. This course will explore how U.S. domestic and foreign policy, and ultimately, U.S. national security, can be impacted by emergent threats to nations from environmental health issues, climate change, deforestation, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and natural resource shortages caused by rapid industrialization, population growth, and urbanization in less developed countries. In a seminar format, students and faculty will cover a variety of readings and discuss their conclusions and students will have the opportunity to lead class discussions on assigned readings.

Attributes: Environment,TechSociety(Disc)

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 595 - Independent Study in Homeland Security

Credits: 1-4

This course is an independent study in homeland security. Its main function will be to allow students to complete a 500 level homeland security course required in the major, but who are not able to take the required course when it is offered. HLS 595 can substitute for the required core course. In addition, students can also take HLS 595 as a sophomore level independent study as a variable credit course for students wanting to more deeply explore an area of interest.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading

HLS 605 - Disaster Research Methods

Credits: 4

This course offers an overview of various research methodologies and approaches used in emergency and disaster management. Topics include but are not limited to, different aspects of research methods, such as theory, research designs, measurement, validity, reliability, data collection techniques, and ethical considerations. Students will design and draft a research proposal using appropriate research methods to investigate critical research questions.

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 401 with a minimum grade of C- and HLS 510 with a minimum grade of C-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

View Course Learning Outcomes

HLS #610 - Exercise Design and Evaluation in Homeland Security

Credits: 4

This course studies the role and structure of exercise design as it is applied in homeland security and emergency management. Students are introduced to the nature and characteristics of discussion and operations-based exercises and the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program. The legislative and policy background of national preparedness is presented. Students complete a project and presentation that demonstrates how exercises are designed, scripted, implemented (conducted) and evaluated.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 510 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 515 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 615 - Introduction to Fraud Investigation

Credits: 4

Fraud Investigation is a specific process including acquisition and verification of information that could lead to the confirmation of fraudulent activity and legal consequences. Course topics include various steps in the fraud investigation process, including identification of fraud, planning an investigation, interviewing, gathering of public and non-public evidence, analysis of data, legal considerations, confidentiality, and writing a fraud examination report. Real-world fraud cases are discussed and analyzed. Required course for minor in Forensic Accounting.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 630 - Sports and Large Event Security Management

Credits: 4

This course will address the nature and scope of sport and large event security issues involved in securing the homeland from domestic and international threats to sports and other large events. Motives, methods, and impact of terrorism activity, natural disasters, and crowd management issues in sport and large event venues will be discussed. This course also includes an examination of the basic legislation and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; risk assessment; security planning options; emergency response and recovery, training and exercises.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 640 - Forensic Accounting

Credits: 4

Forensic accounting procedures uncover fraudulent schemes and misappropriation of assets. Course topics include review of the basics of financial accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the forensic accounting profession, occupational fraud, financial analysis techniques, money laundering, investigative and interviewing processes, evidence gathering, inferential analysis, and documentation and presentation of the case. Real-life fraud cases solved by forensic accounting skills are analyzed. Required course for minor in Forensic Accounting.

Prerequisite(s): BUS 532 with a minimum grade of D- or ADMN 502 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 650 - Topics in National Security Intelligence

Credits: 4

What is national security intelligence? In this course students are introduced to definitions of intelligence and how they vary according to the entity employing the definition. Students learn about national security intelligence concepts including collection, analysis, counterintelligence, and covert action. Student will explore the organization and mission of the United States Intelligence Community, state and local intelligence agencies, and their role in Homeland Security.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 651 - Issues in Intelligence Collection

Credits: 4

The primary focus of this course is to develop an understanding of intelligence collection in the US and foreign nations, the issues facing intelligence collection and a survey of the various forms of collection. Students will learn the role collection plays in the intelligence community, how various policies affect collection and how different agencies monitor and collect intelligence.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 650 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 652 - Intelligence Analysis and Production

Credits: 4

National security intelligence analysis is a process of transforming collected data into useable and often actionable products. In this class students will focus on the analysis phase of the intelligence cycle and its relationships with decision maker requirements, intelligence community planning, collection, and dissemination. A primary goal of this class is to increase students' capacity for critical thinking when conducting analytical activities.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 650 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 653 - Counterintelligence

Credits: 4

Media articles often include depictions of captured spies, criminals, and faceless cyber-attacks. What process is used to identify and defend against these threats? Counterintelligence plays a key role in defending a country or organization from other nation states intelligence services and other nontraditional threats. In this course students will learn about counterintelligence as a phenomenon and critically examine the activities undertaken by counterintelligence organizations.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 654 - Covert Action

Credits: 4

On January 3, 2020 the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp leader Qasem Soleimani was killed in Iraq by a United States drone strike. Was this event covert action? In this class students will explore covert action and how it is used by nation states to achieve their foreign policy objectives.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 655 - Open Source Intelligence

Credits: 4

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) plays a critical role in national security intelligence. Open sources are defined as those that are publicly available. In this course students will explore and analyze OSINT intelligence from publications, broadcasts, digital media, geographic, and other technical data.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 656 - Comparative Homeland Security Systems Lab

Credits: 1

The study abroad component of its prerequisite course, HLS 555. Students participate in a study abroad program designed and led by UNH faculty.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 555 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

Special Fee: Yes

View Course Learning Outcomes

HLS 665 - Bioterrorism, Biosecurity, and Biodefense

Credits: 4

This course examines biowarfare, including biological, chemical, and radiological weapons. Historical, plausible, and novel weapons will be studied. Mechanisms of action, biological and societal impacts, detection, treatment and governmental strategies for biodefense will be investigated. Discussions will focus on surveillance and preparedness at the state and federal levels. Relevant aspects of the law will be presented and the bioethical challenges of anti-bioterror research will be explored.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D- or BMS 503 with a minimum grade of D-.

Equivalent(s): BSCI 665

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 695 - Independent Study in Homeland Security

Credits: 1-4

This course is an independent study in homeland security. Its main function will be to allow students to complete a 600 level homeland security course required in the major, but who are not able to take the required course when it is offered. HLS 695 can substitute for the required core course. In addition, students can also take this course as a junior level independent study as a variable credit course for students wanting to more deeply explore an area of interest.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading

HLS 760 - Strategic Planning and Decision Making

Credits: 4

This course investigates the nature of strategic planning as it relates to homeland security and national security in the U.S. Students explore how strategic planning relates to decision making in more stable as well as uncertain environments. Relevant legislation and past decisions (such as the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis) are explored including concepts and techniques from making high quality decisions. Strategic communication principles and techniques are presented.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Prerequisite(s): HLS 510 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 515 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 770 - Internship in Homeland Security

Credits: 4

This course represents the professional work experience required in the homeland security major. Students work in a professional setting for a minimum of 180 hours under the supervision of a site supervisor. All internships require students to identify and complete work on a specific project (s) approved by the HLS coordinator. Internships may be taken at any time after students have taken 30 credits of university coursework. Note that students who are academically or otherwise unable to enter into internship must take HLS 799 (thesis in homeland security which requires senior standing and permission from the HLS program coordinator).

Prerequisite(s): HLS 410 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 455 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 480 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading

HLS 790 - Capstone in Homeland Security

Credits: 4

This course allows students to work collaboratively with an organization to identify and solve a homeland security, physical security, safety, cybersecurity or emergency management challenges. Each group performs a risk assessment in order to identify their client's primary security or preparedness challenges. Students then use their skill to identify and apply best practices as countermeasures. Students culminate their projects with presentations to their classmates and to their clients. The expectation of this class is to develop a professional example of the student's thinking and writing to solve real world security problems.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Prerequisite(s): HLS #610 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 760 with a minimum grade of D-.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

HLS 795 - Independent Study in Homeland Security

Credits: 1-4

This course is an independent study in homeland security. Its main function will be to allow students to complete a 700 level homeland security course required in the major, but who are not able to take the required course when it is offered. HLS 795 can substitute for the required core course. In addition, students can also take this course as a senior level independent study as a variable credit course for students wanting to more deeply explore an area of interest.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Credit/Fail Grading

HLS 799 - Senior Thesis in Homeland Security

Credits: 4

Students work under the direction of a faculty thesis advisor to plan and carry out independent research resulting in an oral presentation and a major research paper. Research projects should include the development of a research thesis/question, a literature review, analysis, and synthesis of relevant data/sources, discussion and interpretation and presentation of results. Senior Thesis can be used to substitute for Internship in HLS. Permission by HLS program coordinator required, open only to HLS seniors.

Attributes: Writing Intensive Course

Prerequisite(s): HLS 510 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 515 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 650 with a minimum grade of D- and HLS 760 with a minimum grade of D-.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading