School of Criminal Justice & Public Safety

Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (HLSC)

A 120-credit degree plan preparing students for emergency management, intelligence analysis, critical infrastructure protection, and national security operations.

Program overview

This four-year Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security plan combines 42 SCH of Texas Core coursework with 78 SCH in the major field. Students build foundations in justice, government, behavioral science, terrorism studies, intelligence, disaster management, and national security strategy.

Total Credits: 120 SCH
Texas Core: 42 SCH
Major Field: 78 SCH
TCCNS Prefix: HLSC

Team collaborating in an emergency operations planning meeting

Four-year degree plan

Fall and spring coursework by academic year. Credit hours appear in parentheses.

Year 1: Lower-Division Foundations (31 SCH)

Fall Semester

  • ENGL 1301 Composition I (3)
  • MATH 1332 Contemporary Math / Statistics (3)
  • CRIJ 1301 Intro to Criminal Justice (3)
  • BIOL 1406 General Biology I & Lab (4)
  • UNIV 1101 Homeland Security Seminar (1)

Spring Semester

  • ENGL 1302 Composition II (3)
  • HIST 1301 U.S. History I (3)
  • HLSC 1301 Intro to Homeland Security & FEMA (3)
  • BIOL 1407 General Biology II & Lab (4)
  • HLSC 2101 Security Terminology & Protocols (2)

Year 2: Terrorism, Borders, & Governance (29 SCH)

Fall Semester

  • GOVT 2305 Federal Government (3)
  • HIST 1302 U.S. History II (3)
  • PSYC 2301 General Psychology (3)
  • HLSC 2310 Domestic & International Terrorism (3)
  • HLSC 2205 Border Security & Maritime Defense (2)

Spring Semester

  • GOVT 2306 Texas Government (3)
  • SOCI 1301 Introductory Sociology (3)
  • HUMA 1301 Creative Arts Core (3)
  • HLSC 2320 Intelligence Analysis & Threat Assessment (3)
  • PHIL 2306 Ethics, Civil Liberties, & Security (3)

Year 3: Disaster Management & Critical Infrastructure (30 SCH)

Fall Semester

  • HLSC 3310 Incident Command System (ICS / NIMS) (3)
  • HLSC 3320 CBRNE (Chemical, Bio, Nuclear) Defense (3)
  • HLSC 3330 Critical Infrastructure Protection Mechanics (3)
  • MATH 3339 Risk Assessment Biostatistics (3)
  • HLSC 3340 Emergency Operations Simulation Lab (3)

Spring Semester

  • HLSC 3350 Transportation & Aviation Security (TSA/FAA) (3)
  • HLSC 3360 Disaster Response & Recovery Operations (3)
  • HLSC 3370 Human Trafficking & Cartel Mechanics (3)
  • CRIJ 3310 Research Methods in Security (3)
  • HLSC 3380 Intelligence Writing & Briefing (3)

Year 4: Advanced Strategy & Clinical Practicum (30 SCH)

Fall Semester

  • HLSC 4310 Counterterrorism Operations & Special Tactics (3)
  • HLSC 4320 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Security (3)
  • HLSC 4330 Asymmetric Warfare & Insurgency Mechanics (3)
  • HLSC 4340 Mass Casualty & Disaster Logistics Operations (3)
  • HLSC 4250 EOC Tabletop Exercise & Simulation Lab (2)

Spring Semester

  • HLSC 4401 Emergency Management / Federal Practicum (4)
  • HLSC 4350 National Security Law & Presidential Directives (3)
  • HLSC 4360 Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning (3)
  • HLSC 4690 Senior Capstone: National Threat Assessment (6)

Practical skill focus

FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) implementation, GIS threat mapping, intelligence briefing preparation, CBRNE decontamination simulation, emergency operations center (EOC) management, and risk matrix calculations.

Collaborative emergency operations planning meeting

Prepare to lead

Take the next step toward a homeland security education grounded in practical planning, response, and public safety leadership.

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