Homeland Security, Minor

Program Description

The Homeland Security minor provides for development of familiarity with homeland security and defense issues, including emergency management, homeland security policy, and the structure of homeland security operations. Students will come to understand the "all hazards" approach to homeland security and defense. Students will be able to develop familiarity with such aspects of homeland security as counterterrorism, emergency management, security administration, border security, critical infrastructure protection, and intelligence through taking elective courses. Recipients of the minor would be positioned to enter the workforce in entry-level positions or to prepare for transition to graduate school.

What is Homeland Security?

Homeland Security is an area of study that focuses on security policy, planning and operations dedicated to the protection of U.S. territory, assets, infrastructure, institutions and citizens from external threats. It is concerned with national security policy, government relations, intelligence, law enforcement, security technology, communications and information technology, disaster planning, and applications to specific threat scenarios.

You Might Like This Program If...

• You enjoy helping others or doing something for the greater good.
• You want to serve society and have good people skills.
• You are interested in working for a local, state, or federal agency that is involved with homeland security.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the Minor

At least six credits must be at the 400 level. This means that students must choose at least one elective at the 400 level.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

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At least 3 credits in supporting courses must be at the 400 level: this rule also applies in case of course substitutions.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Harrisburg

Emma Leonard Boyle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Masters of Professional Studies in Homeland Security
Olmsted Building, W131D
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6322
ejl196@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu

Contact

Harrisburg

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Olmsted Building, W160
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6322
mpf5451@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/public-affairs/homeland-security-minor

World Campus

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Olmsted Building, W159
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6322
mpf5451@psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-homeland-security-minor