2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Oct 15, 2024  
2021-2022 Pierce College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Homeland Security Emergency Management (AAS) Course Map


Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate in Applied Science Homeland Security Emergency Management, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

Graduation Requirements:

  • 2.0 minimum grade in all HSEM courses
  • 1.5 minimum grade in all other courses. Students interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s degree should know that a 1.5 grade may not be eligible for transfer to other colleges

1. College Success


  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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  • Note: The College Success course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following. Your advisor will assist you in selecting either the 3- or 5- credit version of the course. Should you choose to repeat a College Success course you must enroll in a College Success course with the same credit amount as the original course; a COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course.

2. English Composition I


  • Course purpose: Effective writing is integral to the work of a HSEM professional and is a significant component of effective communications.

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  • Note: Your advisor will assist you in reviewing your Guided Self Placement and selecting either the 5-credit or the 7-credit co-requisite ENGL& 101 + ENGLC 101 course. 

3. Introduction to Homeland Security Emergency Management


Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Introduction to Statistics


  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn how to do statistical analysis and to interpret data.  That skill is critical for HSEM professionals as they must use data to determine risk probability.

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  • Note: The math course you select will depend on the Career Pathway Map you are following, the transfer institution/degree that you select, and your math placement guidance. Your advisor will assist you in selecting the relevant 5 or 7 credit course(s) based upon co-requisite options.    

5. Disaster Recovery and Response


6. Technical Writing


  • Course purpose: You will learn how to write technical reports.  This skill is critical for HSEM professionals as they will be generating reports and strategic plans.

7. Developing and Managing Volunteer Resources


8. Social Science Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: This course enhances the ability for an HSEM student to more effectively recognize the complexities of human behavioral interaction, including motivation for certain actions.

  • Course purpose: This course provides an introduction to the study of society and human interaction.  Since a HSEM professional is working within a community it is essential to know how members of a society will react under different circumstances.

  • Course purpose: This course will increase your awareness around issues around challenges concerning race and ethnicity.

  • Course purpose: There are times when a HSEM professional must work in a situation where people die.  It is important to understand the sociological concepts around death, dying, and bereavement.

9. Basic Incident Command System


10. All Hazards Emergency Planning


11. Communications Course Recommendation


Choose one

12. Social Science Course Recommendation


Choose one

  • Course purpose: You will develop an understanding on how government(s) and tribes impact HSEM.

  • Course purpose: This course will allow you to understand political systems and how they impact policy. Often, governmental policy will dictate how a HSEM professional approaches the work.

  • Course purpose: This course will allow you to understand the American political system and how it creates policy. Often, governmental policy will dictate how a HSEM professional approaches the work.

  • Course purpose: This course will introduce you to the interactions that occur among countries.  Emergencies or terrorist event often cross national boundaries.

  • Course purpose: You will learn about the allocation of resources and supply and demand, labor, capital markets and international trade.  This is  essential knowledge when developing emergency plans.

  • Course purpose: Having knowledge of the US economy will help you plan for employment opportunities and dips. Understanding of macroeconomics also aids in looking at larger trends and help with determining how to approach preparing for emergency situations.

  • Course purpose: This course provides a survey of the history of the United States from 1900 to the present.  It is important to know how policies and governmental agencies have evolved over time to give rise to the current state.

13. Technology in Homeland Security Emergency Management


  • Course purpose: This course provides you the theory and experience in applying technology to communication.  It is paramount that HSEM professionals communicate with the most appropriate tools to efficiently and clearly disseminate information.

14. Public Information Officer


  • Course purpose: HSEM professionals often must serve as the point of contact for information associated with an emergency.  In this course you will learn how to coordinate and disseminate information released during emergency operations.

15. Public Administration


  • Course purpose: This course ties together many of the prior HSEM courses in examining the roles of policy, technology, social media, public information and planning into the HSEM position at many public sector jurisdictional levels. The course gives students an introduction to public administration interactions with HSEM.

16. Natural Science Course Recommendation


Choose one. Your advisor will work with you to help you choose from these or other Natural Science courses that best fit with your interests and career goals.

17. Natural Science with Lab Course Recommendation


Choose one. Your advisor will work with you to help you choose from these or other Natural Science courses that best fit with your interests and career goals.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will develop a deeper comprehension of what drives the majority of weather-related incidents, emergencies and disasters that fall within the responsibilities of an HSEM professional.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the processes that produce natural physical landscapes and weather phenomena, which have a direct impact on HSEM activities.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will develop a deeper comprehension of what drives the majority of geology-related incidents, emergencies and disasters that fall within the responsibilities of an HSEM professional.

  • Course purpose: This course will introduce you to geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy and how those systems connect and interrelate to the world around us. HSEM professionals interact with earth sciences during all phases of emergency management.

18. Emergency Operations and Coordination Centers


19. Exercise Design and Evaluation


20. Homeland Security Law and Ethics


Action Item: Apply for Graduation


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

21. Emergency Response Awareness to Terrorism


22. Homeland Security Emergency Management Special Topics


22. Homeland Security Emergency Management Work Based Learning


24. Homeland Security Emergency Management Concentration Course Recommendation


Choose one group or any combination of 13-15 credits.

Group A: Criminal Justice Concentration


  • Course purpose: Planning capabilities are the most sought after skill set in HSEM professionals. This course will satisfy the foundation of the student’s comprehension of planning.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about how criminal justice professionals respond to terrorism.  This will help you learn what planning should be done by the HSEM professional around terrorism.

  • • Homeland Security Emergency Management Elective (3-5 credits)

    Course purpose: This course is for you to select a subject that is of interest to you or one that provides a specialized area in support of your future work as a HSEM professional.

Group B: Management Concentration


  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn strategies to increase your effectiveness in the workforce and how you can remain current in your field.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about management practices used in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.  HSEM professionals are employed in myriad organizations and it is important for you to know about basic management concepts.

  • Course purpose: HSEM professionals are often expected to provide leadership and help an organization or community to navigate change.  In this course you will learn techniques that can be used to help an organization deal with change.

Group C: Occupational Safety and Health Concentration


  • Course purpose: This course provides an overview of the safety and health field.  Often HSEM professionals also serve as safety officers for their agency so knowledge of occupational safety and health concepts is important.

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the major on-the-job hazards found in the workplace.  Often HSEM professionals also serve as safety officers for their agency so knowledge of occupational safety and health concepts is important. 

  • Course purpose: In this course you will receive an overview of the regulations on hazard recognition, protective equipment, biological/radio-logical toxicity, monitoring and decontamination.  Often HSEM professionals also serve as safety officers for their agency so knowledge of how to handle hazardous materials is important.

Group D: Native American/Alaska Native Studies Concentration


  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the tribes of the North West.  For those HSEM professionals who work in governmental agencies or those who work directly with tribes, it is critical that they understand cultural differences that exist within the tribal communities. 

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the tribes of the inhabiting the coastal areas of the North West.  For those HSEM professionals who work in governmental agencies or those who work directly with tribes, it is critical that they understand cultural differences that exist within the tribal communities. 

  • or

  • Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the importance of historic and cultural preservation in HSEM, especially as it relates to Native American/Alaska Native tribes.

  • Course purpose: In this course, you will learn about the Tribal emergency management grant process and general grant management. HSEM professionals rely on grants for many things and must be able to understand them, write applications, and manage funds and equipment.

Group E: American Sign Language Concentration


Group F: Social and Cultural Recovery Concentration


  • Course purpose: This course provides a survey of the social service field history, philosophy, and theory.  HSEM professionals would benefit from understanding what social support systems are available in the community.

  • Course purpose: This course will familiarize you with the problems that arise around abuse in the family.  This is a potential factor that a HSEM professional must keep in mind. 

  • HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ELECTIVE  (5 credits)
    Course purpose: This course is for you to select a subject that is of interest to you or one that provides a specialized area in support of your future work as a HSEM professional.

Total Credits: 97-99


Program Code: 966