Bachelor of Science in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at UAlbany prepares students to assess risks and vulnerabilities, plan, prepare for, and mitigate hazards, and respond and recover effectively.

Program of Study

Core Courses

• Introduction to Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Critical Inquiry and Communication in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity OR Cybersecurity Basics
• Homeland Security
• Emergency Preparedness
• Leadership and Ethics in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Research Seminar in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Concentration

Select one concentration:

• Emergency Preparedness Concentration (General Program BS)
  • Preparedness and Response
  • Mitigation and Recovery
  • Two additional courses from approved list as advised
• Homeland Security Concentration (General Program BS)
  • Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
  • Homeland Security Risk
  • Two additional courses from approved list as advised

Training

100 Hours of Approved Training

• Foundation: 30 hours
• Professional Development: 20 hours
• Community Engagement: 15 hours
• Concentration Specific: 35 hours

Experiential Learning

Choose two:

• Contemporary Issues in Security and Preparedness
• Washington in Perspective
• Washington Internship
• External Internship Experience in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Research Internship Experience in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Exercise Design and Implementation
• Experimental and Service Learning in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Capstone Project in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Special Topics in Research, Applied and Experimental Learning
• Independent Research

Honors Program

The Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity Honors Program engages well-qualified majors in more immersive research and writing. The coursework provides students with the tools and strategies needed to complete an independent and original honors thesis project.

In addition to the regular requirements for the EHC major, students in the Honors Program complete an additional seven credits:

• Research Seminar in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Research Methods Course
• Senior Honors Thesis Project

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options

You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

• MS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
• MPA in Public Administration and Policy
• MIA in International Affairs
• MS in Information Science

Alumni Outcomes

Through coursework, training and experiential learning, UAlbany’s Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity program prepares you for careers in government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, as well as private sector and nonprofit organizations.

Recent alumni employers include:

• Central Intelligence Agency
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• New York State Police
• New York State Department of Transportation
• New York City Human Rights Commission
• Bank of America
• Deloitte
• PwC
• Broadcom/VMware
• Capgemini
• FTI Consulting
• Starr Insurance Companies

Student Learning Objectives

• Risk Management: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of risks, generate an analysis of options for mitigating risks, select the most appropriate mitigating actions for each risk, develop contingency and crisis response plans, communicate the risk assessment to a variety of audiences and evaluate risk management plans.
• Critical Thinking: Critically analyze arguments by identifying assumptions, understanding claims, evaluating evidence and drawing a conclusion.
• Communication: Recognize and formulate effective written and oral communication, giving appropriate consideration to audience, context, format and textual evidence.
• Problem Solving: Design and implement strategic plans and creative solutions in novel and evolving circumstances.
• Ethical Analysis: Demonstrate understanding of ethical principles in general and the ability to recognize, articulate and apply ethical principles in concrete situations related to emergency preparedness, homeland security and cybersecurity.
• Diversity: Demonstrate an understanding of diversity and the ability to assess social equity in management and policy decisions through courses that focus on topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, physical ability, language and/or social class.
• Teamwork and Project Management: Work effectively in teams in evaluating policies, managing projects and implementing programs as well as effectively managing conflicts, optimizing resources and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrate a solid foundational knowledge of the architecture of computer and networks hardware and software, how that is the basis of vulnerabilities to these systems. From this foundation, be familiar with the tools and techniques used to defend such systems from attacks.
• Understand how risk management, the use of cybersecurity policies and related tools can help an organization prepare for, remain functional during, and recover from cyber incidents.

Program Outline

• To equip students with the analytical and critical thinking skills needed to assess risks and vulnerabilities.
• To cultivate students' leadership and ethical decision-making abilities in the context of emergency preparedness, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
• To prepare students for careers in government agencies, private sector organizations, and non-profit organizations involved in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.

Program Description:

The EHC program offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical application. Students gain a solid understanding of the various aspects of emergency preparedness, homeland security, and cybersecurity, including risk assessment, mitigation planning, response strategies, and recovery operations. The program also emphasizes ethical considerations, leadership skills, and effective communication. The EHC curriculum consists of core courses, a concentration area, and experiential learning opportunities. Core courses provide a foundation in the core concepts and principles of emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity. Concentrations allow students to specialize in a specific area of interest, such as emergency preparedness or homeland security, by taking additional courses in that area. Experiential learning opportunities allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings through internships, simulations, research projects, and other hands-on experiences.

• Homeland Security: Exploring the various aspects of homeland security, including terrorism, counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, and border security.
• Cybersecurity: Gaining knowledge of cybersecurity principles, including network security, data security, and incident response.
• Risk Assessment: Learning how to identify, analyze, and assess risks and vulnerabilities.
• Mitigation Planning: Developing mitigation plans to reduce the impact of potential threats and hazards.
• Recovery Operations: Learning about recovery operations and how to rebuild communities after an emergency or disaster.
• Leadership and Ethics: Developing leadership and ethical decision-making skills in the context of emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.

Structure:

• The EHC program consists of 120 credits, including 30 credits of core courses, 15 credits of concentration courses, 30 credits of electives, and 45 credits of experiential learning.
• Students can choose from two concentration areas: Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security.
• Experiential learning opportunities include internships, simulations, research projects, and other hands-on experiences.

Course Schedule:

• The EHC program offers a variety of courses that are offered throughout the academic year.

Module Descriptions:

• Core Courses:
• Introduction to Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Critical Inquiry and Communication in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity OR Cybersecurity Basics
• Homeland Security
• Emergency Preparedness
• Leadership and Ethics in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security & Cybersecurity
• Research Seminar in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
• Concentration Courses:
• Emergency Preparedness Concentration:
• Preparedness and Response
• Mitigation and Recovery
• Two additional courses from an approved list
• Homeland Security Concentration:
• Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
• Homeland Security Risk
• Two additional courses from an approved list
• Electives: Students can choose from a variety of electives related to emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
• Experiential Learning: Students can choose from a variety of experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, simulations, research projects, and other hands-on experiences.

Assessment:

• Assessment Methods: The EHC program uses a variety of assessment methods, including exams, quizzes, assignments, presentations, and projects.
• Assessment Criteria: The assessment criteria vary depending on the specific course or learning activity.
However, the criteria generally focus on students' understanding of course concepts, their ability to apply their knowledge to real-world situations, and their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The EHC program uses a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, simulations, case studies, and guest speakers.
• Faculty: The EHC program has a faculty with expertise in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
• Experiential Learning:
The program emphasizes experiential learning, which allows students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world settings.
• Interagency Collaboration: The program partners with a variety of agencies and organizations involved in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
This collaboration provides students with access to real-world experiences and networking opportunities.
• Research Opportunities: The program encourages students to participate in research projects with faculty members.
This allows students to gain experience in conducting research and to contribute to the field of emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: The EHC program prepares students for a variety of careers in government agencies, private sector organizations, and non-profit organizations.
Potential career paths include:
• Emergency Management Specialist
• Homeland Security Analyst
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Disaster Recovery Specialist
• Intelligence Analyst
• Law Enforcement Officer
• Firefighter
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Public Health Official
• Career Opportunities: The EHC program graduates are highly sought after by employers in the emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity fields.
The program has a strong track record of placing graduates in internships and full-time positions with a variety of organizations.
• Career Outcomes: The EHC program graduates have a high rate of employment in their field.
Many graduates go on to work in government agencies, private sector organizations, and non-profit organizations. Some graduates choose to pursue further education in emergency management, homeland security, or cybersecurity.

Other:

• Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options: The EHC program offers accelerated undergraduate/graduate options that allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years.
• Alumni Outcomes: The EHC program has a strong alumni network.
Alumni of the program are employed in a variety of positions in the emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity fields.
• Living-Learning Communities: The University at Albany offers living-learning communities for students interested in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
These communities provide students with the opportunity to live and learn with other students who share their interests.
• Study Abroad: The University at Albany offers study abroad opportunities for students interested in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
• Undergraduate Research: The University at Albany offers undergraduate research opportunities for students interested in emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.
These opportunities allow students to work with faculty members on research projects and to contribute to the field of emergency management, homeland security, and cybersecurity.