Courses in Penn State's 33-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security - Geospatial Intelligence option helps analysts develop knowledge and skills to disseminate accurate intelligence that may save lives, improve governments’ ability to prepare for and respond to disasters, and assist businesses.
Use the Course List below to find course information, including course descriptions and prerequisites.
All students are required to take at least one elective that is a 500-level course in addition to the Capstone Experience (GEOG 594) to satisfy the degree requirement of 6 credits at the 500 level.
All students are required to complete the HLS Orientation (non-credit) as part of the HLS core curriculum before the end of their first semester. This orientation provides an overview of the HLS program and the field of homeland security.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland Security Administration: Policies and Programs | HLS 801 | Foundation for understanding homeland security history, the development of homeland security policies and organizations, and current management approaches. | 3 credits |
| Homeland Security: Social and Ethical Issues | HLS 803 | This course will examine the social, political, legal, and ethical issues that arise in the context of homeland security. | 3 credits |
| Violence, Threats, Terror, and Insurgency | HLS 805 | Provides an overview of the domestic and global issues related to homeland security. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring Imagery and Elevation Data in GIS Applications | GEOG 480 | An introductory-level course focusing on the use of remotely sensed imagery and elevation data in GIS applications. | 3 credits |
| Problem Solving with GIS | GEOG 483 | How geographic information systems facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems. Prerequisites: GEOG 482 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Geographic Foundations of Geospatial Intelligence | GEOG 882 | Orientation to the geographic foundations of geospatial intelligence and its applications in national security, international relief work, and disaster management. | 3 credits |
| Advanced Analytic Methods for Geospatial Intelligence | GEOG 885 | Prepares current and aspiring geospatial intelligence professionals to apply and interpret results of non-quantitative analysis and modeling techniques. Prerequisites: GEOG 882 |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Biosecurity: Protecting a Key Infrastructure | AGBIO 520 | Course will explore intentional and unintentional threats to the agriculture-food system, history and current approaches for safeguarding this key infrastructure. | 3 credits |
| Disaster Communication | CAS 553 | This seminar provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of disaster communication across phases of a disaster. | 3 credits |
| Cyber-Geography in Geospatial Intelligence | GEOG 479 | Geospatial intelligence analysis of the geographic aspects of cyber data and observables, products for decision-making, and impact of change. Prerequisites: GEOG 160, GEOG 482 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Topographic Mapping with Lidar | GEOG 481 | Understanding lidar systems' design, operation, data processing techniques, and product generation to address typical application scenarios faced by the geospatial professional. | 3 credits |
| Making Maps that Matter with GIS | GEOG 482 | Case studies, student investigations, and projects reveal the scope, impact, and character of the Geospatial Revolution. | 3 credits |
| GIS Database Development | GEOG 484 | Database design, creation, and maintenance, and data integration using desktop GIS software. Prerequisites: GEOG 483 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| GIS Programming and Software Development | GEOG 485 | Customizing GIS software to extend its built-in functionality and to automate repetitive tasks. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Cartography and Visualization | GEOG 486 | Theory and practice of cartographic design, emphasizing effective visual thinking and visual communication with geographic information systems. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Environmental Applications of GIS | GEOG 487 | Real-world applications of GIS and spatial analysis to investigate a variety of current environmental issues. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| GIS Application Development | GEOG 489 | GIS Desktop Customization with Visual Basic .NET and ArcObjects, including the Systems Development Life Cycle, using ESRI Add-Ins to deploy custom applications. Prerequisite: GEOG 485 and instructor approval; or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Location Intelligence for Business | GEOG 850 | Understanding location technology and geospatial analysis to support an efficient and effective pathway to better business decisions. | 3 credits |
| 3D Modeling and Virtual Reality | GEOG 497 | Introduces students to emerging topics at the interface of concepts and tools that capture/sense environmental information (e.g., LiDAR) and concepts/tools that allow for immersive access to geospatial information (e.g., HTC Vive). | 3 credits |
| Intelligence Analysis, Cultural Geography, and Homeland Security | GEOG 571 | The application of cultural geography in the intelligence analysis and synthesis process by identifying prominent threats to civil security. | 3 credits |
| Geospatial System Analysis and Design | GEOG 583 | Systematic approach to requirements acquisition, specification, design, and implementation of geospatial information systems. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 |
3 credits |
| Open Web Mapping | GEOG 585 | Design, development, and implementation of web mapping applications using OGC standards and open source software. Prerequisites: GEOG 485 |
3 credits |
| Geographical Information Analysis | GEOG 586 | Choosing and applying analytical methods for geospatial data, including point pattern analysis, interpolation, surface analysis, overlay analysis, and spatial autocorrelation. Prerequisites: GEOG 485, GEOG 486, or GEOG 487 |
3 credits |
| Emerging Trends in Remote Sensing | GEOG 589 |
Advanced topics in remote sensing and image processing, including new sensors, applications, and decision making. Prerequisites: GEOG 480 and GEOG 883 |
3 credits |
| GIS for Health Analysis | GEOG 591 | The role of geographic information systems in understanding disease, including relevant spatial analysis and cartographic visualization techniques. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Independent Study in Geospatial Intelligence | GEOG 596I | Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses. | 1–3 credits |
| Special Topics in Geospatial Intelligence Futures | GEOG 597I | Addresses cutting-edge geospatial intelligence topics that impact the global academic and professional community. | 3 credits |
| Spatial Data Science for Emergency Management | GEOG 858 | Requirements analysis and proposal writing to plan and implement GIS solutions supporting emergency management activities of government agencies and contractors. Recommended Preparation: GEOG 483 |
3 credits |
| The Earth is Round and Maps are Flat: Working with Spatial Reference Systems in GIS | GEOG 861 | Explores three important topics related to georeferenced data: datums, map projections, and grid systems. Prerequisites: GEOG 483 or permission of the program |
3 credit |
| GPS and GNSS for Geospatial Professionals | GEOG 862 | Cultivates a working knowledge of current and future capabilities of GPS and the emerging Global Navigation Satellite System. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Web Application Development for the Geospatial Professional | GEOG 863 | Focuses on how geospatial professionals can create applications using industry-relevant geospatial APIs. Students will build applications using the core web technologies of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. | 3 credits |
| Professionalism in Geographic Information Science and Technology | GEOG 864 | Prepares current and aspiring professionals to recognize, analyze, and address legal and ethical issues in the GIS&T (geospatial) field. | 3 credits |
| Cloud and Server GIS | GEOG 865 |
Theory and practical applications of using cloud computing and server resources to solve geospatial problems. Prerequisites: GEOG 484 or permission of the program |
3 credits |
| Spatial Database Management for Geospatial Professionals | GEOG 868 | Advanced topics in the storage, management, and retrieval of geospatial data using common proprietary and open-source relational database technologies. | 3 credits |
| Geospatial Technology Project Management | GEOG 871 | Principles of effective project management applied to the design and implementation of geospatial information systems. | 3 credits |
| Remote Sensing Analysis and Applications | GEOG 883 | Understanding remote sensing systems' operation, data products, and processing techniques to address typical problem scenarios faced by the GEOINT professional. | 3 credits |
| Geographic Information Systems for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional | GEOG 884 | How geographic information systems facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems faced by the geospatial intelligence professional. Prerequisite: GEOG 882 |
3 credits |
| Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) | GEOG 892 | Common platforms, analytical strategies, and policy dimensions of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in public, private, defense, and humanitarian applications. | 3 credits |
| Natural Disasters | GEOSC 402Y | Case studies of the causes and consequences of natural disasters; analysis of disaster impact in different economic, cultural, and social conditions. | 3 credits |
| Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management | IST 564 | This course examines the fundamental elements of crisis, disaster, risk, and emergency management. | 3 credits |
| Foundations of Information Security and Assurance | IST 815 | This course provides theoretical and applied foundations of information security and assurance. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Multisensor Data Infusion | IST 885 | Understanding the concepts, techniques, and issues surrounding the fusion of information from multiple sensors and sources of data. | 3 credits |
| Public Health Evaluation of Disasters and Bioterrorism | PHP 527 | Introduces students to the design of exposure assessment and health effect studies applicable to disasters and terrorism. | 3 credits |
| The Politics of Terrorism | PLSC 439 | Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age. Prerequisites: CRIMJ 100 or PL SC 014 or permission of program |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culminating Experiences in Geospatial Intelligence | GEOG 594A | Culminating experiences in current professional and ethical problems facing the geospatial intelligence professional. | 1 credit |
| Geospatial Intelligence Capstone Experience | GEOG 594B | Culminating experience in the iMPS-HLS for the Geospatial Intelligence option. | 2 credits |
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