Public Safety Technology, Homeland Security & Telecommunicator Certificates (PST, HLSC, & PSTC)

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.cincinnatistate.edu.

Note: The programs listed on this page are not currently admitting new students. 

Public Safety Technology (PST)

The Public Safety Technology program prepares students to respond to the nation’s need for highly trained security professionals who understand the global threat to our infrastructure.

While earning an Associate of Applied Science degree, students learn to help secure borders, airports, waterways, and seaports; prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters; and provide counter-terrorism and law enforcement intelligence support.

The program was developed in conjunction with local industry representatives to assure that local needs and requirements were addressed. Students who complete the program receive training and certification relevant to a public safety career and gain skills that may enhance upward mobility for career professionals.

For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.

Homeland Security Certificate (HLSC)

The Homeland Security Certificate provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively deal with safety and security challenges in the United States. This program was developed in response to the needs of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Students gain understanding of fundamental elements of homeland security as well as specialized topics including detecting threats to security, and protecting critical infrastructure and transportation nodes.

For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.

To apply for this program at Cincinnati State, visit the Admissions section of the College website.

Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate (PSTC)

The Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate program prepares students for employment as 911 operators and emergency medical dispatchers. These specialized public safety roles require far more than answering a telephone and dispatching a response unit to a designated location.

Students gain knowledge and skills related to communications technologies, public safety issues and concerns, and the telecommunicator's role in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's NIMS Incident Command System.

For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.

To apply for this program at Cincinnati State, visit the Admissions section of the College website.

Public Safety Technology (PST)

Semester 1LecLabCredits
PST 100Introduction to Emergency Management ( B) 303
ENG 101English Composition 1 ( G) 303
PSY 110Introduction to Psychology ( G) 303
CRJ 105Introduction to Criminal Justice ( B) 303
MAT 115Pre-Statistics 223
FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B)  101
Semester 2  
PST 110Introduction to Homeland Security ( T) 303
PHI 110Ethics ( G) 303
PST 120Intelligence Analysis and Security Management ( T) 303
EVT 105Environmental Sampling ( T) 233
ENG 10X English Composition Elective (G)  303
Semester 3  
PST 115Introduction to Terrorist Groups ( T) 303
COMM 110Public Speaking ( B) 303
CRJ 125Criminology ( B) 303
PST 205Transportation Security ( T) 303
Semester 4  
CRJ 135Criminal Law ( B) 303
EVT 187Materials Transportation Safety and Security ( T) 122
PST 125Public Safety Contingency Planning ( T) 303
PST 140Public Safety Telecommunicator 603
EVT 215Utilities Safety and Security ( T) 122
Semester 5  
EVT 237Environmental Impact of Weapons of Mass Destruction ( T) 122
EVT 257Environmental Risk Assessment ( T) 122
PST 29X Public Safety Technology Experiential Learning Elective (T)  1402
Total Credits:    62

Electives

First Year Experience Elective
FYE 100College Survival Skills1
FYE 105College Success Strategies2
FYE 110Community College Experience3
English Composition Elective
ENG 102English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues3
ENG 103English Composition 2: Writing about Literature3
ENG 104English Composition 2: Technical Communication3
ENG 105English Composition 2: Business Communication3
PST Experiential Learning Elective
PST 291Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Public Safety Technology2
PST 294Full Time Internship 1: Public Safety Technology2

The letters G, B, and T (displayed after course titles or elective descriptions) identify types of courses required by the Ohio Department of Higher Education as part of an associate’s degree curriculum. 

G = General Education course in this curriculum

B = Basic Skills course in this curriculum

T = Technical course in this curriculum

Homeland Security Certificate (HLSC)

Program Prerequisites: AFL 085 and AFM 095 Foundations of Basic Algebra or appropriate placement test scores.

Semester 1LecLabCredits
PST 110Introduction to Homeland Security 303
PST 120Intelligence Analysis and Security Management 303
Semester 2  
PST 205Transportation Security 303
Total Credits:  909

Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate (PSTC)

Semester 1LecLabCredits
PST 140Public Safety Telecommunicator 303
Semester 2  
PST 145Emergency Medical Dispatcher 202
Total Credits:  505

Courses

PST 100 Introduction to Emergency Management
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on professionalism and ethics in the safety and security career fields. Topics include: risk assessment, mitigation, and response; disaster recovery; preparedness; and communications.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement

PST 110 Introduction to Homeland Security
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on key principles of emergency management and their relationship to homeland security. .
Prerequisites: None

PST 115 Introduction to Terrorist Groups
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the history, motivation, and activities of terrorists. Topics include: how terrorist groups and individuals evolve, and how governments respond to terrorist events.
Prerequisites: None

PST 120 Intelligence Analysis and Security Management
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on key principles of physical security. Topics include: passive detection systems; assessing risk; understanding rules of evidence and testifying in court; and using tools such as link analysis, event flow diagrams, and visual intelligence analysis diagrams.
Prerequisites: None

PST 125 Public Safety Contingency Planning
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on techniques for developing continuity of operations plans (COOP), continuity of government plans (COG), and event and community hazard plans.
Prerequisites: PST 110

PST 130 Public Safety Communication Practices
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on techniques for communication with employees, the community, and the media during a crisis event.
Prerequisites: None

PST 135 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Workers
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on disaster preparedness, incident command, and risks and hazards as related to the healthcare worker.
Prerequisites: None

PST 140 Public Safety Telecommunicator
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the role of the telecommunicator. Topics include: classifying and prioritizing calls, responding to calls, managing equipment and records, functioning under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and professional ethics.
Prerequisites: ENG 085 or appropriate placement

PST 145 Emergency Medical Dispatcher
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the responsibilities of the emergency medical dispatcher. Topics include: assessing and prioritizing emergency calls, dispatching the appropriate response, and giving callers appropriate instructions until the responding EMS unit arrives.
Prerequisites: PST 140

PST 150 Law Enforcement Studies: Advanced Standi
16 Credits. 16 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

Students may receive up to 16 semester credit hours for successful completion of the Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training or equivalent state/federal law enforcement training. Approval of training by the ATS-Law Enforcement Program Chair is required.
Prerequisites: Program Chair consent

Instructor Consent Required

PST 200 Healthcare Security
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on healthcare security programs. Topics include: preventing accidents and injuries, fire safety, and crisis intervention.
Prerequisites: PST 120

PST 205 Transportation Security
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on providing security for various modes of transportation and transportation facilities. Topics include: airports, railroads, ports, trucking, and pipelines.
Prerequisites: None

PST 291 Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Public Safety Technology
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 40 Lab Hours.

Students seekin an associate's degree participate in their first full-time field learning experience related to their degree. Students must follow cooperative education policies and procedures to earn credit. Grades issued are Satisfatory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: PST 100 (minimum grade C)

Instructor Consent Required

PST 292 Part-Time Internship 1: Public Safety Technology
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 20 Lab Hours.

Students seeking an associate's degree participate in a part-time unpaid field learning experience related to their degree. Students must follow applicable policies and procedures to earn credit.
Prerequisites: PST 100 (minimum grade C)

PST 294 Full Time Internship 1: Public Safety Technology
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 40 Lab Hours.

Students seeking an associate's degree participate in a full-time unpaid field learning experience related to their degree. Students must follow applicable policies and procedures to earn credit. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: PST 100 (minimum grade C)