Program Overview

Program Overview

The National Security program at Rabdan Academy is designed to prepare graduates to become leaders in the field of national security, enabling them to coordinate work within a multidisciplinary team to manage standards, practices, and procedures in the field of information gathering, threat identification, risk assessment, and policy development.

Program Description

The program aims to develop the skills and knowledge of students in the areas of intelligence, counter-terrorism, cyber security, risk mitigation, and critical infrastructure protection. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, simulation exercises, and scenario-based training, students learn to lead a team, apply professional ethics, and develop strategic plans to enhance national security readiness.

Program Objectives

The program objectives include:

• Equipping students with the technical skills, knowledge, and capabilities required to work as a manager in the safety, security, defense, and emergency response sectors.
• Enabling students to work and lead effectively to achieve shared goals.
• Applying ethical standards, practices, and procedures for information gathering, risk assessment, and policy development.
• Implementing organizational solutions to support the safety, security, defense, and emergency response community.

Program Structure

The program consists of:

• 120 credited hours for the Bachelor of Science degree
• 60 credited hours for the diploma
• A combination of general education courses, elective courses, and specialized courses in areas such as intelligence, counter-terrorism, and cyber security

Courses

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• General Education Courses
  • ENG210 English Language 2
  • SEC100 Introduction to Academic Studies
  • MTH101 General Education (Mathematics)
  • SCI100 Environment, Health, and Safety
  • HUM100 Ethics Studies
• Elective Courses
  • BCM302 Business Continuity Management for Ministries
  • MTH100 Statistics
  • ENG200 Professional Communication Skills
  • IEM103 Emotional Intelligence and Personal Readiness
• Specialized Courses
  • HLS235 Transnational Organized Crime
  • HLS250 Transnational and Non-Traditional Threats
  • HLS300 Transportation and Border Security

Study Plan

The study plan consists of eight semesters, with a total of 120 credited hours. The plan includes:

• First Semester
  • ENG210 English Language 2
  • SEC100 Introduction to Academic Studies
  • MTH101 General Education (Mathematics)
  • HLS100 National Security of the United Arab Emirates
  • HLS120 Defense Policy of the United Arab Emirates
• Second Semester
  • EMS100 Emirati Studies
  • ISL100 Islamic Studies
  • IEM101 Introduction to Risk Management
  • HLS170 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
  • IEM100 Introduction to Integrated Emergency Management

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the general admission requirements of Rabdan Academy.

Faculty

The program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members, including:

• Dr. John Hatzadoni, Assistant Professor and Program Director
• Dr. Massimiliano Fiore, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Petros Violakis, Assistant Professor
• Dr. John Harrison, Associate Professor
• Dr. Olli Pekka Sorsa, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Paula Maria Ronio, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Arsen Saparov, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Francisco Javier Rojas Ruiz, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Spyridon Blakodas, Assistant Professor
• Dr. Augustin Masel Padilla, Assistant Professor