1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• 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.

2. English Composition I

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

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

3. Introduction to Homeland Security Emergency Management

• HSEM 102 Introduction to Emergency Management (5 credits)

• Course purpose: A foundational course that will allow you to explore and affirm a career choice in the field of homeland security emergency management. It sets a common platform from which the student can launch into other courses within the HSEM program.

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

• MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics (5 credits)

• 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.

5. Disaster Recovery and Response

• HSEM 230 Disaster Response and Recovery (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course looks at the larger elements of response and recovery in the United States and examines of the HSEM system from a larger strategic perspective.

6. Technical Writing

• ENGL& 235 Technical Writing (5 credits)

• 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

• HSEM 220 Developing and Managing Volunteer Resources (2 credits)

• Course purpose: Management of volunteers is often the first entry position or responsibility in an HSEM agency or organization (ex. Volunteer Coordination).

8. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• 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.

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)

• 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.

• SOC 235 Race and Ethnicity (5 credits)

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

• SOC 212 Death, Dying and Bereavement (5 credits)

• 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

• HSEM 110 Basic Incident Command System/National Incident Management System (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course is instrumental to understanding the coordination and collaboration within a structured system or location of HSEM incidents.

10. All Hazards Emergency Planning

• HSEM 120 All Hazards Emergency Planning (3 credits)

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

11. Communications Course Recommendation

Choose one

• CMST& 102 Introduction to Mass Media (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course addresses the complexities of communication within the HSEM enterprise and prepares students to engage innovative aspects of communication (ex. Social media) in HSEM.

• CMST& 101 Introduction to Communications (5 credits)
• CMST 105 Intercultural Communication (5 credits)
• CMST& 220 Public Speaking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Effective communication is essential to the work of the HSEM professional. 

12. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• POLS 230 State and Local Government (5 credits)

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

• POLS& 101 Introduction to Political Science (5 credits)

• 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.

• POLS& 202 American Government (5 credits)

• 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.

• POLS& 203 International Relations (5 credits)

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

• ECON& 201 Microeconomics (5 credits)

• 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.

• ECON& 202 Macroeconomics (5 credits)

• 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.

• HIST& 158 History of U.S. III (5 credits)

• 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

• HSEM 130 Technology in Emergency Management (3 credits)

• 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

• HSEM 157 Public Information Officer (2 credits)

• 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

• HSEM 180 Public Administration (3 credits)

• 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 two.

• ATMOS 101 Introduction to Weather (5 credits)

• 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.

• GEOL 112 Geoharzards and Natural Disasters (5 credits)

• 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.

• GEOL& 110 Environmental Geology (5 credits)

• 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.

• ENVS 150 Environmental Issues (5 credits)

• Course purpose: In this course you will develop a deeper comprehension of the environmental issues that face the planet.  Environmental issues must be taken into account when the HSEM professional creates preparedness plans.

• ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: In this course you will develop a deeper comprehension of the environmental concepts.  Environmental issues must be taken into account when the HSEM professional creates preparedness plans.

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

17. Emergency Operations and Coordination Centers

• HSEM 200 Emergency Operations Center (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course is instrumental to understanding the coordination and collaboration within a structured system or location used to manage HSEM incidents.

18. Exercise Design and Evaluation

• HSEM 210 Exercise Design and Evaluation (3 credits)

• Course purpose: Develop better understanding of the competitiveness in the job market. Exercises in HSEM are as integral to success as is planning.

19. Homeland Security Law and Ethics

• HSEM 250 Homeland Security Law and Ethics (3 credits)

• Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the laws and ethical principles that you need to apply as you work as a HSEM professional.

20. Emergency Response Awareness to Terrorism

• HSEM 160 Emergency Response Awareness to Terrorism (5 credits)

• Course purpose: In this course you will learn about the risks associated with terrorism and what planning should be done by the HSEM professional.

21. Homeland Security Emergency Management Special Topics

• HSEM 190 Homeland Security Emergency Management Special Topics (1-5 credits)

• Course purpose: Special topics courses allow you to learn about a specific area of HSEM. 

22. Homeland Security Emergency Management Work Based Learning

• HSEM 240 Homeland Security Emergency Management Work-Based Learning (5 credits)

• Course purpose: The culmination of the degree program for HSEM Associates Degree. This is an Internship to hone the skills developed throughout the HSEM Associate degree.

23. Homeland Security Emergency Management Concentration Course Recommendation

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

Total Credits: 101

Program Code: 966