The market for homeland security jobs is growing at all levels in the public and private sectors. Earning a degree in homeland security and emergency at Great Bay can provide emergency-response professionals with the skills and expertise necessary to effectively plan for, prepare for, and respond to natural or man-made disasters and emergencies.
Upon successful completion of the program of study, students should be able to:
- Describe the four phases of emergency management and the role each of them plays in managing and mitigating a disaster.
- Differentiate among the various homeland security threats to include those that are manmade, technological, and natural.
- List the resources needed and how to obtain those resources effectively mitigate disaster damage.
- Examine the historical and evolving concept of homeland security within the contemporary nation-state's broader political and national security system.
- Discuss the strategic, operational, and tactical threats of chemical, nuclear, and biological agents, including agent characteristics and delivery systems.
- Distinguish among and assess the various homeland security approaches, techniques, and processes, such as analytics, indications, warnings, and forecasting.
- Explain the key administrative and command and control elements of the evolving homeland security relationships among the intelligence community, Department of Homeland Security, interagency processes, institutions, federal, state, and local intergovernmental relations, and a comprehensive U.S. homeland security strategy.
- Describe the effective way to make decisions and problem solve during an emergency.
- Be able to assess the risk of threat and utilize crisis management strategies to develop a plan and minimize organization and community vulnerability.
Applicants should be aware of the basic health and fitness requirements for many careers in the criminal justice field. Prospective students with special needs or limitations that may affect their internship placement and/or potential employability are encouraged to discuss their career goals during the interview with a department member before admission. The College must ensure that individuals (customers, employees, etc.) at internship and service-learning sites are not adversely affected by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students participating in internship and field experiences must demonstrate the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member, and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers, and clients.
Most internship placement sites require students to have health insurance and students participating in an internship are required to follow the College Immunization Policy. Please see the Academic Policies section of this catalog, under XVI. Immunization Policy.
Applicants should be aware that thorough background checks are completed by potential employers before obtaining any position with arrest or detention powers, and typically, even before being accepted for an internship. Applicants with a criminal history may not be employable or even eligible for participation in the Homeland Security & Emergency Management Internship Program. Due to the possible negative impact on future employability, applicants are strongly advised to discuss any concerns with the department chair before applying to the program. Overall, opportunities within the criminal justice field will be favorable for individuals who meet psychological, physical, and personal qualifications.
In addition to Great Bay transfer credit policies, transfer of courses in criminal justice more than ten years old will be evaluated by the department chair individually.
First Year
First Year
Spring Semester
Second Year
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Curriculum Recommendations
It is highly recommended that all students enroll in a minimum of one homeland security and emergency management course during the first semester of attendance.