Revised 5/2025

ADJ 243 - Homeland Security and Law (3 CR.)

Course Description

Covers relationships abroad, the mission of federal, state, and local government at home, and the best way to provide for the common defense. Examines homeland security and emergency management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's place in public policy, law, and management, homeland security initiatives, and new partnerships for homeland security covering the government, private sector and higher education. Discusses civil rights issues, the USA Patriot Act; future challenges and roles of intelligence agencies; foreign policy aspects and views. Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week, 3 credits.

General Course Purpose

To educate students about the mission of governmental units and how to best provide defense for them in the context of homeland security and current law.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: ADJ 111 or division approval

Course Objectives

  • Outline the essential characteristics of national and international acts of terrorism.
  • Construct an historical timeline reflecting significant terrorist threats and events in the United States and globally.
  • Demonstrate effective and clear verbal communication skills to convey factual information in order to coordinate law enforcement agencies.
  • Compose an historical timeline reflecting methods and outcomes used by national and international law enforcement and military agencies to counter and combat terrorism.
  • Classify the roles, functions of, and interdependency between local, federal and international law enforcement and military agencies to counter and combat terrorism.
  • Differentiate between ethical and unethical attitudes and actions regarding the execution of Homeland Security practices.
  • Identify the characteristics, ideologies, motives and behaviors of various extremists and terrorist groups that foster and support terrorist and criminal activities.
  • Examine and interpret forensic evidence to reconstruct crime and terrorism.
  • Craft effective strategies to generate useful information for local, national and international law enforcement agencies.
  • Solve problems as an individual and in a coordinated team setting.
  • Write clear, concise and accurate reports to provide factual information, accurate data analysis and sound recommendations.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Homeland security from local and regional aspects
  • Homeland security initiatives and emergency management
  • Hazardous materials
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency's role in policy, law and management
  • Changing priorities since 911 Attacks:
    • Partnering for homeland security
    • New partnerships between governments
    • Private sector training and education
    • Department of Defense
  • The US Patriot Act and financial institutions
  • Challenges for transportation
    • Mass transit
    • Policy issues
  • Natural disasters and weapons of mass destruction
    • Bio-terrorism
    • "Dirty Bomb"
  • Future challenges for homeland security
    • Executive orders
    • Implementing legislation

Optional Topics

The course may include related topics at the discretion of the instructor.