Emergency Management and Homeland Security, B.A.

Program Coordinator: Thad Hicks, Ph.D., CEM, MEP

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The primary focus of the Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security program is to create skilled and devoted leaders who not only prepare for cataclysmic events but also establish order in times of chaos with the ultimate goal of saving lives. It also equips students with the skills and expertise needed to recognize significant hazards, analyze intelligence, respond to a wide variety of disasters and other emergency situations, and effectively navigate both the administrative responsibilities and related regulations that govern one's work in this professional field. The program curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision making, and effective organizational skills, with the goal of developing professionals who are ready to make a difference in government, private, and non-profit sectors, and who can coordinate the resources necessary for preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery from possible disasters.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, students should be able to:

• understand theoretical and practical concepts involving crime mitigation, human behavior, infrastructure, and disaster planning;
• examine existing and future organizational structures for emergency and disaster management;
• explore disaster preparedness from a policy perspective, including gathering and interpreting intelligence in order to identify and respond to potential threats;
• employ a holistic approach to public safety that includes a thorough analysis of risk assessment, civilian and staff management, and cultural factors;
• examine different types of emergencies, including natural disasters, terrorism, and hazardous material exposure, and develop tailored, multi-faceted responses to each scenario;
• demonstrate effective communication, leadership, and emergency management skills.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management program include the following:

• submission of official transcripts of all previous college or university courses completed to date;
• completion of at least 56 transferable credit hours from a regionally-accredited institution(s) of higher learning with a grade of C- or better for each course;
• an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college or university coursework completed to date (an applicant with a GPA less than 2.00 may apply for probationary admittance);
• completion of an online application and Registration Agreement Form.

Applicants from foreign countries and U.S. territories must also provide recent evidence of proficiency in English by: 1) scoring 80 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL with subscores in writing, reading, speaking and listening of at least 20; 2) scoring 550 or above on the written TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with subscores in writing and reading of at least 50; or 3) scoring 6.0 or above on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). All tests of English proficiency must have been taken in the last two years to be considered for acceptance.

College-level courses from regionally-accredited institutions will be evaluated for transfer credit; credit is granted only if applicable grades were obtained. Equivalence of course content and transfer credit is determined by the Program Coordinator.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00) including:

1. Successful completion of the GPS General Education Core (39 hours):
   • 15 credit hours in Arts and Humanities (Minimum of 3 credit hours in an English composition course with a research writing component; minimum of 3 credit hours in Bible/Theology)
   • 15 credit hours in Natural and Social Sciences, and Mathematics (Minimum of 3 credit hours in Mathematics; minimum of 3 credit hours in Social Science; and minimum of 3 credit hours in Natural Science with laboratory)
   • 9 credit hours in Liberal Arts electives
2. Completion of at least 30 credit hours of upper division course work (3000 level or higher);
3. Successful completion of the 46-credit hour Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management and Homeland Security curriculum with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. A student who receives a grade below "C-" in any course that is part of the 46-credit hour curriculum will be required to repeat that course until a grade of "C-" or better is earned. All repeated coursework to replace grades of D+, D, F, W, or X is at the student's expense.