National Security and Public Safety

National Security and Public Safety - Graduate Courses

NSP 601 National Security Programs Architecture and Mission (back to previous page)
An inquiry into the nature and scope of the U.S. National Security Program's Architecture. Areas covered include the current architecture, legal, and regulatory basis, integrating national security programs into the agency's missions, developing security policies and strategies, and the oversight of the NSP's.

NSP 602 NSP Personnel Security Programs (back to previous page)
A study of the personnel security programs. Specific analysis of behavioral issues and their impact on loyalty and trustworthiness determinations. Students will study government clearance processes.

NSP 603 National Security Charter, Legal Issues, and Executive Orders (back to previous page)
An analysis of the legal framework, charter, and executive orders that guide the creation and operations of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

NSP 604 Securing National Security Information Systems (back to previous page)
A comprehensive introduction to Network Security issues, concepts, and technologies. The core technologies of access control, cryptography, digital signatures, authorization, network firewalls, and network security services are reviewed. Issues in security policy, risk management are covered.

NSP 606 Contemporary Issues in National Security Programs (back to previous page)
Students will select from a range of topics relating to current issues and concerns within the national security architecture. Each student will be required to write a paper and deliver an oral presentation on a selected topic.

NSP 607 Architecture of Protected Information (back to previous page)
Students will review contemporary theories and practices for the identification of information requiring or deserving protection and will evaluate how such protection may be achieved while allowing the use of the information. Contemporary legal principles and regulatory processes will be explored, in both private and governmental sectors. The application of sound information security practices will be reviewed, and program analysis models will be explored.

NSP 610 NSP Cost Modeling and Contract Administration (back to previous page)
An in-depth analysis of the federal acquisition process, costs of national security programs and their role in meeting federal agencies' mission objective. Students will study the relationship between the federal acquisition process, budget planning, and national security programs.

NSP 611 NSP Situational Evaluation and Failure Analysis Models (back to previous page)
A comprehensive study of evaluation techniques and processes that measures scope and effectiveness of security programs. Students employ the use of situational analysis, failure analysis, case studies and other research oriented approaches.

NSP 612 Integrated Studies in Safeguards and Countermeasure Designs (back to previous page)
A study of the selection of safeguards and countermeasures in support of National Security Programs. Examines the relationships between protection needs, mission accomplishment, available safeguards, and countermeasures. Analysis of the impact of the protective architecture and reconciliation with the budgetary and human resource realities.

NSP 613 NSP Issues in Research and Policy Analysis (back to previous page)
An introduction to quantitative and qualitative methods used for research and policy analysis. Students will become familiar with basic types of research designs, survey research methods, evaluation methods, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics, and their application to National Security Programs.

NSP 620 Bioterrorism and Biodefense (back to previous page)
This course provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding terrorism employing biological pathogens specifically, and terrorism in general. A new topic in academia, it crosscuts many established academic areas. It comprises the history, origins, motivations, and techniques used be many terrorists; preparedness, detection, treatment, and response during pre-, trans- and post-attack times; government programs to prevent, prepare for and respond; and legal, economic, mental health, and policy issues. Lecture, discussion, a writing assgnment, and a tabletop decision-making simulation will be the teaching methods used. 1 credit

NSP 621 National Security Incident Mapping (back to previous page)
This course combines a variety of methods to introduce the various ways that terror risks can be analyzed, detected, and prevented. In addition to the bio-terror tabletop exercise, the class will also involve a problem-based learning project focused on assessing risk on critical infrastructures in a nearby neighborhood. Students will be tasked with evaluating the various conceptual and technical tools available or caused by terrorism including crime mapping technology, crime risk assessments, and crime prevention through environmental design. The class will use the problem-based learning method in groups to tackle a specific set of real-life problems. This approach simulates real-life risk assessment and response scenarios since group decision-making and problem-solving process is an important part of assessing risk. Accordingly, students will be evaluated on how they organize their research and planning activities and cooperate in their groups. 2 credits

NSP 630 Risk Assessment & Management in National Security (back to previous page)
This graduate level course provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the concept and nature of risk in society, currently and historically. One of the primary goals of the course is to assess the role that risk and uncertainty have played in the development of a wide variety of public and private approaches to recognizing and resolving risks of loss. Lecture, discussion, a writing assignment and several individual and team presentations will be included in the teaching methods used along with several, semi-structured, student-led case studies.

NSP 641 National Security World and National Threat Modeling (back to previous page)
An analysis of threats, vulnerabilities, risks, and appropriate countermeasures that must be analyzed to model the United States world and national assessment strategy.

NSP 642 Integrated Studies of the Intelligence and Counterintelligence Communities (back to previous page)
An introduction to the history, theory, principles, and objective of U.S. Intelligence and Counterintelligence Operations. Analysis of the impact on National Security Programs and objectives.

NSP 643 Seminar in Sensitive Evaluation, Techniques, Safeguards, and Countermeasures (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: NSP 612. The analysis and study of the uses of classified techniques in national security programs, using the principles and techniques of the Integrated Studies in Safegaurds and Countermeasure Designs course.

NSP 644 Cross-Impact Analysis: National Security Futures Issues (back to previous page)
This course is an advanced examination of the uses that can be made of the Cross-Impact Analysis methodology. Non-traditional, problem-solving evaluation of national security issues will be utilized. Emphasis will be on estimating the likelihood and nature of anticipated events that may influence projected factors. A multidisciplinary approach will be utilized. The focus of the course will be on the implementation of empirically derived strategies in the analysis of national security future issues.

NSP 645 National Security: Issues in Deception (back to previous page)
To achieve and sustain high-performance during our National Security enterprise requires focus, discipline and imagination. It also requires thoughtful oversight, visionary leadership and highly effective administration.The purpose of the new certificate is to provide students and security professionals with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and technology skills.

NSP 646 The Structure of National Security Decisions (back to previous page)
This graduate level course provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the intuitive, structured and deliberative nature of national security decisions. A global context, the limitations of the human mind along with political and organizational pressures combine to challenge national security decision makers. The purpose of this course is to bias the odds of a wise decision in the decision-makers favor. Lecture, discussion, a writing assignment and several individual and team presentations will be among the teaching methods used. In addition, several partially structured, student-led case studies will be presented to drive the discussions.

NSP 647 The Economics of National Security (back to previous page)
This far-reaching course explores the fundamental economic national security questions facing our society. How much of our national wealth is allocated currently to help ensure our national security? How and by whom is our national security budget determined? What is a life worth? How can a more cost-effective national security budget be achieved? These and other economic questions will be explored in this far-reaching examination of national security economics. 

NSP 648 Achieving Excellence in National Security Administration (back to previous page)
This graduate course consists of a survey of the methods used by effective private sector managers and administrators to help ensure that their organizations achieve consistently high levels of performance. This survey will be supplemented by focused conversations about how these well researched and practical methods could be applied to administrative challenges within the American national security enterprise. A lecture and discussion format will be followed, supplemented by student-led case studies.

NSP 651 A Study of Designated Approving Authorities Criteria (back to previous page)
This course provides comprehensive coverage of the elements pertaining to a study of Designated Approving Criteria in NSTISSI Standard 4012 and analyzes the information security functions of the designated approving authority. 1 credit

NSP 652 System Adminstration in Information Systems Security (back to previous page)
This course provides comprehensive coverage of the elements pertaining to a study of System Administration in Information Security as promulgated by NSTISSI Standard 4013 and analyzes the performance standards of system administrators. 1 credit

NSP 653 Information Systems Security Officers (back to previous page)
This course provides comprehensive coverage of the elements pertaining to a study of Information Systems Security Officers as promulgated by NSTISSI Standard 4013 (E) and analyzes the performance standards for the information system security officer at the entry, intermediate, and advanced levels. 1 credit  

NSP 654 Information System Approval and Certification (back to previous page)
This course provides comprehensive coverage of the elements pertaining to the approval process for Information Systems and certifying authorities as designated by NSTISSI Standard 4015 and analyzes the INFOSEC functions of system certifiers. 1 credit

NSP 668 Weapons of Mass Destruction I: Chemical and Biological Agents (back to previous page)
An in-depth analysis of technological issues protecting the public from biological and chemical agents that may be used as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

NSP 669 Weapons of Mass Destruction II: Radiological Agents (back to previous page)
Radiological materials pose a serious national security concern. This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the scientific, technological, and policy issues involved in providing protection from the misuse of these agents. (See also SH 669.)

NSP 670 Selected Topics (back to previous page)
A study of selected issues of particular interest to the students and instructor.

NSP 680 Research Methods in National Security (back to previous page)
An introduction to social science research methods used in national security for purposes of undertaking intelligence analysis. Students will become familiar with basic types of research design; open source vs. classified research material, and will be exposed to qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.

NSP 690 Research Project I (back to previous page)
Individual guidance on a research endeavor.

NSP 691 Research Project II (back to previous page)
Individual guidance on a research endeavor.

NSP 693 National Security Internship I (back to previous page)
Accepted candidates will be placed on summer assignments within an element (agency or industry) of the U.S. Government's National Security Program. The student's formal educational development will be complemented by field placement experience in various security settings or agencies. Field experience will be supervised by designated agency and department personnel.

NSP 694 National Security Internship II (back to previous page)
The student's formal educational development will be complemented by field placement experience in various security settings or agencies. Field experience will be supervised by designated agency and department personnel.

NSP 695 Independent Study (back to previous page)
A directed independent learning experience, the topic and format to be agreed upon by the student and supervising faculty.

NSP 697 National Security Thesis I (back to previous page)
Periodic meetings and discussions of the individual student's progress toward the completion of the thesis. This will include review of the literature, methodology (research design, survey instrument development, etc). Minimum of six credits required (NSP697 and NSP698; NSP699 optional at the discretion of the instructor).

NSP 698 Thesis II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: 15 credit hours at the graduate level and completion of all core courses. Periodic meetings and discussions of the individual student's progress toward the completion of the thesis. This will include review of the literature, methodology (research design, survey instrument development, etc). Minimum of six credits required (NSP697 and NSP698; NSP699 optional at the discretion of the instructor).

NSP 699 Thesis III (back to previous page)
Periodic meetings and discussions of the individual student's progress toward the completion of the thesis. This will include review of the literature, methodology (research design, survey instrument development, etc.). Minimum of six credits required (NSP697 and NSP698; NSP 699 optional at the discretion of the instructor).