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2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: General Studies (Piedmont Virginia Community College)
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science: 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

Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: 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
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Wilder School, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Wilder School-related events.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • 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.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Wilder School, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Wilder School-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • 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.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: General Studies)

Piedmont Virginia 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
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
ENG Select 1: ENG 200-level literature ENGL 3 General education
HIS Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
HIS Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Elective
ITE 119 Information Literacy INFO 160, 161, 168 3 Elective
Humanities Select 1: ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 250; PHI 100, 200 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities Select from approved PVCC list VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Science w/ Laboratory Select 1: BIO 101, 106, 107; CHM 101, 111; GOL 105; NAS 131; PHY 100, 201 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Science w/ Laboratory Select 1: BIO 101, 106, 107; CHM 101, 111; GOL 105; NAS 131; PHY 100, 201 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Social Science PLS 135 American National Politics or PLS 211 U.S. Government POLI 103 3 Major
Social Science PLS 241 International Relations POLI 105 3 Major
Social Science Select from approved PVCC list VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Transfer elective Transfer elective (foreign language 101 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
Transfer elective Transfer elective (foreign language 102 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
Transfer elective Select from approved PVCC list VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Transfer elective Select from approved PVCC list VCU equivalent 3 Elective
PVCC credits transferred to VCU 63
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level. (if not completed at PVCC) (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
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 9 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 57
Bachelor's degree total 120