Monterey CA - December 2008Inaugural Class Graduates from University of Denver’s Certificate Program
In a partnership effort between the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) and the University of Denver (DU), 12 students recently completed the Graduate Certificate Program in Homeland Defense and Security at the Josef Corbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. This innovative program was developed to expand curriculum and support programmatic development. "In late 2006, the Army National Guard Bureau approached CHDS with a request for the development of a 4-course graduate certificate in homeland security. The requested curriculum would be made available by CHDS to any college that was interested in offering the program. The original National Guard Bureau concept was created so that colleges nationwide could adopt the CHDS provided certificate curriculum to support direct delivery to the National Guard in each state," said Greg Moser, Executive Director of the University of Denver’s Homeland Security Programs. DU offered its first course in this program during the fall quarter of 2007. "A key lesson learned from the pilot programs was the need to broaden this program to a wider group of homeland security professionals beyond the National Guard. Including other homeland security professionals improves the educational experience, professional networking, and the financial viability of the program," said Moser. Stan Supinski, the Director of Partnership Programs at CHDS who developed the program added that "DU has added tremendous value to this effort by not only providing the education, but also building the relationships between those who would actually be working together locally in the event of a disaster." The program was expanded to include federal, state, and local homeland security professionals (in the public, private, or service sector) who have a role in preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, recovery, or continuity relative to man-made and natural hazards. The first graduates of the program represent various agencies including FEMA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Colorado Air Guard, the Colorado National Guard, and local law enforcement. The diverse make-up of the class provided participants an opportunity to build interagency collaboration and develop lasting relationships. Students examined topics ranging from international terrorism and bio-hazardous threats to intelligence and national security. Students participated in five resident sessions and completed the reminder of their coursework online. Each participant is now one third of the way to completing a master’s degree in homeland security offered by DU. "It is a great program that integrates homeland security and defense professionals from all aspects of government and the private sector... It was a chance to learn the cultures and procedures of each organization and develop the relationships that will be vital if and when an incident happens. I highly recommend the program to anyone considering enhancing their professional credentials," said Engineering Flight Chief Elizabeth Meyer, Air Force Space Command. DU launched its second cohort in September 2008. As part of its University and Agency Partnership Initiative, CHDS continues to work with over 200 university and agency partners to increase the number and diversity of students receiving homeland security education, accelerate the establishment of high-quality academic programs, and provide opportunities for collaboration that create an intellectual multiplier effect that furthers the study of homeland security. Similar programs are operating in Arizona and Missouri and will soon begin in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.  add tags
|
Inquiries
|
|
|
|
