School of Security and Global Studies
HLSS300
Research Methods in Homeland Security
Credit Hours: 3
Length of Course: 8 Weeks
Prerequisite: NONE
Course Description (Catalog)
This course should be taken as the first course in the program. This course
prepares students to employ basic research methods and writing skills to
produce sound research papers and analytical products. Students will learn
how to develop the elements of a research strategy, critically read and
evaluate data, and communicate their findings in coherent, well-organized
written work.
Course Scope
As a 300-level course, this course provides a foundation of knowledge that
the student will use in the Homeland Security Studies program to be
successful in higher level courses. The purpose and scope of this course is to
provide the student with the educational concepts on which to build a deeper
understanding of Homeland Security.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
CO-1: Summarize the scientific method and phases of the basic research
cycle.
CO-2: Describe the components of a research paper.
CO-3: Apply scholarly research material.
CO-4: Assess various research approaches, data collection methods and
their relative merits in accordance with ethical practices and
standards.
CO-5: Produce an empirically based qualitative research paper.
Course Delivery Method
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This course, delivered via distance learning, will enable students to complete
academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course resources
and access to an online learning management system will be available to
each student. Online assignments are due by Sunday at 11:55 pm ET and
include all written assignments, examinations, and research papers
submitted for grading. Weekly Forum questions (accomplished in groups in a
Forum) require an initial response by Thursday at 11:55 pm ET, with all other
required responses due by Sunday at 11:55 pm ET. The assigned faculty will
support the students throughout this eight-week course.
Course Resources
There is not an assigned text for this course. The readings consist of
selected e-book chapters and journal articles.
Please visit http://apus.libguides.com/er.php and search by the course
number (ex: HLSS300) to access your required resources.
Weekly Lesson Notes and videos or audio files are found in the “Lessons”
area of the classroom.
Evaluation Procedures
Forum discussions – 40 percent
Each week, a discussion question is provided and posts should reflect an
assimilation of the readings. Students are required to provide a substantive
initial post by Thursday at 11:55 pm ET and respond to 2 or more classmates
by Sunday 11:55 pm ET. Forum posts are graded on timeliness, relevance,
knowledge of the weekly readings, and the quality of original ideas.
Weekly assignments – 60 percent
There are 6 assignments for this course and starting in week 2 and ending in
week 8. It is imperative that you look at the assignment to get the
instructions for the assignments.
Grade Instruments Percentage
Forum Discussions (8) 40
Weekly Assignments 60
Total 100
8 – Week Course Outline
Course
Week Topic(s) Reading(s) Assignment(s)
Objective(s)
2
C0-1: Summarize the See Week 1 Introduction Forum
scientific method Readings and
Defining and phases of the Resources in Week 1 Forum
1
Research basic research cycle. your Lessons
Tab
CO-3: Apply Research Question
scholarly research and Library Exercise
material. Assignment
See Week 2
CO-4: Assess Readings and Week 2 Forum
Developing a various research Resources in
2 Research approaches, data your Lessons
Question Tab
collection methods
and their relative
merits in
accordance with
ethical practices
and standards.
CO-1: Summarize the Research question and
scientific method hypothesis exercise
Scientific and phases of the See Week 3
Method, basic research cycle. Readings and Week 3 Forum
3 Reasoning, Resources in
and CO-2: Produce the your Lessons
Hypothesis components of a Tab
research paper.
CO-1: Summarize the Article Review
scientific method Assignment
and phases of the See Week 4
basic research cycle. Readings and Week 4 Forum
Choosing Resources in
CO-4: Assess various your Lessons
Resources and
4 research Tab
Writing with
approaches, data
Intelligence
collection methods
and their relative
merits in accordance
with ethical practices
and standards.
CO-4: Assess various Research Approaches
research Exercise
Research approaches, data See Week 5 Forum
5 collection methods
Approaches Readings and
and their relative Resources in Week 5 Forum
merits in accordance your Lessons
3
with ethical practices
and standards Tab
CO-2: Produce the Short Article
components of a Assignment
research paper. See Week 6
Readings and Week 6 Forum
CO-3: Apply scholarly Resources in
research material. your Lessons
Tab
CO-4: Assess various
research
Writing a
approaches, data
6 Short Article
collection methods
or Essay
and their relative
merits in accordance
with ethical practices
and standards.
CO-5: Produce an
empirically based
qualitative research
paper.
CO-2: Produce the See Week 7 No assignment for this
Preparing to components of a Readings and week
Write a research paper. Resources in
7
Research your Lessons Week 7 Forum
paper Tab
CO-5: Produce an See Week 8 Assignment week 8 -
Writing a empirically based Readings and Short Research Paper
8 Research qualitative research Resources in
Paper paper. your Lessons Week 8 Forum
Tab
Policies
Please see the Student Handbook to reference all University policies. Quick
links to frequently asked question about policies are listed below.
Drop/Withdrawal Policy
Plagiarism Policy
Extension Process and Policy
Disability Accommodations
Citation and Reference Style
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Attention Please: Students will follow the APA Style as the sole citation and
reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework for this
course.
See http://www.apus.edu/content/dam/online-library/resources-services/
Fuson_2012_APA.pdf
Late Assignments
Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due
date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule.
As adults, students, and working professionals, I understand you must
manage competing demands on your time. Should you need additional time
to complete an assignment, please contact me before the due date so we
can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine
submission of late assignments is unacceptable and may result in points
deducted from your final course grade.
Netiquette
Online universities promote the advancement of knowledge through positive
and constructive debate – both inside and outside the classroom. Forums on
the Internet, however, can occasionally degenerate into needless insults and
“flaming.” Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in
a university setting – basic academic rules of good behavior and proper
“Netiquette” must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the rewards
and excitement of learning which does not include descent to personal
attacks or student attempts to stifle the Forum of others.
Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the
full-range of creative composition in your formal papers, keep e-mail
layouts simple. The Sakai classroom may not fully support MIME or
HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics,
underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not
translate in your e-mail messages.
Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and especially satire
can easily get lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you
may wish to add “emoticons” to help alert your readers: ;-), : ),
Online Library
The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside
the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books,
subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support
your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open
Web. In addition, the Online Library provides access to special learning
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resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies.
Questions can be directed to [email protected].
Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University
maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting
volumes, collection of our professors’ publication, and services to
search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries.
Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and
download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made
available in electronic format.
Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000
journals, which are available in electronic form and only through
limited subscription services.
Tutor.com: AMU and APU Civilian & Coast Guard students are eligible
for 10 free hours of tutoring provided by APUS. Tutor.com connects you
with a professional tutor online 24/7 to provide help with assignments,
studying, test prep, resume writing, and more. Tutor.com is tutoring
the way it was meant to be. You get expert tutoring whenever you
need help, and you work one-to-one with your tutor in your online
classroom on your specific problem until it is done.
Request a Library Guide for your course
(http://apus.libguides.com/index.php)
The AMU/APU Library Guides provide access to collections of trusted sites
on the Open Web and licensed resources on the Deep Web. The following
are specially tailored for academic research at APUS:
Program Portals contain topical and methodological resources to
help launch general research in the degree program. To locate,
search by department name, or navigate by school.
Course Lib-Guides narrow the focus to relevant resources for the
corresponding course. To locate, search by class code (e.g.,
SOCI111), or class name.
If a guide you need is not available yet, please email the APUS Library:
[email protected].
Selected Bibliography
Office of the Director for National Intelligence, US National Intelligence: An
Overview 2011. Washington, DC, 2011.
The Elements of Style - http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk101.html
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The University of Chicago Writing Program, Writing in College (Chicago,
accessed 2013)
