Homeland Security Minor

Description. Homeland security professionals deal with a wide variety human-made and natural disasters. Using a multidisciplinary lens, the Homeland Security minor introduces students to the field of homeland security, looking in particular at essential homeland security functions (e.g., intelligence and counterintelligence activities) and objectives (e.g., securing the nation’s borders), threats to homeland security (e.g., terrorism and human trafficking), assessment of the risk of these threats, the social, political, ethical, and legal implications of homeland security, and the ways to mitigate, respond to, prepare for, and recover from homeland security threats. The courses in this minor critically evaluate discourses, narratives, and perspectives on homeland security, terrorism, counterterrorism, and antiterrorism, and intelligence, and promote evidence-based analyses of “what works” and “what does not work” in these fields. Security managers, security operators, emergency management professionals, intelligence agents, private security professionals, law enforcement officers, policymakers, and those in other related fields need to be familiar with homeland security in order to maintain currency in the field and be more marketable employees. Anyone interested in learning about homeland security and/or working in the homeland security job market that has exponentially expanded since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, should take this minor.

Learning outcomes. Students will:

• Identify, evaluate, and present information about homeland security through writing assignments, practical exercises, exams, research papers, and oral presentations.
• Identify and assess homeland security threats and risks.
• Identify the functions and objectives of the Department of Homeland Security, and explain the role of intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and antiterrorism in homeland security.
• Critically evaluate homeland security policies and practices from multiple theoretical perspectives.
• Propose effective measures to counter and combat homeland security threats and the manner in which their efficacy can be assessed.

Rationale. Globalization has challenged the security and stability of nations by enabling human-made threats to traverse borders through the rapid and expansive movement of people, property, goods, money and information across borders. These threats to the security and stability of nations added impetus to the creation of government agencies tasked with protecting the homeland. Homeland security is an umbrella term used to describe the measures taken by nations to secure their territories and borders. The job market for public and private sector employees with homeland security-related backgrounds in border security, transportation security, counterterrorism, antiterrorism, intelligence, and cybersecurity has exponentially expanded since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. An essential function of homeland security is protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors (i.e., food and agriculture, chemical, critical manufacturing, commercial, communications, dams, defense, emergency services, energy, financial, government, healthcare, informational technology, nuclear, transportation, water and wastewater), which are primarily owned and operated by the private sector. Given the primary role of the private sector in critical infrastructure protection, it is imperative that professionals seeking employment in these sectors are well-versed in homeland security policies and procedures. If John Jay wishes to remain at the cutting edge of security, it must be more attentive to homeland security issues which are integral to public and private security professions.

Credits. 18

Minor coordinator. Professor Lowell Dimoff ([e-mail]).

Advisor. Ms. Gentiana Seferaj (212.237.8043, [e-mail]), Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management. 

Requirements. Students must complete 18 credits by taking the three required security courses and choosing three electives. A maximum of two courses can overlap with a student’s major, minor or programs.

Please note: Students cannot earn both the B.S. in Security Management and the Minor in Homeland Security due to the similarities of the fields and the amount of course overlap.

Part One. Required Courses

SEC 112	Introduction to Homeland Security	3
SEC 220	Terrorism, Security and Emergency Management	3
SEC 333	Intelligence and Counterintelligence: Public and Private Practices	3

Total Credit Hours: 9

Part Two. Electives

Choose three.

ESA 355	Geographic Information Systems for Emergency Services	3
SEC 270/CSCI 270	Security of Computers and Their Data	3
SEC 310	Emergency Planning	3
SEC 323	Private Security and Homeland Defense	3
SEC 327	Risk and Vulnerability Analysis	3
SEC 329	Security, Risk and Technology	3
SEC 331	Maritime Security and Safety	3

Total Credit Hours: 9

Total Credit Hours: 18