Penn State's 33-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security degree program offers a core curriculum rooted in the homeland/civil security enterprise with a broad range of specializations through options and electives.
Use the Course List below to find course information, including course descriptions and prerequisites.
Course List - Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security - Counterterrorism Option
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root Causes of Terrorism | PLSC 836 | Investigates the role that economic, political, and social factors play in determining patterns of international and domestic terrorism and terrorist activity, with an eye to diagnosing root causes of terrorism and informing counterterrorism policy. The course also contains prominent case studies of the root causes of terrorism and provides an overview of major terrorist threats in world regions. | 3 credits |
| Counterterrorism | PLSC 569 | Surveys the history, evolution, strategies, techniques, tools, and contemporary issues related to counterterrorism in the world today. The course has a comparative focus, examining both U.S. counterterrorism and counterterrorism in other states and contexts. The course makes use of specific case examples of counterterrorism and also engages normative/ethical debates on counterterrorism. | 3 credits |
| Tools and Analysis of Terrorism and Counterterrorism | PLSC 838 | Introduces students to the various resources and analytical techniques available to terrorism and counterterrorism experts today. It introduces them to the major sources of data on terrorist groups, terrorist incident reports, risk climates, and legal and criminal justice data surrounding terrorism and counterterrorism. It provides students with critical data gathering and analysis skills useful to practitioners, and engages them in reporting and threat-briefing exercises. | 3 credits |
| Radicalization, Counter Radicalization, and De-Radicalization | PLSC 837 | Provides a comprehensive summary of the factors that promote the radicalization process, as well as the theoretical and practical foundations of efforts at counter-radicalization and de-radicalization. | 3 credits |
Recommended Electives (9 credits)
Students choose 9 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with adviser.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Politics of Terrorism
|
PLSC 439
|
Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age. | 3 credits |
| Fundamentals of Homeland Security | HLS 811 | Homeland security policies and strategies established by the United States federal government, as well as state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments; pertinent government plans to meet homeland security policy and strategy goals and objectives; key stakeholders across the homeland security enterprise; and the relevant legal issues. | 3 credits |
|
International Relations Theory
|
PLSC 418W
|
A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches for the analysis of international relations. | 3 credits |
|
American Foreign Policy
|
PLSC 442
|
Principles of American foreign policy; processes of policy formulation; roles of the President, Congress, the State Department and other government agencies. | 3 credits |
| Comparative Homeland Security and Related Methods |
HLS 540
|
The course will address international cooperation in Homeland Security and compare select national approaches as well as teach related practical methods of analysis. | 3 credits |
| U.S. Military's Domestic Imperative: Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities |
HLS 832
|
Provides an overview of the homeland defense mission and domestic support of civil authorities during disasters, and the distinctions between the two. | 3 credits |
|
U.S. Homeland Security Law
|
HLS 875 | Analysis of Constitutional provisions, legislative enactments, executive directives, and judicial decisions relating to homeland security. | 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 |
|
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 |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research in Political Science | PLSC 594 |
Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small group basis.
A section of this course will be offered exclusively for students in the Counterterrorism option who are engaged in the capstone experience for the Option.
|
3 credits |
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.