This course is an overview of key legal, policy, and ethical issues in the context of Homeland Security policy and practice. Students examine legal concepts regarding constitutional rights of individuals, legal process, access to courts, the law of war, and national security principles as they relate to homeland security legislation and policy initiatives. Legal principles of due process, habeas corpus, search and seizure. Compulsory process, and international agreements are explored in greater depth. The law of war will be examined in the context of preemptive war and the current National Security Strategy, the status of combatants and detention, Elements of national security law, intelligence collection and sharing, the Patriot Act, and military-civilian relations, etc.

This course represents the professional work experience required in the homeland security major. Students work in a professional setting for a minimum of 180 hours under the supervision of a site supervisor. All internships require students to identify and complete work on a specific project (s) approved by the HLS coordinator. Internships may be taken at any time after students have taken 30 credits of university coursework. Note that students who are academically or otherwise unable to enter into internship must take HLS 799 (thesis in homeland security which requires senior standing and permission from the HLS program coordinator).

Students work under the direction of a faculty thesis advisor to plan and carry out independent research resulting in an oral presentation and a major research paper. Research projects should include the development of a research thesis/question, a literature review, analysis, and synthesis of relevant data/sources, discussion and interpretation and presentation of results. Senior Thesis can be used to substitute for Internship in HLS. Permission by HLS program coordinator required, open only to HLS seniors.

Students work under the direction of a faculty thesis advisor to plan and carry out independent research resulting in an oral presentation and a major research paper. Research projects should include the development of a research thesis/question, a literature review, analysis, and synthesis of relevant data/sources, discussion and interpretation and presentation of results. Senior Thesis can be used to substitute for Internship in HLS. Permission by HLS program coordinator required, open only to HLS seniors.