Department of Criminal Justice
Homeland Security Minor
Build expertise in homeland security, terrorism, global cybersecurity, international affairs, and contemporary security challenges while adding a focused 18-hour minor to your undergraduate degree.
18
Credit Hours
A focused academic credential that complements a wide range of undergraduate majors.
Add a Security-Focused Credential to Your Degree
Homeland security is no longer limited to a single agency or profession. Contemporary security challenges intersect with law enforcement, emergency management, cybersecurity, intelligence, public administration, transportation, critical infrastructure, international affairs, and private-sector risk management.
Tarleton’s Homeland Security minor gives students an interdisciplinary foundation for understanding how governments and organizations prepare for, prevent, investigate, and respond to threats that may cross jurisdictional, technological, and national boundaries.
The minor can complement a Criminal Justice degree, but it can also add a security and preparedness perspective to majors in areas such as public administration, political science, cybersecurity, computer science, business, sociology, psychology, and related fields.
Security + Technology + Policy
Study security problems through legal, organizational, technological, and international perspectives.
Why Is Homeland Security Important?
Modern threats rarely remain confined to one institution or one type of expertise. Effective security professionals must understand physical threats, terrorism, cyber risks, international dynamics, intelligence, organizational coordination, and the policy environment in which decisions are made.
Understand Emerging Threats
Examine terrorism, cyber threats, transnational security concerns, and evolving risks to communities and institutions.
Think Across Agencies
Learn why effective security requires collaboration among local, state, federal, international, and private organizations.
Connect Policy and Practice
Explore how laws, policies, technology, intelligence, and organizational decisions influence real-world security operations.
Where Can You Use a Homeland Security Minor?
The minor can strengthen preparation for careers and graduate study in organizations where security, intelligence, preparedness, technology, policy, and public safety intersect.
Public Safety & Law Enforcement
Local, state, and federal agencies; intelligence units; fusion centers; investigations; and public-safety operations.
Cybersecurity & Intelligence
Cyber-threat analysis, intelligence research, information security, investigative analysis, and technology-focused security roles.
Emergency & Government Operations
Emergency preparedness, continuity planning, public administration, disaster coordination, and intergovernmental operations.
Private & Corporate Security
Corporate security, risk management, critical infrastructure protection, compliance, investigations, and organizational resilience.
BUILD A BROADER SECURITY PERSPECTIVE
What You Will Study
Explore the policies, threats, technologies and organizational challenges that shape homeland security in the United States and around the world.
Homeland Security Policy & Strategy
Domestic & International Terrorism
Cybercrime & Cyberterrorism
Information Warfare & Cybersecurity Policy
Emergency Management & Mass-Casualty Response
Interagency Coordination
Comparative & International Criminal Justice
International Politics & Global Security
18 CREDIT HOURS
Homeland Security Minor Curriculum
Complete three required courses and select three additional courses for a total of 18 semester credit hours.
REQUIRED CORE
9 Credit Hours
CRIJ 3340
Homeland Security
CRIJ 3341
Terrorism
CRIJ 4353
Global Cyber-Security
ELECTIVES
9 Additional Credit Hours
CRIJ 3308
Comparative Criminal Justice
CRIJ 4384
Seminar: Special Topics in Homeland Security
POLS 3308
International Politics
Course availability and degree applicability may vary by semester. Students should consult their academic advisor when planning the minor.
Featured Faculty
Learn from faculty whose academic and professional experience connects directly to policing, homeland security, terrorism, cybercrime, intelligence, and international criminal justice.
Dr. William “Casey” Heath
Professional Assistant Professor
Dr. Heath’s teaching interests include homeland security, international terrorism, intelligence-led policing, criminal investigations, supervision and management, and criminal justice policy.
His academic background is complemented by extensive law-enforcement experience, including service as a patrol officer, investigator, patrol sergeant, firearms instructor, field training officer, and intelligence-led policing practitioner.
Email: heath@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254-968-9279
Office: O.A. Grant Building, Room 358
Dr. Kevin Wang
Associate Professor
Dr. Wang’s research and teaching expertise includes cybercrime, information technology in criminal justice, policing, comparative justice, and police-community relations.
His scholarship includes research on law-enforcement collaboration in combating cybercrime, online crime, policing in international contexts, and the relationship between technology and criminal justice.
Dr. Wang is also a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar and brings an international and comparative perspective to contemporary security and criminal justice issues.
Email: kwang@tarleton.edu
Phone: 817-484-4426
Office: Building 1, Fort Worth, Room 335
Ready to Add the Minor?
An academic advisor can review your degree plan, determine how the Homeland Security minor fits with your remaining electives, and help you identify the best semester to begin.
Current students may also use EAB Navigate to identify and schedule with their assigned academic advisor.
Office of Academic Advising
Stephenville / General Assistance:
254-968-9746
advising@tarleton.edu
Department of Criminal Justice
254-968-9024
Build Security Expertise Into Your Degree
Add focused coursework in homeland security, terrorism, cybersecurity, and international security while expanding the range of skills you bring to your future career.
EXPLORE MORE OPTIONS
Interested in Something Else?
Build additional expertise with another undergraduate certificate or minor offered through the Department of Criminal Justice.
UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES
Crime Analysis Certificate
Develop practical skills in crime mapping, statistics, research and data-informed public safety analysis.
Cyber Security Certificate
Connect criminal justice with digital evidence, computer forensics, ethical hacking and network security.
UNDERGRADUATE MINORS
Criminal Justice Minor
Add a broad foundation in criminology, criminal justice systems and upper-level criminal justice coursework.
Criminal Law Minor
Focus your studies on criminal law, courts, investigation, evidence and constitutional criminal procedure.
Conservation Law Enforcement Minor
Combine law enforcement with wildlife law, conservation, environmental policy and natural-resource protection.
Not sure which option is right for you?