# Presentation: 751158

## M.A. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP)

- L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Summer 2007

## Background

**National agenda reshaped by the attacks of September 11, 2001 **
**Wilder School expertise in government, international affairs, public administration, criminal justice, policy planning, and geography**
**Wilder School B.A. in HSEP (Fall 2005)**
**VCU programs in medicine, engineering, and business **
**VCU location**
**Program review by officials from local, state, federal government. **

## Purpose

- Professional education
- Adapting institutions to the new environment
- Filling a need in both the public and private sector for knowledgeable managers and leaders
- Developing scholars and policy analysts

## Program Description

- 36 credits in HSEP
- 15 credit certificate
- On-line program
- Most students will be practitioners
- Inability to move to Richmond
- Standard template for delivery (Blackboard)
- On-campus session each semester

## Introductory Level

*HSEP 501 Institutional Challenges of Security and Preparedness*
*HSEP 502 Survey of Terrorism*

## Advanced Introductory

*HSEP 601 Emergency Management: Response Planning and Incident Command*
- GVPA 623 Research Methods for Government and Public Affairs
*HSEP 602 Government, Private Industry, and Community Strategic Planning*
*HSEP 603 Risk Assessment*

## Substantive Topics

*HSEP 610 Law Enforcement Policy and Judicial Precedent *
*HSEP 620 Private Sector Issues in Security and Preparedness*
*ENGR 630 Technology, Security, and Preparedness (School of Engineering)*
- INFO 644 Principles of Information System Security  (Information Systems Department, School of Business)
*HSEP 650 Public Health System Preparedness (VCU Medical School and Virginia Dept. of Health)*

## Capstone and Assessment

*HSEP 690 Capstone Seminar*
*Includes TTX*

## Essential Elements of Each Course

- Research Papers
- Formal Class Presentations
- Leading on-line discussions
- Evaluation of government policy
- Focus on natural hazards and terrorist threats
- Emphasis on communication skills
- Highlighting the need for interagency and intergovernmental coordination
- Highlighting the need for public/private coordination

## Outcomes

*Substantive Knowledge*
- students will achieve comprehension of the nature of the threats to people and property from terrorist organizations and natural disasters
- students will achieve comprehension of the broad range of topics related to homeland security and emergency preparedness (from counterterrorism, to public budgeting, to legal, ethical, and constitutional questions)

## Outcomes

*Analytical Knowledge and Skills*
- students will develop advanced methods of assessing risk as well as advanced analytical and research skills,
- students will achieve comprehension of the theory and practice of homeland security and emergency preparedness and be able to analyze policy and synthesize information in key areas:
- critical infrastructure protection
- institutional coordination
- intelligence analysis and sharing
- legal/constitutional/ethical aspects of homeland security and emergency preparedness planning and implementation.

## Outcomes

*Advanced Skills*
- students will develop the ability to write concise executive summaries and deliver brief oral presentations
- students will be able to evaluate scholarly literature and government emergency preparedness policies through the use of case studies
- students will complete a large research project related to a simulation exercise of an emergency event

## The Successful Graduate

- Professional development
- Adapting to the new emergency management environment
- Understanding of the political impediments to preparedness
- Understanding of the administrative challenges of the transition of emergency management field
- Understanding of key issues – legal, economic, technological, and public health-related