The building of national security has taken on great importance in this day and age. To succeed, professionals must be well educated on ethical and social issues of security, liberty, risk assessment and vulnerability, motivation, multiagency cooperation, intelligence cycles, victimization and fear, technology, resource management, and media/ mass communication informing them through the various processes and resources available while developing best practices, programs and policies in response. To address these issues, Anna Maria College has developed a Graduate Certificate/Concentration in Homeland Security.

Students enrolled in the Homeland Security Program have two options: a stand-alone Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security for those looking beyond the undergraduate level and outside a degree program; or as a concentration under the Master of Public Administration Program at Anna Maria College.

To accomplish this, the following curriculum is proposed. This model follows those of other concentrations/certificate programs at Anna Maria, consisting of 4 required courses (12 credits total):

HLS 701    Foundations of Homeland Security
HLS 702    Domestic Threat and Policy Analysis
HLS 703    International Threat and Policy Analysis
HLS 704    Partnerships for Homeland Security

HLS 701 Foundations of Homeland Security
This course explains the history of building national security, its mission and its role. Through a consideration of best practices and the balance between security and liberty, it examines the organizational structures and resources required to defend the homeland. This course provides an overview of DHS operations including mission, operational planning, execution and evaluation, security and communications, intelligence collection and reporting, critical infrastructure protection, and ethical, social and economic issues including the need to address victimization and fear.

HLS 702 Domestic Threat and Policy Analysis
This course examines, through an assessment of risk and vulnerability, various domestic groups' culture, history, ideology and motivation, capabilities, methods and activities within contexts of political, ethical, social, and legal issues. Included in this examination is the emergence and growth of paramilitary and terrorist groups within the United States. Particular attention will be focused on U.S. policy, media impact, intelligence cycles, acts and procedures at governmental, state, and community levels.

HLS 703 International Threat and Policy Analysis
This course examines, through a risk and vulnerability assessment of the global terrorism phenomenon, various international groups' culture, history, ideology and motivation, capabilities, methods and activities within contexts of political, ethical, social and legal issues. Included in this examination is the emergence and growth of extremist and terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist networks. Particular attention will be focused on U.S. foreign policy, media impact, intelligence cycles, acts and procedures at governmental, state, and community levels.

HLS 704 Partnerships for Homeland Security
This course will identify and analyze best practices in multiagency cooperation, including the roles of local, state, and federal law enforcement, intelligence, and emergency management agencies in conjunction with the public sector as required for collective welfare and implementation of the Homeland Security Act. The role of technology and communication is included as well as an analysis of the Patriot Act, its practice, and its ethical, social and legal implications for American life today.