Colleges have expanded homeland security training to prepare students for emergency response, police, firefighting and private security jobs, reports Community College Times.
In Illinois, the College of DuPage (COD), which offers a certificate in homeland security training, is building an indoor street “lab” to train emergency responders.
When COD opens the new $25-million center in 2011, it will offer an array of courses in the industry — terrorism methodology, cyber terrorism, hazardous material training, urban response, fire science procedure, officer recruitment and security training.
The center will house criminal justice and fire science programs, as well as local law enforcement training. Its other features will include an emergency operations command center designed to instruct National Incident Management protocols, advanced forensic technology and cybercrime laboratories, and a lecture hall that will double as a mock courtroom, complete with a judge’s chamber and jury box.
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pennsylvania is adding a homeland security degree to its certificate program.
“Graduates of this program may seek employment as homeland security professionals in various fields, including border, airport and seaport security as well as intelligence, technology security and disaster or emergency response, “says Jill Oblak, director of CCAC’s Public Safety Institute.
Demand is expected to grow for emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers and firefighters.
