/ SYLLABUS FOR HMSY 1338
Homeland Security Emergency Communications Management
Hybrid Course
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Location: Manama, Bahrain
Course Dates/Times:2/27/2018-4/9/2018
In Class sessions– on Tuesdays from 1730- 2130: February 27, March 6, 13, 20th, 27th, April 3with additional weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Mr. Jeremy M. Hendrickson
Office Hours: By Appointment
Instructor Email:
  1. INTRODUCTION
  1. This course is a study of public safety communication system interactions. Topics include political and policy basis of emergency management, technology, mitigation, and disaster recovery. Includes an overview of incident command systems, emergency management, mitigation for emergency managers, and individual and community disaster education.
  1. This course is a required course in the Homeland Security – Emergency Management Associate of Applied Science Degree.
  1. This course is occupationally related and serves as preparation for careers in: Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, and Corrections.
  1. Prerequisite(s): None
  1. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, Homeland Security Emergency Communications Management the student will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the technologies applicable to each phase of homeland security and emergency management.
  1. Know the key elements that must be in place for technology to enhance the emergency management process.
  1. Understand the applications and tools available to Emergency Managers including Internet, telecommunications, networks, warning systems, radio systems, GIS software, and GPS tools.
  1. Review the elements of a hazard model and demonstrate knowledge of the limitations of modeling programs.
  1. Prepare a report defining a concept of operations and plan for applying a specific technology to address an assigned scenario.
  1. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through

Required Student Textbook:

Selected Course and Method / HMSY1338
Course Title / Homeland Security Emergency Communications Management
Book Title / Technology and Emergency Management
Author / Pine, John C.
Edition / 2nd
Publisher / Wiley
Copyright / 2017
ISBN / 978119234081
Required or Optional / Required

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A.Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.

B.You should attend class regularly in both face-to-face and online Central Texas College (CTC) Blackboard classes. Online attendance involves logging into your Blackboard class and participating in discussions, submitting assignments, etc. Be prepared to also take any unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current CTC Course Catalog.

C.You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the course. From the beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crash-cram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers or projects will be considered in grade computation.

D.From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.

E.You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook/reading materials to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.

F.Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.

G.Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:

Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper credit to the sources.

Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically approved in advance by the instructor.

Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.

Students guilty of scholastic dishonesty will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of “F” and be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension and expulsion.

H.Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.

V. COURSE FORMAT – Hybrid with BLACKBOARD

This course has been developed as a hybrid course. Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction with instructor via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to CTC Blackboard and that they are familiar with the contents and assignments. It is also the student’s responsibility to log into CTC Blackboard at least once a week to ‘attend’ the online class portion and to participate in the online Blackboard discussions and assignments. Failure to do so will violate the attendance policy and will have a negative impact on the course grade.

The course will meet for six weeks--once a week--for a four-hour face-to-face session. In addition, instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the remaining instruction per week.

VI.EXAMINATIONS

  1. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:

1.Mid-term exam on March 17

2.Final exam on April 3

3. Paper and/or Project due on March 24

B.A student must be present for all examinations. Students who know in advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about individual make-up work.

C.Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.

D.Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-the-blank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.

E. If final exam is online, it will be administered via BioSig application.See Blackboard class for registration information.

VII.SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS

The final grade in this course will be based on the following:

Participation100 points

Assignments & Quizzes200 points

Discussion Boards (mandatory)200 points

Term Paper/Term Presentation200 points

Mid-term Exam100 points

Final Exam200 points

Total possible points: 1000 points

POINTS GRADES

900-1000 A=4 pts/sem hr

800-899 B=3 pts/sem hr

700-799 C=2 pts/sem hr

600-699 D=1 pt/sem hr

0-599 F=0 pts/sem hr

A term paper or term project is expected from all students. Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities, so the instructor may need to revisit the term paper concept during the course.

VIII.NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE INSTRUCTOR

  1. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for more details.
  2. GoArmyEdstudents should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.

Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy.

For self-pay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for

Withdrawal or Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated student Services Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid.

Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the students.

  1. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student Services Officer for that region.
  2. Faculty/Administrative Initiated Withdrawals

Faculty are authorized to withdraw students who are not making satisfactory course progress as outlined in the section of the Catalog entitled "Satisfactory Progress Standards.

A student may be administratively withdrawn by a designated member of the administrative staff of the College under the following conditions:

  • The student has been placed on Academic Suspension or Disciplinary Suspension;
  • The student has an outstanding financial obligation owed to the college;
  • The student registered for a course without the required prerequisite or departmental permission;
  • Students who do not participate or complete graded activities during the first week will be administratively withdrawn.

The college is under no obligation to refund tuition and fees, or other costs associated with a student who is administratively withdrawn.

  1. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official letter grade.
  2. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.
  3. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
  4. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

IX. COURSE OUTLINE

Note:

The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.

Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to internet so that they may communicate, via CTC Blackboard, with the instructor. The class is broken down into six sessions. See below for course outline.

Schedule of Assignments
Week / Chapter(s) / Lecture / Due Dates
1 / Chapter 1: The Need for Technology in Emergency Management / February 27 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)
2 / Chapter 2: Computer Networks and Emergency Management
Chapter 3: Cyber Security / March 6 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)
3 / Chapter 4: Social Media and Emergency Management
Chapter 5: Geospatial Technologies and Emergency Management
Chapter 6: Direct and Remote Sensing Systems: Describing and Detecting Hazards / March 13 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)
Midterm Exam / No later than March 17
4 /
Chapter 7: Emergency Management Decision Support Systems: Using Data to Manage Disasters
Chapter 8: Warning Systems: Alerting the Public to Danger
Chapter 9: Hazards Analysis and Modeling: Predicting the Impact of Disasters / March 20 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)
Final Paper / No later than March 24
5 / Chapter 10: Operational Problems and Technology: Making Technology Work for You Chapter 11: Trends in Technology: New Tools for Challenges to Emergency Management / March 27 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)
6 /
Final Exam
/ April 3- April 9 / CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Saturday at midnight (European time)
CTC Blackboard peer response due by Monday midnight (European time)

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