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2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts and Sciences: General Studies (Germanna Community College)
Germanna Community College
Germanna Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Arts and Sciences: General Studies

Program description

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is a creative, interdisciplinary grouping of programs in the social sciences and professional arenas that provides students with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for success in public service.   The Wilder School brings together faculty from multiple disciplines that share a common interest in public affairs. Emergency preparedness has always been a critical aspect of governmental policy at the federal, state and local levels. Response to natural disasters — floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, outbreak of infectious disease — requires predisaster planning, mid-disaster operations and postdisaster reconstruction that can only be carried out successfully through a partnership between all levels of government and between the public sector, private sector and civil society. The program in homeland security and emergency preparedness recognizes this dual nature and is designed to give students both theoretical and practical knowledge that will prepare them for the following: 1) private- or public-sector employment in the expanding area of homeland security as it relates specifically to international and domestic security, as well as emergency preparedness for both security and nonsecurity-related incidents and/or 2) further study in government, international affairs, law enforcement, policy planning or law.

Career opportunities

Launched as the nation’s first homeland security and emergency preparedness program in 2005, we prepare students to manage the complexities of disaster planning and response.

Alumni often work in private and public-sector jobs related to emergency management, security or crisis planning, or pursue graduate study in fields such as government, international affairs, law enforcement, policy planning and law.  Gain knowledge and skills in emergency planning/management principles and practicalities, the nature and effects of natural disasters, domestic and foreign terrorist threats to the U.S., and ethical and constitutional issues related to terrorist prevention tactics. 

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Case Officer (CIA)
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection
  • Cyber Security Specialist
  • Defense Contractor
  • Disaster Relief Officer
  • Emergency Planner
  • Emergency Preparedness/Exercise Specialist
  • Federal Law Enforcement (Special Agent)
  • Hazardous Material Manager
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Military Officer
  • Policy Analyst
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Emergency Management Director
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Government Agency Administrator
  • Hospital Administrator
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • STAT 210
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Germanna Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: General Studies)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Browse careers related to Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Work with career services to build resume.
Experience Year 2
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Visit the VCU Wilder School website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi, and professors.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Wilder School, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue in your community.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Wilder School-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language, or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Be prepared for academic challenges and use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV 100.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness through the career coach.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Work with career services to build resume.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Visit the VCU Wilder School website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi, and professors.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Wilder School, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue in your community.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Wilder School-related events.
  • Consider learning a foreign language, or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Germanna Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: General Studies)

Germanna Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
HIS Western Civilization or World History (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 111, 112 HIST 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
Transfer elective ITE 115 or transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
HIS U.S. History (select 1): HIS 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major
CST 100 Public Speaking (or CST 110 or CST 126) SPCH 121 3 Elective
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Laboratory Science Laboratory Science (select 1): BIO 101, CHM 101, GOL 105, PHY 201. VCU equivalent 4 General education
Humanities Any 200-level ENG literature course (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 ENGL 3 General education
Transfer elective Transfer elective (foreign language 101 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
Humanities Humanities elective (select 1): ART 101, 102, HUM 100, MUS 121, PHI 101, REL 231, 232 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social/Behavioral Science PLS 211 U.S. Government POLI 103 3 Major
Laboratory Science Laboratory Science: BIO 101, 102, CHM 101, 102, GOL 105, 106, PHY 201, 202. VCU equivalent 4 General education
Humanities Humanities elective (select 1): ART 101, 102, HUM 100, MUS 121, PHI 101, REL 231 or additional ENG literature class VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Transfer elective Transfer elective (foreign language 102 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
Social/Behavioral Science PLS 241 International Relations POLI 105 3 Major
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Germanna CC credits transferred to VCU 60 to 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level. If not completed at Germanna. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
HSEP 101 Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness 3 Major
HSEP 301/POLI 367 Terrorism 3 Major
HSEP 302 Emergency Planning and Incident Management 3 Major
HSEP 310 Risk and Vulnerability Assessment 3 Major
HSEP 314 Cybersecurity Policy 3 Major
HSEP 320 The Intelligence Community and the Intelligence Process 3 Major
HSEP 330 Legal and Constitutional Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness 3 Major
HSEP 490 Senior Seminar 3 Major
Select two approved upper-level HSEP electives (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 18 Elective
Open electives 10 to 12 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120