HSEP 6060 - Research Methods and Wargaming

This course will provide an overview of graduate level research for the capstone project in the Master of Arts in Homeland Security Studies. Students will learn about the various methods of research in the discipline, research design, and proper formatting and writing of formal papers. Specific focus will be placed on topic development, developing a research outline, conducting a literature review, constructing an annotated bibliography, and proper citation styles that make use of the APA style. This course will provide all students the tools to do research and, in addition, will prepare them for the final capstone project to be developed in the subsequent Strategic Capstone course. This course will instruct students on the value of and design of seminar and table top wargames as a learning and planning tool for Homeland Security and Emergency Response activities. Wargaming is a critical tool for strategic planning and in developing responses for specific crises. (4 credits)