B.A. in Law & National Security

Analyzes the character of judicial power and review. Examines key U.S. Supreme Court decisions as related to the Bill of Rights, and its relationship to the states through focusing on civil rights and civil liberties decisions. Cross-listed with GOVT 382.

Explores the history, development, and changing dynamics of homeland security at and between local, state, and national government levels. Gives special attention to theories of homeland security management, the Department of Homeland Security and its statutory authority, and hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness.

Considers various approaches to understanding the nature and causation of terrorism. Considers the objectives of terrorism, modern terrorist groups and their strategy and tactics, and the role and limits of the criminal justice system in addressing terrorism.

Explores some of the main fields within the discipline of government (e.g., comparative politics, political theory) as well as some of the main approaches to the study of government (e.g., interpretivism, behavioralism, institutionalism). Various theories of integration for the study and understanding of government are also introduced.

Investigates the global problems that influence and shape contemporary and future government decision-making. Attention is given to such important problems as terrorism, poverty, human trafficking, disease, the digital revolution, the global economy, immigration as well as to how governments are responding to such challenges.

Analyzes the basic principles and practices of American public administration and policy, with an emphasis on the politics of administration and the relationship between the bureaucracy, special interest groups, Congress, the President, and the public as related to the creation and implementation of public policy.

Provides an analysis of the founding of the United States through an investigation of the important philosophical, constitutional, and political questions surrounding the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, and the creation and development of the U.S. Constitution. Attention is given to federalism, and the Constitutional institutions of the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court.

Evaluates the conduct of foreign affairs, policy, and relationships between nation-states in the international political community. Students are introduced to the history of the international order as well as to the leading international relations' theories of realism, liberal internationalism, neo-conservatism, human rights, and Marxism.

Examines the history of U.S. foreign policy up until the present era with special attention to topics such as U.S. military, economic, and human rights policy. Course also examines the changing concepts of power, the national interest, and grand strategy and learning in U.S. foreign policy as these relate to various world regions. Prerequisite: GOVT 304.

Computer systems, networks, databases, intellectual property, computer security, artificial intelligence, legal and ethical considerations, codes of conduct, privacy, computer crimes, and the future of computing and the Internet and their relationship to the business world.

Business and government are facing a rapidly expanding need for information assurance professionals. Information protection program design, internetworking and application security, the development of information security safeguards and information security auditing, disaster recovery, policy development, identity management, and effective threat assessment. Prerequisite: ISYS 204 and Sophomore standing.

Securing the systems that run our computers is the key to ensuring that our essential information remains safe and available. This course provides the essentials for understanding the threats to systems security, the methods to counter these threats, and some practical work in systems security. A computer system with appropriate software is required. Prerequisite: ISYS 331.

The threats to information security are numerous, and even the best security systems can be penetrated in one manner or another. In addition, physical security is a consideration for securing the systems necessary for business operations to continue. Natural disasters, terrorist activities, and internal subversion can all cause destruction or denial of service. Provides a framework for understanding the threats and how to counter them. Prerequisite: ISYS 331.

Structures and operations of courts, and their jurisdictions, procedures; history and introduction to judicial processes.

Various sources of law regarding professional responsibilities and legal ethics; practical applications; Christian worldview perspectives.

Substantive knowledge, practical skills and competencies, and ethical guidelines needed to work in criminal law area; criminal investigation (prosecution/defense) and evidence.