MSCJ – HOMELAND SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLANS & REPORT: AY 2013-2014

Program Rationale/Purpose Statement:
This curriculum is designed to provide students knowledge of the U. S. criminal justice system, knowledge of terrorist organizations and operational methodologies, intelligence process, and basic research skills. The specific students this program targets are those students who are wanting to gain a career in the federal or state public safety forces, in positions that are involved with the security of the United States against foreign and domestic terrorist attacks. The Homeland Security Administration Concentration prepares adult learners to manage critical workplace situations. The program emphasizes practical application of academic constructs through applied adult learning theory. Each course is designed to bring the experience of the adult learner into the learning environment. The concentration supports Tiffin University’s mission of professional excellence and meets the career goals of students and the needs of employers.
Marketing / Recruitment Target Statement:
The Homeland Security Concentration is designed to attract motivated students who want to make a difference in administrative positions in local, state, and federal public safety forces, in positions that are involved with the security of the United States against foreign and domestic terrorist attacks. Some of our graduates use their degree for promotion opportunities in their existing law enforcement fields. Other graduates go on to continue their education, earning a Juris Doctorate, Ph.D., or Psy.D. degree.
Program Learning Outcomes:Currently in Mapping Process
Goals of the Program/Corresponding Classes:
Program Executive Summary:
Section One: Describe all department activities with respect to improving student learning in the major. This may include new faculty hires, course revisions, assignment creation, rubric revisions, goal evaluations, etc.
Section Two: Describe which program goal(s) in the Major Program Plan was assessed during the academic year.
Section Three: Describe analysis of assessment data and action plans for upcoming academic year.
Intended Outcomes/Assessment Criteria:
Intended Outcomes 1:
Assessment Criteria:
Section One - Activity Statement:
The Homeland Security and Terrorism Concentration was converted from a 15 week program to a 7 week program to assist with marketing, recruitment, and student retention. All Master Shells for the concentration were rebuilt to reflect best practices for online learning, incorporate more Quality Matters standards, and ensure Carnegie Unit compliance. All MCCG’s were reviewed and revised. Outcomes Assessment Mapping was conducted with the Director of Outcomes Assessment and will be implemented and collected in AY 2014-2015.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2012-2013
2013-2014 / Met/Not Met
N/A
Met/Not Met
N/A / Data Details:
No data submitted
Data Details:
No data submitted
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
2012-2013:
New plans will be designed during the 2013 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
2013-2014:
The HS&T concentration curriculum will be updated and revised to ensure the concentration reflects current needs in the field. Six additional credit hours will be added. New curriculum draft attached below.
After this revision, the OA mapping process will be completed and data will be collected for AY2014-2015.

Concept Draft

Revision to MSCJ Concentration in Homeland Security Administration

Proposed Course Listing:

  1. HSS 501Critical Analysis of Homeland Security Administration. (New Course)

This course is designed as an overview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the processes, policies, and interactions that make up that department. It focuses specifically on the mission and make-up of DHS, interagency cooperation both within DHS and between DHS and other agencies relevant to the homeland security mission. Additionally, it examines the academic study of Homeland Security, with a special emphasis on how both theory and research in this emerging field has impacted and could continue to impact the practice of Homeland Security.

  1. JUS 520Statistical Applications in Criminal Justice (Existing Course)

Explores and applies practical statistical methods to the relevant work of criminal

justice agents, managers, and executives. The course will focus on statistical methods to

prepare students to be intelligent consumers of reported research, to apply appropriate

statistical analysis to various types of research designs, to report criminal justice agency

performance results, and to identify and use various criminal justice statistical data

sources in print and electronic form.

  1. JUS 515Research Design & Analysis(Existing Course)

Examines various research design models applied to crime, criminal justice, and agencyadministration issues. Includes discussion of the philosophy of science, sampling, and various research designs such as historical, legal, action, quasi-experimental, experimental, and program evaluation. Students will construct, implement, report, and analyze the results of a research project important to criminal justice practice.

  1. HSS 526Legal and Policy Issues of Homeland Security(formerly JUS 526)

This course will examine the legal and policy framework of the Homeland and National security framework at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels. Beginning with a review of key legal and policy authorities of the separate branches of government having shared national security powers, course will also examine the legal, policy, and ethical issues connected with organizing for counterterrorism, surveillance and intelligence gathering relevant to the prevention and investigation of terrorism and other national security threats, consequence management, and the trying of terrorists and international criminals. Finally, the course will examine the law and ethics surrounding public access to national security information and restraining leaks of that information in an effort to protect same.

  1. HSS 535Intelligence for Homeland Security(formerly ENF 535)

This course will analyze the definition and functions of intelligence in a Homeland Security

environment. Students will analyze the utilization of intelligence by agencies and personnel developing responses to a potential or real terrorist threat. The flow of information from raw data to actionable or strategic intelligence will be analyzed. A comprehensive analysis will be conducted regarding military and law enforcement intelligence, with an analysis of significant similarities and differences between the two methodologies and data collection. A case study exercise will involve a synthesis of collecting facts, analyzing the facts that are discovered, discriminating between strategic and actionable intelligence, and then preparing a briefing report for senior operational staff.

  1. HSS 540Border Security (Formerly ENF 540)

This course provides a student with an in-depth analysis of issues that concern the protection of the borders of the United States, and U.S. policies regarding the safety of the U.S. transportation system. Additionally, the course analyses the changes in security arrangements from pre to post 9-11 policies, relative to border and transportation security, with a synthesis of the impact of the formation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, on the issues concerning internal CONUS security relative to these two security concerns

  1. HSS 545Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism(Formerly ENF 645)

This course provides an introduction into the theories explaining terrorist behavior. It will examine the question of what constitutes terrorism, terrorist groups, and what economic, social, religious and other issues lead to the conduct of groups like al Qaeda. Additionally, students will be required to think critically about how terrorist groups form, what makes them disband, and how knowledge is transferred among groups and group-members. Further, it will cover the history and development of both the term “terrorism” and the development of modern terrorism in practice. Finally, it will examine the place of anti-terrorism and counterterrorism within the context of the “long war” and within the American political context.

  1. HSS 550Critical Infrastructure Protection(Formerly ENF 650)

This course analyzes the infrastructure of CONUS with particular attention to transportation, medical, electronic, education, agriculture, electrical, water & sewer, banking and others. Each of these critical features will be analyzed to determine potential areas of vulnerability to threats, as well as potential counter-measures that can be utilized to neutralize the vulnerabilities. Students will conduct an evaluation of a selected infrastructure; prepare a vulnerability study, and protective response plan, for a chosen infrastructure.

  1. HSS 560Emergency and Crisis Management(Formerly ENF 660)

This course will provide the student with an analysis of the history of U.S. natural disasters and their consequences on the citizens who experienced them. Public policy concerning relief efforts will be analyzed. Relief agency charters will be examined to determine their role in such catastrophic events (American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA). Critical elements in catastrophic event plans will be analyzed. Students, with an analysis of common factors affecting response issues, will conduct evaluation of methodologies concerning community and regional assets

  1. HSS 6XXStrategic Planning and Budgeting for Homeland Security (New Course)

This course will familiarize students with the fundamentals of strategic planning and budgeting as conducted by organizations/agencies at the federal, tribal,state, and local levels. Particular emphasis will be placed on the Department of Defense's Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. Students will learn howstrategic planning (e.g., National Security Strategy, Strategic Planning Guidance, Quadrennial Defense Review, Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, etc.) drives thebudgeting process and how all budget line items must be traceable back torequirements containedin these strategy documents. This course will also cover the Federal Government's Future Years' Development Plan (FYDP). As a practical implementation of skills learned, studentswill address a case study using the strategic planning process,by defining objectives, assessing theinternal and external situations, formulating an achievable strategy, monitoring progress, and making adjustments to the strategy baseduponpre-defined metrics.

  1. HSS 6XXIssues and Problems of Interagency Coordination (New Course)

This course will provide an overview of U.S. interagency coordination policies, processes, and mechanisms for coordination and interaction at all levels local, regional, state, tribal, and federal government. In addition, the course will also address interagency coordination within the context of the international security environment.The primary focus will be on issues and problems in interagency coordination, communication, collaboration in response to and mitigation of a range of current and potential threats to U.S. infrastructure, institutions, and people posed by external state and non-state actors, natural disasters, and health pandemics. To demonstrate understanding of course topics, students will respond to a case study by assessing the problem, identifying relevant agencies and authorities for action, creating a plan for integrated and sustained coordination to resolve or mitigate the situation in a manner consistent with current policy directives and initiatives, and critically evaluating current methods of coordination to improve interaction.

  1. HSS 6XXCapstone I(New Course) (2 cr.)
  1. HSS 6XXCapstone II(New Course) (2 cr.)

Total credits - 36-40 credits, depending on MCCG revisions – specifically whether courses are weighted at 2 or 3 credits each.

  1. Timeline – approval by Feb 2014, implementation no earlier than AY 2014/2015

Updated: Spring 2014