I. Prerequisites
CJUS 200 and 230
II. Required Resource Purchase
Lindell, M. K., Prater, C., & Perry, R.W. (2007). Introduction to emergency management (1st ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: .9780471772606
Walsch, D.W., Christen, H.T., Jr., Lord, G.C., & Miller, G.T. (2012). National incident management system (2nd ed.). Sudburg, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9780763781873
Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.
III. Additional Materials for Learning
A. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B. Internet access (broadband recommended)
C. Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)
IV. Measurable Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A. Identify critical stakeholders in homeland security.
B. Describe the structure of incident command, coordination, and collaboration among emergency responders.
C. Identify hazards specific to a jurisdiction.
D. Conduct vulnerability assessments.
E. Explain the elements of preparedness.
F. Evaluate current conditions and make recommendations for improving emergency response and management.
V. Course Requirements and Assignments
A. Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes
B. Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C. Discussion Board Forums (8)
· Discussion Questions
Discussion questions will be posted each module/week. Discussion question responses (the initial response to the Discussion Question) should be at least 250–300 words. The student is also required to post at least 2 substantive replies of 100–150 words each to a classmate’s thread. Unlike formal written assignments, the instructor does not require that the discussion question responses adhere to specific formatting requirements. However, make sure to proofread carefully. Grammar and spelling errors may impact grading.
The discussion question responses must reflect critical thought. Please try to relate the course content to real-world applications with biblical perspectives. Cite any sources used.
· Participation
Participation is very important online. Each module/week the student will be required to post his/her initial Discussion Question responses by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday. Replies to other students’ initial Discussion Question posts must be posted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Saturday of Modules/Weeks 1–7. Module/Week 8 replies are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday. This is a required part of the student’s grade.
Participation consists of notes the student sends above and beyond graded assignments. This generally means the responses the student sends as replies to other classmates and the instructor. Please note that both quantity and quality are important considerations when it comes to participation. For example, a message which says simply, “I agree,” does not constitute participation because it does not add anything of substance to the discussion.
· In order to earn full participation points, the student must add something of substance to the discussion—this would consist of new ideas, perspectives, pointed follow-up questions, etc. The student will find that it is much easier to keep up with an online course when he/she is logging in and participating regularly.
D. Individual Field Experiment
· The student will identify and locate 3 homeland security professionals in homeland security from your hometown. The names of the student’s choices (with their professional title and organization) must be submitted to the instructor for approval prior to the interview by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 2.
· Ask each professional what the current issues and problems with homeland security are. Telephone interviews are suggested. Ask follow-up questions to identify unknown factors. Some questions could be: (a) What are the most significant barriers to effective homeland security? (b) What factors hinder you in protecting the homeland? (c) What are the top 4 factors that affect achieving homeland security goals?
· Document the issues and problems identified for each professional. Discuss issues with interviewing, the process, and personal observations in a short narrative.
· Create a spreadsheet listing each problem identified and include the number of participants who identified the particular issue or problem. For instance:
|
Problem/Issue |
Number of Participants Responding |
|
Lack of Communication |
1 |
|
Inadequate Resources |
4 |
|
Incompatible IT Interfacing |
2 |
E. Field Experiment – Group Discussion Board
· Each student will be assigned to a team. Collaborate with team members and combine the results of your individual field experiments into one spreadsheet. Team leaders will combine the team spreadsheets to create the overall class using the spreadsheet format in section D. This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 4.
· Each team will develop a summary of findings report. At a minimum, the summary will include: (a) a description of what the team found, (b) an explanation of how the team’s findings compare to the overall class spreadsheet, (c) an analysis of peer-reviewed studies with at least two studies referenced and cited (in the text) that support or conflict with the overall class spreadsheet, and (d) a conclusion.
• The report should follow APA guidelines. All sources must be properly cited. A minimum of two peer-reviewed sources are required, and each must be cited in the text of the report. The report must be from 500–800 words. This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 4.
F. Homeland Security Assessment Report
· Conduct a homeland security assessment on Lynchburg, Virginia.
· Identify homeland security stakeholders who are involved in emergency management.
· What potential hazards both natural and manmade exist?
· Conduct research to identify hazards and ways to mitigate these hazards (recommended sites are FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, and State and Local Government sites).
· Prepare a report outlining these factors related to your assessment of Lynchburg:
o Identify homeland security stakeholders
o Identified hazards
o Risk management and preparedness issues
o The elements of disaster response, recovery, and incident command
o Professional accountability
o An evaluation of the application of other country responses and policies as applied to Lynchburg. Is it feasible?
o Recommendations and biblical perspectives
· The report should follow APA guidelines. All sources must be properly cited. A minimum of 4 sources are required and each must be cited in the text of the report. The report must be from 1100–1800 words. This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.
VI. Course Grading and Policies
A. Points
|
Course Requirements Checklist |
10 |
|
Discussion Board Forums (8 at 75 pts ea) |
600 |
|
Individual Field Experiment Field Experiment – Group DB |
25 75 |
|
Homeland Security Assessment Report |
300 |
|
Total |
1010 |
B. Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600-699 F = 0–599
C. Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:
1. Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will receive a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the class will not be accepted.
4. Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D. Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
VII. Bibliography
Department of Homeland Security. (2010 – 2012). U.S. Department of Homeland
Security annual performance report: Fiscal years 2010 – 2012. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/cfo_apr_fy2010.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (1997). Multi hazard identification and risk assessment: A cornerstone of the national mitigation strategy. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=481396
Lindell, M. K., Prater, C., & Perry, R. W. (2007). Introduction to emergency
management. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 9780471772606
United States Government Accountability Office. (2010). Critical infrastructure protection: DHS efforts to assess and promote resiliency are evolving but program management could be strengthened. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10772.pdf
Walsh, D. W., Christen, H. T., Miller, G. T., Callsen, C. E., Jr., Cilluffo, F. J., &
Maniscalco, P. M. (2012). National incident management system: Principles and
practices. Sudburg, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 9780763781873