The Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) program at Savannah State University, launched in 2007, is the first degree program of its kind at an HBCU and the only bachelor's program in Georgia. It offers an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on disaster preparedness and response, equipping students with relevant skills and requiring internships for practical experience. Despite challenges such as promoting the program and student skill development, it has seen rapid growth and has produced alumni now working in related fields.

1. Highlights from 2007-2011
Building an EM/HS Degree
Program
SSU Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program 2012
Alumni Relations

2. Homeland Security & Emergency
Management at Savannah State
• Bachelor’s degree program launched in 2007
• Rapid growth over the last five years
• Established to enhance diversity in the field
• Combines study of emergency management and
homeland security
• Focuses on comprehensive approach and
improving disaster outcomes

3. Homeland Security & Emergency
Management at Savannah State
Source: SSU Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment

4. Homeland Security & Emergency
Management at Savannah State
• First EM or HS degree program at an HBCU
• Only bachelor’s degree program in EM and/or
HS in the state of Georgia
• Program also offers an undergraduate certificate
delivered traditionally and online

5. HSEM at SSU: Degree Curriculum
• Interdisciplinary approach
• Engages faculty from all three colleges: Business
Administration, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
and Sciences and Technology
• Equips students with knowledge and skills to
prevent, protect, mitigate, prepare, respond and
recover from natural or human-caused disasters

6. HSEM at SSU: Coursework
• Core curriculum (65 hours)
– Geography or anthropology, history,
foreign language
• Major required courses (36 hours)
– Politics, law & ethics, emergency
planning, social diversity, terrorism,
risk assessment, leadership, etc.
• HSEM electives (9 hours)
• General electives (15 hours)

7. HSEM at SSU: Required internship
• Provides real-world experience and exposure and
begins move toward a career/specialty of choice
• Can lead to first job and networking
opportunities
• Placements have included:
– Local and state emergency management agencies
– Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
– Georgia Ports Authority
– American Red Cross

8. HSEM at SSU: Graduates
• 20 program graduates to date
– At least 7 alumni now
working in HSEM-related
positions
– 1 alumnus applying for
graduate school

9. HSEM at SSU: Program challenges
• Promotion and recruitment
• Competition for doctoral-level faculty
• Student writing and communication skills
• Balancing needs of traditional students with
needs of working practitioners
• Job market/placements for students
• Asserting program in competition for grants

10. Questions or comments?
Talmadge Memorial Bridge, Savannah, Ga.
http://www.savannahstate.edu/hsem
hsem@savannahstate.edu