Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus Critical Infrastructure

Key Elements of Critical Infrastructure Protection & Continuity

Course Description

The course objective is to introduce learners to a wide array of issues and concerns involving the nation's critical infrastructure as that term can be broadly defined in the post 9/11 and post- Katrina world.

Course Topics

1. The range of critical infrastructure concerns;
2. Ways in which critical infrastructure concerns have been defined and addressed in the past, ways in which they are presently being addressed, and ways in which they could be more fully addressed in the future;
3. A clarification of the distinction between elements of the critical infrastructure and a traditional definition of physical infrastructure and a need for integrating a concern for maintenance of physical infrastructure with a concern for enhancing the resilience of the critical infrastructure;
4. The role that cascading critical infrastructure failures played in Hurricane Katrina; the Haiti Earthquake; the Gulf Oil Spill; the Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Power Plant Disaster; and other natural or man-caused disasters;
5. Ways of protecting critical infrastructure and providing for critical infrastructure continuity and the need to incorporate a comprehensive focus on prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, and continuity of operations;
6. The importance of taking steps to help ensure the reliability, resilience, stability, and continuity of critical infrastructure; and
7. The need to include an emphasis on the development of disaster resistant or resilient communities and regions that includes a concern for disaster resistant and resilient infrastructure within those communities and regions and within the nation as a whole.

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor: Dr. Paula Gordon     pdg0005@auburn.edu

Dr. Paula D. Gordon, an educator, researcher, and analyst who has formerly worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a consultant role.

More information about the Instructor

Materials & Resources Used in the Course

All materials used in the course will be available online. All articles, reports, and presentations that are assigned are in PDF Files and available under the Readings Page on the Modules Tab.

Course Requirements

Those taking the course are asked to complete the following:

• Self-Introductory Posting;
• A Learner Information Form;
• Assigned reading and viewing of on-line information;
• A 150 – 250-word long posting and a 100 – 150-word short posting for each week of the course on the course website;

• Completion of two specific FEMA Independent Study (IS) Courses or completion of alternative assignments involving the content of the two FEMA IS Courses;
• An Ungraded Assessment and a Final Graded Assessment;

Please note that all those taking the course are asked to complete all of the required course assignments. In addition, all are expected to read everything that is posted in the Announcements and Discussion Board Areas of the course website.

Grading Rubric

Passing: 600 - 1000 points

Failing: 0 - 599 points

Course Parameters, Resources & Limitations

The course is fully web-based. Each week's assignments will be due on or by the last day of each week.  (See the first page of the Syllabus for the exact dates.) It is important that Learners meet the deadline for transmittal of the completed Graded Assessment on or by the last day of the course. It is particularly important for Learners to keep current with the assignments as it can be very difficult to catch up and complete the course on time.

Learners with Disabilities

Auburn University is committed to providing accommodations and services to learners with documented disabilities. Any Learner with a qualified disability which requires accommodations should contact the Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, Auburn University, AL 36849, 334-844-2096 PH, 334-844-2099 FAX, haynemd@auburn.edu. More information is available on their website at www.auburn.edu/disability. The office will fax or mail the required forms to learners to apply for services. Learners who have questions regarding participation in this course should contact the above office in advance to ensure proper accommodations.

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism is the act of presenting directly or indirectly someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is a major type of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Similarly cheating on tests in any way, falsifying bibliographies, fraudulent quotes, and similar practices are intolerable forms of academic dishonesty. The University’s policy for academic misconduct in the Learner Code of Conduct will be followed for this course (Tiger Club, pp. 83 and 92).