Undergraduate Certificates
College of Criminal Justice
Biosecurity and Pandemics
Biosecurity and Pandemics
The Undergraduate Certificate in Biosecurity and Pandemics provides students with a strong knowledge base regarding: disease threats; pandemic preparedness and management; bioterrorism; public health policies and laws (both domestic and international); and the nexus between border security and public health as it pertains to unique challenges along the US-Mexico border. The undergraduate certificate is offered as a standalone as well as in conjunction with the B.S. and B.A. in Homeland Security Studies degrees.
Students will take five courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- SCST 3385 Bioterrorism and Biowarfare Preparedness and Response
- SCST 3386 Health Access and Homeland Security
- SCST 3393 Public Health in Homeland Security
- SCST 4304 Global Health Security
- SCST 4305 Binational Health Challenges
Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion
Equity and Inclusion
The Undergraduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Equity and Inclusion is a 12-credit-hour program developed for criminal justice working professionals as well as current students who plan to work in the field. Upon completion, graduates will be able to successfully recognize how issues of equity and inclusion apply to criminal justice professionals’ interactions with offenders, victims, and the general public as well as how these issues affect workforce-related matters in criminal justice.
Students will take four courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- CRIJ 3340 Gender and Crime*
- CRIJ 4336 Understanding Human Behavior
- CRIJ 4385 Criminl Justice & Social Diversity
- CRIJ 4387 Multiculturalism in Criminal Justice
*This course requires a prerequisite, which could increase the total number of semester credit hours needed to complete the minor.
Security and Resilience in the Chemical & Energy Sector
Chemical & Energy Sector
This online certificate program will be designed to educate students working in, or seeking careers in, areas relating to security and resilience of infrastructures in the chemical and energy sectors. The development of this certificate program helps fulfill part of a state mandate for the creation of a SHSU Homeland Security Institute.
Students will take five courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- SCST 3383 Energy Security (existing course)
- SCST 2365 Introduction to Emergency Management (existing course)
- SCST 4367 Critical Infrastructure Security (existing course)
- SCST 2366 Introduction to Cybersecurity (existing course)
- SCST 4401 Chemical and Energy Sector Resilience (new course)
The Energy Security course will provide students with foundational knowledge on sector nodes, interdependencies, and evaluating risk. The Introduction to Emergency Management course will provide students with knowledge as to how to deal with crises and emergencies through planning and liaison with stakeholders. The Critical Infrastructure Security course will focus on the interdependence of critical infrastructure sectors, the importance of public-private partnerships, risk mitigation, and performance metrics. The Introduction to Cybersecurity course will focus on building an awareness of cybersecurity threats, challenges, and solutions as part of an overall security and resilience policy. Finally, the Chemical and Energy Sector Resilience course will focus on specific issues pertaining to these two critical infrastructure sectors, including specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient systems and mitigate, or minimize, disruption, and the maintenance of continuity of operations.
Educational Objectives
- Students will summarize key concepts in risk evaluation.
- Students will sketch interdependences within the chemical and energy sectors.
- Students will interpret the role of planning and liaison in crisis management.
- Students will recognize a range of cyber vulnerabilities impacting critical infrastructures.
Students will integrate vulnerabilities, features, and stakeholders pertaining to the maintenance of resilience in the chemical and energy sectors.
Security and Resilience in the Transportation Sector
Transportation Sector
This online certificate program will be designed to educate students working in, or seeking careers in, areas relating to security and resilience of infrastructures in the transportation sector. The development of this certificate program helps fulfill part of a state mandate for the creation of a SHSU Homeland Security Institute.
Students will take five courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- SCST 2368 Transportation Security (existing course)
- SCST 2365 Introduction to Emergency Management (existing course)
- SCST 4367 Critical Infrastructure Security (existing course)
- SCST 2366 Introduction to Cybersecurity (existing course)
- SCST 4403 Transportation Sector Resilience (new course)
The Transportation Security course will provide students with foundational knowledge on sector nodes, interdependencies, and evaluating risk in the context of a range of domains including air, sea, and land transportation networks. The Introduction to Emergency Management course will provide students with knowledge as to how to deal with crises and emergencies through planning and liaison with stakeholders. The Critical Infrastructure Security course will focus on the interdependence of critical infrastructure sectors, the importance of public-private partnerships, risk mitigation, and performance metrics. The Introduction to Cybersecurity course will focus on building an awareness of cybersecurity threats, challenges, and solutions as part of an overall security and resilience policy. Finally, the Transportation Sector Resilience course will focus on specific issues pertaining to this critical infrastructure sector, including specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient transportation networks and helping to mitigate, or minimize, disruption, and maintain continuity of operations.
Educational Objectives
- Students will summarize key concepts in risk evaluation.
- Students will sketch interdependences within the transportation sector.
- Students will interpret the role of planning and liaison in crisis management.
- Students will recognize a range of cyber vulnerabilities impacting critical infrastructures.
- Students will integrate vulnerabilities, features, and stakeholders pertaining to the maintenance of resilience in the transportation sector.
Security and Resilience in the Healthcare Sector
Healthcare Sector
This online certificate program will be designed to educate students working in, or seeking careers in, areas relating to security and resilience of infrastructures in the chemical and energy sectors. The development of this certificate program helps fulfill part of a state mandate for the creation of a SHSU Homeland Security Institute.
Students will take five courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- SCST 3393 Public Health in Homeland Security (existing course)
- SCST 2365 Introduction to Emergency Management (existing course)
- SCST 4367 Critical Infrastructure Security (existing course)
- SCST 2366 Introduction to Cybersecurity (existing course)
- SCST 4402 Healthcare Sector Resilience (new course)
The Public Health in Homeland Security course will provide students with foundational knowledge on disease threats, the role of syndromic surveillance in the health system, and quarantine laws and measures. The Introduction to Emergency Management course will provide students with knowledge as to how to deal with crises and emergencies through planning and liaison with stakeholders. The Critical Infrastructure Security course will focus on the interdependence of critical infrastructure sectors, the importance of public-private partnerships, risk mitigation, and performance metrics. The Introduction to Cybersecurity course will focus on building an awareness of cybersecurity threats, challenges, and solutions as part of an overall security and resilience policy. Finally, the Healthcare Sector Resilience course will focus on specific issues pertaining to this critical infrastructure sector, including specific vulnerabilities and unique features and stakeholders that have an impact on maintaining resilient healthcare systems and maintaining an appropriate level of care for patients.
Educational Objectives
- Students will summarize key concepts in public health.
- Students will sketch institutions and interdependencies within the healthcare sector.
- Students will interpret the role of planning and liaison in crisis management.
- Students will recognize a range of cyber vulnerabilities impacting critical infrastructures.
Students will integrate vulnerabilities, features, and stakeholders pertaining to the maintenance of resilience in the healthcare sector.
Victim Studies
Victim Studies
The Undergraduate Certificate in Victim Studies provides students and professionals with an overview of victimology and victim services.
Students will take five courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- VCST 3350 Victimology
- VCST 3351 Victim Service Delivery
- VCST 4351 Trauma and Crisis Intervention
- VCST 4383 Family Violence
- VCST 4390 Violence Against Women
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Technical Communication
Technical Communication
The Undergraduate Certificate in Technical Communication provides students with an overview of the essential knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to communicate in ever-changing industries and professions. This undergraduate certificate allows students who are already pursuing a minor in a different field to acquire vital communication abilities through concentrated study in the field of technical and professional writing.
Students will take four courses in order to complete the program, as follows:
- ENGL 3330 Intro to Technical Writing
- ENGL 3378 Designing Written Documents
- ENGL 4330 Writing in the Professionsor ENGL 4335 Studies in Rhetoric
- ENGL 4340 Professional Style and Editing
Those wishing to pursue the Undergraduate Certificate in Technical Communication must have completed their core composition requirements (ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302) and be enrolled in good standing in an undergraduate degree program at Sam Houston State University. Students can enroll in the undergraduate certificate as post-baccalaureate coursework, or they can pursue the courses while they are concurrently enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program or as part of the minor in Technical Writing. Students may also earn the certificate in addition to a minor in another area.