By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University is offering a minor in homeland security beginning in fall – making the university the only private college in Kentucky offering such a minor, according to Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs.
“Homeland Security has become a critical part of many organizations, employers and college course offerings,” Cheatham said. “We are proud to offer this minor in homeland security and hope students take a great interest in serving their fellowman as a result of these studies.”
Max Wise, assistant professor of political science, is the lead professor in the minor and said, “In a post 9-11 world, the academic discipline of homeland security is starting to grow in popularity on college campuses nationwide, as well as with the abundant employment opportunities in this area,” said Wise.
Wise spent nearly five years work experience in the counterterrorism and intelligence field for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“Based on student interest on this campus and the changing nature of the world in which we live in, this minor will make our students more informed, more marketable and better prepared citizens in the homeland security field,” he said.
Wise also did a one-year rotation in the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security’s Intelligence Fusion Center as part of a working collaboration between the FBI and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security.
Wise said the 24-hour homeland security minor will provide the student basic subject knowledge for a possible career in the following disciplines: security of government facilities, private sector security, state and local police officers, federal law enforcement agents, Intelligence Community intelligence analysts, state and local government positions, public health and public safety administrators, counterterrorism professionals and community leaders.
Students can pursue careers in thousands in government agencies, public policy, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, as well as thousands of private sector companies who are dedicated to understanding, preventing and responding to homeland security needs, Wise said.
“It also will be a great foundation to those students wishing to pursue additional graduate studies in this field or other similarly related disciplines.
“Many people think that the only employment in this field would be the federal government, but today each state has an Office of Homeland Security dedicated to homeland security awareness and protection, as well as many metropolitan cities and large business corporations who are looking for someone with an understanding
of terrorism and natural disaster prevention,” Wise said.
A degree with a minor in homeland security requires the successful completion of 24 credit hours of coursework. A sample of courses to be taken include: Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Fundamentals of Homeland Security, Government and Homeland Security, Terrorism Studies, International Relations, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Victimology, Intelligence and Intelligence Analysis and World Religions.
Wise said the student who graduates with a minor in homeland security will be able to: analyze the history of homeland security and evolving concepts in the field in relation to domestic and international security; describe homeland security policies, operational theories, functions, and issues from both the domestic and international perspectives;
Differentiate the various threats to domestic and international security; demonstrate the critical thinking and program management skills necessary to provide leadership and support in homeland security; describe and analyze issues related to cooperation among the international community, state governments, Intelligence Community, local jurisdictions, and private industry, and lay the groundwork for the basic skills in understanding intelligence operations, infrastructure protection, responses to terrorism and terrorist incidents, and the development of homeland security.
Wise is finishing additional graduate work in the homeland security discipline through the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University with plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the said area.
For information on the homeland security minor, contact Wise at (270) 789-5283.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 36 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.