COD offers new Homeland Security degree this fall
College of DuPage has created a new Homeland Security Associate in Applied Science degree that will educate students for a growing career field.
“The homeland security field needs employees who have this type of educational background,” said Theo Darden, coordinator and associate professor of Criminal Justice. “We'll end up driving the market on who is being hired because of the education we're providing.”
Two years ago, the College began offering the 30-credit Homeland Security Certificate. Darden said the new degree program is an extension of the certificate and is scheduled to begin this fall. The program will provide an introduction to such topics as threats posed by domestic and international terrorism, concepts of emergency management, and strategies for preventing, responding and countering catastrophic events.
Six new courses have been created for the degree: Multiculturalism and Diversity in Criminal Justice, Continuity of Operations, Critical Incident Management, Disaster Management and Response, Introduction to Intelligence for Homeland Security, and Introduction to Bio-Security and Bio-Terrorism.
“We already teach the core courses that we could start with,” Darden said. “The new courses build on that core and get in-depth to specific areas of homeland security, such as Introduction to Intelligence for Homeland Security, which explores how intelligence is necessary in the field and how you gather, read, understand and disseminate information.
“Multiculturalism and Diversity is an important new class. We need to make sure students are aware of cultural differences in terms of ethics, fairness and equitable treatment of any citizen. Just because someone looks different or is from a different religious background doesn't mean you can make assumptions about who they are or what they may do.”
The U.S. Department of Labor states that between 2004 and 2014, more than 700,000 jobs will be created in the areas of law enforcement, private security and emergency management. In Illinois, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a marketing strategy to create homeland security technology and jobs.
Darden said the two biggest employers attracting students are the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Many of our students want to transfer to earn a baccalaureate degree and look for opportunities within the federal government, such as immigration and customs enforcement, the U.S. Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,” he said.
The College's Board of Trustees approved the new degree at its January meeting, and the degree is currently being reviewed by the Illinois Community College Board, which has already approved the six new courses.
The Homeland Security degree will debut at the same time the new Homeland Security Education Center opens on campus in Glen Ellyn.
“When you combine the approval of the new building, the success of the Homeland Security Certificate and the growth in homeland security jobs, the degree was a natural progression,” Darden said. “You can find other schools that offer different types of homeland security education, such as Northern Illinois University, which has a graduate certificate with a Homeland Security emphasis. But we are ahead of the curve in terms of schools offering curriculum that's this comprehensive.”
Jaime Lewandowski, associate dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said the new degree could attract partnerships with four-year institutions and other organizations.
“People are seeing the College invest its resources in developing this program and the new facility,” she said. “It shows our commitment to quality education that's meeting a need and it's exciting for everyone.”
Darden is already seeing interest among his students.
“At the beginning of my Introduction to Criminal Justice class, I always ask my students why they are taking the course. For the first time this semester, I had three students say they were interested in homeland security – and the degree isn't available yet,” he said. “I even have interest from people wanting to bring their expertise into the classroom as part-time faculty.”
For more information on this degree, call (630) 942-2989 or e-mail darden@cod.edu.