Public Safety Technology, Homeland Security & Telecommunicator Certificates (PST, HLSC, & PSTC)
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.
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.
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 our Admissions Page
Public Safety Technology (PST)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PST 100 | Introduction to Emergency Management ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition 1 ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CRJ 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MAT 115 | Pre-Statistics | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective (B) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| PST 110 | Introduction to Homeland Security ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PHI 110 | Ethics ( G) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PST 120 | Intelligence Analysis and Security Management ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EVT 105 | Environmental Sampling ( T) | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| ENG 10X English Composition Elective (G) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||||
| PST 115 | Introduction to Terrorist Groups ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Public Speaking ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CRJ 125 | Criminology ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PST 205 | Transportation Security ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 4 | ||||
| CRJ 135 | Criminal Law ( B) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| EVT 187 | Materials Transportation Safety and Security ( T) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| PST 125 | Public Safety Contingency Planning ( T) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PST 140 | Public Safety Telecommunicator | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| EVT 215 | Utilities Safety and Security ( T) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Semester 5 | ||||
| EVT 237 | Environmental Impact of Weapons of Mass Destruction ( T) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| EVT 257 | Environmental Risk Assessment ( T) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| PST 29X Public Safety Technology Experiential Learning Elective (T) | 1 | 40 | 2 | |
| Total Credits: | 62 | |||
Electives
| First Year Experience Elective | ||
| FYE 100 | College Survival Skills | 1 |
| FYE 105 | College Success Strategies | 2 |
| FYE 110 | Community College Experience | 3 |
| English Composition Elective | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| ENG 103 | English Composition 2: Writing about Literature | 3 |
| ENG 104 | English Composition 2: Technical Communication | 3 |
| ENG 105 | English Composition 2: Business Communication | 3 |
| PST Experiential Learning Elective | ||
| PST 291 | Full-Time Cooperative Education 1: Public Safety Technology | 2 |
| PST 294 | Full Time Internship 1: Public Safety Technology | 2 |
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 Applications of College Reading and Writing and AFM 095 Foundations of Basic Algebra or appropriate placement test scores.
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PST 110 | Introduction to Homeland Security | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| PST 120 | Intelligence Analysis and Security Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| PST 205 | Transportation Security | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 9 | 0 | 9 | |
Public Safety Telecommunicator Certificate (PSTC)
| Semester 1 | Lec | Lab | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PST 140 | Public Safety Telecommunicator | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Semester 2 | ||||
| PST 145 | Emergency Medical Dispatcher | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total Credits: | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
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: AFL 085 or appropriate placement test score
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: AFL 085 or appropriate placement test score
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 198 First Year Special Topics in Public Safety Technology
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on selected topics related to Public Safety Technology, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None
PST 199 First Year Independent Project in Public Safety Technology
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.
A project related to Public Safety Technology that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Public Safety Technology faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Vary by section
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)
PST 298 Second Year Special Topics in Public Safety Technology
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.
A course on selected topics related to Public Safety Technology, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None
PST 299 Second Year Independent Project in Public Safety Technology
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.
A project related to Public Safety Technology that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Public Safety Technology faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Vary by section
Faculty
Program Chair/Advisor
Professor William Mehbod, BS EMT-P
william.mehbod@cincinnatistate.edu