EARN YOUR SECURITY AND EMERGENCY STUDIES DEGREE AT SC!

Total Credit Hours: 36

Transfer Credits: Up to 6

Program Length: Approx. 14 months

The Master of Science in Security and Emergency Studies program prepares students using the multidisciplinary curriculum to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership positions as mid-to-upper-level managers in today’s integrated security, emergency and business continuity industry. In addition to knowledge in security-related subject matter, a focus on developing an organizational culture of resilience and continuity across both the public and private sectors is emphasized. Online classes give students the ability to attend class on their time from anywhere as they balance work and family life. Learn from security experts who bring real experience and application to the virtual classroom!

• Apply skills and abilities gained through inquiry-based learning in real-life security-based scenarios and projects
• Stacks with the Emergency Risk Management certificate to maximize additional credentials
• Discover more reasons to choose SC!

Recently ranked as one of the Top Accredited Online Colleges, Southwestern College offers quality online degrees to adult learners. With courses taught by expert faculty and access to a variety of student resources, SC learners are provided with the tools and flexibility needed to succeed in their education while preparing for professional advancement.

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CAREER OUTLOOK

Projected Job Growth (BLS): 33%

Average Salary (PayScale): $92k

Graduates of the online Security and Emergency Studies program at Southwestern College will be prepared for a variety of career environments, including:

• Risk management specialist
• Security management specialist
• Security manager
• Information security analyst

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES

“Jump in now…You won’t regret it…You have one class at a time…It’s compact, but it gets done faster”
Drina, Graduate

FACULTY

Visit our faculty page to view current security administration instructors.

View Courses & Program Details

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Students enrolled in the online security and emergency studies program at Southwestern College can expect to:

• Appraise the myriad of threats facing the security industry and the contemporary administration of the security and emergency function, homeland security enterprise, including private organizations, critical public and private infrastructure, in addition to the best practices from past emergencies and terrorist events.
• Evaluate the natural and emerging insider, criminal, cyber and terrorist threats that pose serious security and continuity challenges to public and private enterprises.
• Analyze community and enterprise-wide organizational risks, evaluate risk assessment processes, asset protection strategies, supply chain management, metrics, communication, convergence, information security systems and strategic planning.
• Critique past, current and possible legal issues, case law, ethical issues and organizational liabilities within the security, continuity, and emergency disciplines.
• Develop and critique disaster, emergency planning and business continuity systems and operationalize their application within public and private enterprises.
• Synthesize the best practices and applicable strategies in effective in crisis leadership and communication, media relations, disaster response and recovery.
• Examine and assess the core principles of planning and developing resilient communities and organizations.

RESOURCES

Article: Choosing a Graduate Degree in Security Studies or Security Administration

RELATED PROGRAMS

Emergency Risk Management Certificate
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Management
Master of Science in Leadership

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MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM DETAILS

The Master of Science in Security and Emergency Studies program prepares students using multidisciplinary curriculum to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership positions as mid-to-upper-level managers in today’s integrated security, emergency and business continuity industry. In addition to knowledge in security-related subject matter, a focus on developing an organizational culture of resilience and continuity across both the public and private sectors is emphasized. Furthermore, the program is designed to develop existing critical thinking and decision-making skills, in order, to properly mitigate, manage and recover from the myriad of possible emergencies, natural and man-made facing public and private enterprises. Learners will learn problem solving techniques, leadership and critical thinking skills with a focus on the analysis of best practices and lessons learned.

Admission Process

1. Complete graduate application forms
2. Provide current resume
3. Submit two professional letters of recommendation (at least one from a current or former employer)
4. Turn in one-page personal essay
5. Submit an official transcript from a bachelor’s degree-granting institution. Official transcripts must be received within 8 weeks following the start of class.

Core Major Requirements

MSSE500: Contemporary Security Administration

Learners in this course will examine the issues surrounding the effective administration of a modern security organization. The principal focus is emerging criminal and terrorist threats that pose serious challenges to professionals throughout the security industry. Core areas of security are also comprehensively covered as well as business management, communication, human resources and leadership competencies.

MSSE570: Homeland Security

Learners in this course will critique America’s homeland security enterprise, across agencies and jurisdictional levels including private organizations. Policy issues, technologies, legislation, preparedness strategies, and trends are analyzed. Threat assessments, critical infrastructure protection, pandemics, weapons of mass destruction, cyber‐terrorism, business preparedness, emergency response and public protection are also covered.

MSSE525: Issues in Security

Learners in this course will appraise current and emerging issues within the security architecture. Topics include, but not limited to, the role of technology, human resources, privacy, physical security, convergence, ethics, compliance, cybercrime, and organizational resilience will be explored.

MSSE530: Insider Threats

Learners in this course will analyze the myriad of insider threats facing today’s public and private enterprises. Recognition, mitigation and communication strategies will be discussed, as well as a focus on the gaining the skills to develop and effectively manage an insider threat program.

MSSE510: Enterprise Risk Assessments and Mitigation

Learners in this course will focus on the real and perceived risks which an organization may be exposed. A systematic approach to acquiring and analyzing the information necessary to support decision‐makers in the protection of assets and the allocation of security and organizational resources is reviewed. The risk management process, asset identification, threat identification, threat assessments, vulnerability identification and assessment, risk management, and cost benefit analysis are also examined.

MSSE560: Legal Issues in Security and Emergency Management

Learners in this course will review the legal issues surrounding the administration of security and emergency functions. Issues involving regulation, criminal liability, compliance, negligence, intentional torts, contracts, federal and state protections, and guidelines to minimize liability are also examined.

MSSE531: Business Continuity Planning

Learners in this course will develop competencies to effectively recognize complex continuity issues faced by public and private organizations. Processes of impact analysis, workforce issues, infrastructure sustainability, supply chain, planning, incident response, assessment, training, and exposure mitigating strategies will be examined.

MSSE532: Crisis Management: Leadership Perspectives

Learners in this course will analyze effective crisis recognition strategies throughout the enterprise. A focus on the leadership roles and responsibilities of crisis managers, impact on organizational reputation, the management of internal and external stakeholders, liability, business, and political risks.

MSSE533: Disaster Response and Recovery

Learners in this course will synthesize the leadership roles, responsibilities and actions of effective disaster response and recovery operations within the public and private enterprise. Including, but not limited to the integration of available organizational and government resources, logistics, planning, role of technology, communication, and the collaboration of community, private and non-government organizational resources.

MSSE534: Strategies in Crisis Communication

Learners in this course will evaluate strategies, best practices and lessons learned in crisis communication. An emphasis on the effective leverage of traditional and social media and the recognition of public and private stakeholders and its relationship to the credibility of the organization and community and organizational resilience.

MSSE535: Organizational and Community Resilience

Learners in this course will examine and access the core principles of developing resilient communities and organizations. Within the framework of building a resilient culture in throughout the public and private enterprise, areas such as metrics, policies, planning, preparedness, implementation, and recovery strategies will be examined.

CAPS590: Graduate Project

Learners engage in an applied research project that demonstrates their mastery of the knowledge and skills gained from the program and professional experience. Each learner will prepare a comprehensive report and presentation of the research findings by the conclusion of this course. Prerequisite: Successful completion of all other major courses.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all major courses.

Graduation Requirements

Applicants are required to submit:

1. Complete the specific program requirements for the master’s program
2. Have an overall grade point average of 2.5, with no grade below a C (2.0)
3. Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours

All degree requirements are subject to change. Please see Southwestern College Professional Studies Catalog for the most current degree requirements.

Security and Emergency Studies PDF