Course Syllabus

Welcome to HLS 803 - Homeland Security: Social and Ethical Issues

Here are a few pointers for navigating this page:

• See the Course Summary (Schedule) below. This table lists assignments by due date.
  Note: This table is similar to the Agenda view on the Calendar.
• Click the Jump to Today link at the top of the page to jump directly to today's date on the Course Summary.

Overview

CATEGORY	INFORMATION
Credits	3
Prerequisites	None
Delivery	Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates	See the Calendar.
Instructor	See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

HLS 803 provides a foundation for applying philosophical and ethical understanding to homeland security professions by drawing on both theoretical and practical approaches. It includes an overview of philosophical theories of ethics and political philosophy relevant to security practices and policies, as well as opportunities to develop critical thinking and communication skills in their application to particular cases related to homeland security through analysis and discussion. Historical and contemporary material will be examined to investigate issues such as the right to privacy, the nature and value of freedom, the justification of state security, and rights and responsibilities of public officials and health professionals.

Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Know, synthesize, critique and apply basic concepts central to ancient and modern moral philosophy in the western tradition.
2. Know, synthesize, critique and apply basic concepts relating to human rights, civil liberties, rights to privacy, and rights to public safety (and other concepts central to the ethics of homeland security).
3. Apply moral concepts and theories to cases.
4. Respond sensitively and critically to others’ evaluations of cases and theories

Organization

This course is made up of FIFTEEN lessons divided into THREE units.

• Unit 1: Major Theories in Moral Philosophy
• Unit 2: Major Theories in Political Philosophy
• Unit 3: Contemporary Policy Issues in Homeland Security and Group Project (Discussion and Analysis)

For each Unit, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

• Explore online course content (e.g. lectures)
• Read assigned readings
• Complete discussion forums, self-assessments, etc.
• Take exams
• Work on the final group project
  • Involving research, discussion, and analysis of a homeland security case

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.

Materials

Texts

There are THREE required texts. There are also readings on Electronic Reserve accessible through the Penn State Library System

• Steven M. Cahn, ed. Classics of Political and Moral Philosophy. Oxford University Press (ISBN: 978-0199791156).
• *Robert Paul Churchill. Human Rights and Global Diversity. Pearson (978-0130408853).
• *Naomi Zack. Ethics for Disaster. Rowman & Littlefield (978-0742564954).

*E-Book Option: An online version of one or more of your texts is available at no cost as a Penn State Libraries E-Book, which is indicated by an asterisk (*). You can access the E-Book through the Library Resources link on the course navigation menu. Some E-Books will only be available online, while others will be available to download in full or in part. You may choose to use the E-Book as an alternative to purchasing a physical copy of the text. For questions or issues, you can contact the University Libraries Reserve Help (UL-RESERVESHELP@LISTS.PSU.EDU).

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Course Reserves

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources link in the course navigation menu.

For any questions you may have about searching, viewing, or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the Viewing/Printing Electronic Reserves page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. at https://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/reserves/usingreserves.html.

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER GRADE	MINIMUM PERCENT	MINIMUM POINTS
A	93	223.2
A-	90	216
B+	88	211.2
B	83	199.2
B-	80	192
C+	78	187.2
C	70	168
D	60	144
F	0	0

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (hospitalization, jury duty, or family emergency) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Note on Late Assignments: will ONLY be accepted with advanced permission of the instructor. Late assignments will typically lose the point equivalent of 5 % per calendar day, and they typically will not be accepted later than 5 calendar days after the deadline.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

You can expect meaningful feedback on assignments within 7 days after the assignment deadline.

ASSIGNMENT GROUP	PERCENTAGE	POINTS
Discussions [12]	25%	60
Group Project [1]	25%	60
Exams [3]	50%	120
Total	100%	240

Discussions

Value: 12 x 5 PTS, 60 PTS total for 25% of grade

Because this is a graduate level philosophy class, discussion and dialogue is essential to the quality of the course. There will be 12 discussions throughout the semester. You must post at least one original/initial post and at least two replies to another classmate in each of the 12 discussion forums. Initial posts must be in by Thursday, 11:59 PM EST so that replies can be made by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. These are minimum requirement and I would like to see more back and forth exchange. Contributions also need to be made consistently throughout the week, and not clustered on the last day or at the last hour.

Please read the Discussion Policies/best practices in the section below and examine the Discussion Rubric carefully: You must post at least one original/initial post AND at least two replies to another classmate in each of the 12 discussion forums. These are the minimum expectations, however, and I would like to see more back and forth. If somebody replies to one of your posts with a question or comment, you are strongly encouraged to respond. You must observe the weekly deadlines for the original posts (before Thursdays) and replies (before Sundays). I expect posts and replies to be made consistently throughout the week, not clustered on the last day or at the last hour. Each discussion is worth 5 points for a total of 60 points (25% of your total grade). The rubric below will be used to evaluate your messages.

DISCUSSION POLICIES|BEST PRACTICES
Written communication is different than oral communication. The policies and pointers listed below cover common issues that crop up in an online discussion forum. They are designed to enhance organization, help you convey your ideas more clearly, and prevent misunderstandings.

• Try to think of discussion forums as an extension of your real-life classroom.
• Endeavor to share ideas among your classmates, not to prove that you are right and they are wrong - but to learn from free, yet informed sharing of ideas and perspectives, and to practice cooperative critical analysis.
• Be aware that differences of opinion are going to occur in any forum. Multiple perspectives on a topic or problem are often valuable.
• Compose long messages in NotePad (or TextEdit) and then copy/paste into a forum. Or add an attachment and provide a simple explanation of its contents.
• Keep closely related ideas organized under a single post.
• To respond to a post, click the Reply link. Do not create a new post.

To express a new idea, click the New Post button. The title of your post should be a brief phrase that summarizes your post.

• Don’t feel obligated to make a reply to a post if you feel it does not warrant one. Numerous posts that contain no essential new ideas may create more work for everyone.
• Don’t be offended if no one replies to your message. Often people will read postings on a discussion forum but not make a reply. 
• Act professionally and be considerate of others.
• Remember that not everyone comes from the same background, or shares the same values and ideals as you.
• Be mindful of your “tone.” If you are unsure of your tone, try reading your discussion forum post out loud before you submit it. When you read it out loud, does it sound the way you would speak to another student in the classroom
• Remember that a message can easily be misunderstood. Making a joke or being ironic in a discussion forum is a great way to break the ice, but you have to let people know your intentions. If you wish to convey a humorous tone, try using emoticons or adding comments like “Just kidding!” Do not use slang
• Alert your instructor as soon as possible if there is a message on the discussion forum that strikes you as inappropriate or offensive
• Keep in mind that the author may not realize how the message “sounds” to you. Try to think of the situation as a growth opportunity facilitated by the instructor. 

Allow the instructor to handle the situation. Rest assured that your instructor is determined to prevent breakdown of group process.

• Be aware that the instructor has the right to remove any inappropriate or offensive messages.
• Be aware that any student who posts an inappropriate of offensive message will be blocked from participating in the discussion forum and will receive an F for that assignment. Students are also subject to relevant policies in the student code of conduct.

Group Project

Value: 1 x 60 PTS, 25% total

The Final Group Project serves as a capstone experience for what we have learned in the course. The objective of the project is to form teams (4-6 students each) to investigate and analyze a current ethical controversy in the homeland security field, drawing on the moral and political theory that we have studied in the course.

The project has 3 main parts [due in Lesson 14]:
     (1) Research paper (1750 to 2500 words/roughly 7-10 pages),
     (2) Case Study synopsis (250 to 500 words/roughly 1-2 pages), and
     (3) Individual Self-Assessment.

Collectively, this final project accounts for 60 points or 25% of your course grade. All 3 parts of the final project are due on the last day of the week associated with Lesson 14 (Sunday, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time)

A detailed description of this assignment and all relevant deadlines follows.

FINAL GROUP PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS

Group Formation and Topic Approval

Students must form groups (4-­‐6 members) by the end of the week of lesson 8, and submit a 1-­‐2 paragraph description of their final project.

The description should include both the broader theme (e.g. privacy, security, etc.) and the specific applied issue to be investigated (e.g. the recent Ebola outbreak, mail covers, ISIS, etc.) Topics will be approved or revision suggestions will be offered during lesson 9. Groups can be formed using the general Group Project Discussion Forum to identify other students with similar interests. Once you have formed your group and have received approval from the instructor, your group will then be assigned an individual discussion board to continue your research.

Each group is responsible for its division of labor. While all group members should be involved in the brainstorming and initial research of the project, you may divide up writing tasks (e.g. different authors for different sections of research paper, editors, case study authors, etc.).

In the end, however, you will each receive the same final grade, so be sure to collectively review and sign off on the final product. This is as much an exercise in the important skill of working collaboratively as it is an information assignment. While Lesson 8 is the absolute deadline for submitting your group topic for approval, you should begin discussing your interests and forming groups sooner than this in order to allow yourself enough time to complete the project.

Tips for selecting a topic

Be sure to choose a controversy where the two sides have given their reasons for their positions, in the media, on web sites, or in other public forums. If you don't know or have to guess about the reasons backing up a position, you will not likely present it well.

If you choose a controversy where it is overwhelmingly clear to you that one side is correct and the other is just crazy, you probably have not chosen well, because it will then be difficult to sympathetically describe the reasons behind both sides of the issue. And that is a very important aspect of the assignment.

Research Paper (35 pts)

The Research paper component of the final project should be approximately 1750 to 2500 words long or roughly 7 - 10 double spaced pages, using a standard font and margins. The paper should examine a specific contemporary homeland security issue (e.g. the recent Ebola outbreak) against the background of broader course themes (e.g. risk management, privacy, human rights), and drawing on the moral and political theory we have studied.

The paper should:
     (1). Have a clear introduction identifying the issue,
     (2). Be historically situated in its proper historical context and in relation to similar historical events,
     (3). Situate the issue within specific ethical theories or perspectives (e.g. utilitarianism, deontology),
     (4). Provide the opposing perspectives surrounding the issue,
     (5). Conclude with your own assessment of the issue, 
     (6). Draw on at least 5 sources (including course readings, news outlets, peer-­reviewed journal articles, etc.),
     (7). Incorporate relevant supporting citations,
     (8). Include a complete bibliography, and
     (9). Be properly formatted.

Here is the detailed rubric for the Research Paper

Research Paper Criteria	Ratings
Overall paper is clear and well-written	/5
Issue is topical and relevant (Integrates disciplinary methods and techniques)	/5
Concludes with own assessment of the issue (Knowledge to solve problems)	/5
Introduction is clear and identifies the issue	/3
Historically situated in its proper historical context and in relation to similar historical events (Integrates the use of disciplinary methods and techniques)	/3
Situates issue within specific ethical theories or perspectives (e.g. utilitarianism, deontology)  (Integrates the use of disciplinary methods and techniques)	/3
Provides balanced and nuanced review of opposing perspectives surrounding the issue (Knowledge to solve problems)	/3
Draws on at least 5 sources (including course readings, news outlets, peer-­reviewed journal articles, etc.)  (Integrates the use of disciplinary methods and techniques)	/2
Includes a complete bibliography  (Integrates disciplinary methods and techniques)	/2
Incorporates relevant supporting citations  (Integrates discipline techniques)	/2
Is properly formatted [uses standard font and margins and is proofread]	/1
Meets the min/max length [1750 to 2500 words]	/1
Sub-total Points:                 /35

Please upload the Research Paper in the L14 Group Project Research Paper Research Paper Dropbox. It will be reviewed only by the instructor.

Case Study Synopsis (20 pts)

The Case Study synopsis will be a concise 1-­‐2 page summary [250 - 500 words] of your research paper. It should follow the model of the case studies that we read throughout the semester.

Specifically:

• it should begin with a 1-­‐2 paragraph overview of the specific issue and the broader ethico-­‐political themes that it raises. 
• followed by a 1-­‐2 paragraph overview of pro-­‐con arguments for each side of the debate. 
• followed by a brief conclusion and a list of properly cited suggested readings (approximately 4-­‐7 sources).

Here is the detailed rubric for the Case Study synopsis

Case Study Criteria	Ratings
Overall case study is clearly presented and well written	/4
Examines a specific contemporary homeland security issue (Knowledge to solve problems)	/4
Contains brief conclusion and list of properly cited suggested readings (approximately 4-­‐7 sources) (Integrates discipline techniques)	/3
Contains 1-2 ¶ overview of specific issue and the broader ethico-­‐political themes it raises (Integrates disciplinary methods and has the knowledge to solve problems)	/2
Contains 1-2 ¶ overview of pro-­‐con arguments for each side of the debate. (Has the knowledge to solve problems)	/2
Includes a complete bibliography  (Integrates disciplinary methods and techniques)	/2
Follows the model of the course case studies  (Integrates disciplinary methods and techniques)	/1
Is properly formatted [uses standard font and margins and is proofread]	/1
Meets the min/max length [250 to 500 words]	/1
Sub-total Points:                  /20

Please upload the Case Study Synopsis to the L14 Group Project Case Synopsis dropbox for grading and review by your instructor. You will also need to upload your group's Case Study synopsis to the L15 Discussion 12 Group Case Study Synopsis and Overrall Course Experience forum. Case Studies will be viewed by the rest of the class and commented on. The instructor will use this feedback along with their review of the research paper to determine the best final project. Members of the winning group will receive 10 points extra credit (approximately 4 %), and their case study will be considered for potential inclusion in the HLS Case Study Database for future courses.

Individual/Group Member Self-­‐Assessments (5 pts)

After completion of the assignment, each group member is responsible for uploading a 1-­‐2 paragraph self-­‐reflection on the assignment in the L14 Group Self-Assessment Reflections dropbox. In this reflection, you should detail your own role and the roles of your other group members, and assess the overall performance. While all group members will typically receive the same grade on the final project, these assessments will be used to identify any team members that did not adequately participate

Here is the detailed rubric for the Self Assessment

Self Assessment Criteria	Ratings
Self-reflection includes at least 1 paragraph detailing and assessing your own role and contribution to the group	/2.5
Self-reflection includes at least 1 paragraph detailing and assessing the role[s] of your group members contribution to the group	/2.5
Sub-total Points:   /5

Exams

Value: 3 x 40 PTS, 120 PTS for 50% of total grade

There will be THREE exams. They will be comprised of medium-length essay questions (4 questions per exam). Answers should be approximately 300 words each. Students will be allowed to consult books or notes from lectures. However, sources outside of class materials are NOT to be used. All sources for answers must be indicated. Any uncited material that is not from the students’ own ideas will be treated as PLAGIARISM. No consultation with other students is allowed during exam period. 

The exams will be posted on Wednesday morning and will be due at 11:59 PM EST the following Sunday. Please note that you will NOT have a full week to take the exam, only Wednesday through Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday prior to the exam are an open review period in which you may email the instructor with questions and/or post questions to the General Questions discussion.

Note on Exam Time Limit: Exams will be subject to a time limit. Students will be given 3 hours to take a particular exam once the file is opened. After 180 minutes the exam will be inaccessible and the grade will be calculated based on what is completed so far. Students will be given a warning 2 minutes prior to the time limit.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

Penn State defines academic integrity as “the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner.” (Senate Policy 49-20). Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without permission from the instructor or tampering with the academic work of other students. Students facing allegations of academic misconduct who drop the course will be returned and will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines until the allegations are dismissed and the drop is permitted. Students responsible for academic misconduct often receive academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for disciplinary sanctions assigned by the University's Office of Student Conduct (see Senate Policy G-9).

Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:

• Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always included quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
• All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
• All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

Disability Access

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/disability-coordinator. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.

Reporting a Bias Incident

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

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University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at https://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at https://news.psu.edu.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website at https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

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Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.