Homeland Security Capstone – HLSC 530
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 02/01/2024
Course Description
The Capstone provides students with the opportunity to explore homeland security issues and to address them through focused study and applied research under the direction of a faculty member. The Capstone must demonstrate a student’s ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their academic program to real world issues and problems. This final academic activity must represent graduate level work and must demonstrate competency in areas such as research, written communication, integrative and analytical thinking skills, and problem solving and decision-making ability. The capstone must contribute to the current body of knowledge in the field of homeland security.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
The purpose of this course is to analyze significant current homeland security issues. It is important for the student to have a firm understanding of the issues faced in the dynamic and ever-changing discipline of homeland security.
Course Assignment
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Discussions (8)
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided topic for each Discussion. Each thread is to be at least 250 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 100 words.
Current Issue and Best Practices Assignment
The student will write a 7-page paper on the topic of his or her choosing dealing with an aspect or issue involving homeland security and or emergency management. The paper must be in current APA format and include at least 10 sources (which can include the class textbooks and the Bible).
PowerPoint Training Presentation Assignment
The student will prepare a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation wherein he or she will design an interagency interdisciplinary course of instruction. The presentation should be designed for entry-level first responder employees who would not be very familiar with homeland security and emergency management issues. The presentation must include at least 5 sources (which may include the class textbooks and the Bible).
The student will use the Recording Tab of PowerPoint to present and record his or her information. The presentation needs to be at least 15 minutes long and should last no more than 30 minutes maximum.
Quiz: Analysis/Critique of a Major Event: Topic Submission
The student will choose a major event (disaster, incident, catastrophe, or preplanned event) involving homeland security (emergency management focused allowed) and submit for approval via the Quiz: Analysis/Critique of a Major Event: Topic Submission. For this quiz, the student will select a topic and submit it along with a 1 – 3 sentence description. Based on the instructor feedback and/or approval, the student will work to refine and/or continue forward with the topic selected.
Analysis/Critique of a Major Event: Paper Assignment
The student will write a 5-page paper on a major event (disaster, incident, catastrophe or preplanned event) involving homeland security (emergency management focused allowed). The analysis will be written in standard APA formatting using headings and references. A minimum of 5 references are required.
