Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Bachelor of Arts
VCU
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:
- 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.
- Further study in government, international affairs, law enforcement, policy planning or law.
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. Students 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.
- 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
- Emergency Management Director
- Foreign Service Officer
- Government Agency Administrator
- Hospital Administrator
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- STAT 208
- Natural Sciences requirement only
- Yes
- No
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Bachelor of Arts
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Criminal Justice with a specialization in Homeland Security (G3 program))
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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Explore | Year 1 |
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Experience | Year 2 |
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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend New Student Orientation.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
- Check on G3 funding for your AAS program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Wilder School website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
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
- Browse careers related to Homeland Security through the Virginia Wizard.
- 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
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
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.
- Meet with your academic advisor.
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 and 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.
- Continue with your 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.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
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.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Bachelor of Arts
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Science: Criminal Justice with a specialization in Homeland Security (G3 program))
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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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 |
ADJ 100 | Survey of Criminal Justice | CRJS 181 | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 110 | Introduction to Law Enforcement | CRJS 254 | 3 | Elective |
PLS 135 | American National Politics | POLI 103 | 3 | General education |
Humanities elective | Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
ADJ 111 | Law Enforcement Organization and Administration I | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 133 | Ethics and the Criminal Justice Professional | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 201 | Criminology | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 234 | Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 236 | Principles of Criminal Investigation | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 160 | Police Response to Critical Incidents | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 169 | Transportation and Border Security | CRJS 1XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 211 | Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures I | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 247 | Criminal Behavior | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 212 | Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedures II | CRJS 2XX | 3 | Elective |
ADJ 243 | Homeland Security and Law | HSEP 101 | 3 | General education |
ADJ 299 | Supervised Study in Criminal Justice | CRJS 2XX | 4 | Elective |
Laboratory Science | Select 1: BIO 101, BIO 106, CHM 111, GOL 105, PHY 201 | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
Physical Education Elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective | |
Tidewater credits transferred to VCU | 61 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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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 three approved HSEP electives (see VCU advisor for course options) | 9 | Major | |
GVPA 100 | Making Policy Real: Social Problems and Policy Solutions | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
STAT 208 | Statistical Thinking | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
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. | 15 | Elective | |
Open electives | 8 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 59 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |