Security Studies: B.S.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Security Studies is a 124-credit program listed with SUNY and approved as a registered degree program through the New York State Education Department. It is designed to serve students currently working in public service, emergency services, law enforcement, and homeland security positions as well as those interested in these career paths. The contemporary security environment is multifaceted and complex. This program addresses that complexity head on by providing coursework in homeland security, research methods and analysis, information security, and a rigorous examination of the social, economic and cultural contexts of security in the United States and internationally. With this learning, students will become more effective in their roles within security and related fields.
Students completing a bachelor’s degree in Security Studies will have accomplished the following learning objectives
- Analyze security concerns from various disciplinary perspectives.
- Describe the history, roots and enforcement approaches to national and global security.
- Employ social science research methods and techniques related to the study of security in various forms.
- Evaluate moral and ethical implications of policies intended to address security from social, political, economic, and environmental perspectives.
- Analyze the interrelationship between human and natural environments in the contexts of individual and population security.
- Evaluate strategies and resources employed by law enforcement personnel nationally and internationally related to physical, infrastructure, and human security.
- Evaluate strategies and resources employed to maintain security of information in digital environments.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with foundational courses on which to build pathways of courses specific to their interests and needs. The program design is flexible enough to provide students the opportunity to bring in college level learning obtained through work experience through our prior learning assessment process. Courses in the program are offered online, through independent studies, or through a blended approach. Students may blend different modalities and will work with a faculty mentor to develop a degree plan that matches with their goals.
For additional information about this program, please visit the B.S. in Security Studies web page.
Admission
For requirements and procedures for applying to the program, please see the information for Bachelor's Admissions. Enrolling for Fall 2020.
Contact
If you would like more information about the Security Studies program, please contact:
Program Contact
Cathryn Thurston, Ph.D.
cathryn.thurston@esc.edu
Security Studies
Program Guidelines
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Security Studies is designed to give students the interdisciplinary knowledge, tools, and strategies to understand the complex nature of security and security challenges in the twenty-first century. This program addresses complexity head on by providing coursework in homeland security, research methods and analysis, information security, and a rigorous examination of the social, economic and cultural contexts of security in the United States and internationally. Students who are currently working in public administration, emergency services, law enforcement, and homeland security positions as well as those interested in these career paths will be well served by the B.S. in Security Studies.
The Bachelor’s Degree Program in Security Studies requires students to take ten core courses and three advanced electives to meet the following five foundations. Students may demonstrate knowledge of each outcome through the following courses at Empire State College. Alternatively, in consultation with their primary mentor, students may demonstrate their knowledge through transcript credit, individualized prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), and/or credit by examination.
Foundation #1: Broad Security Studies Perspectives
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe security concerns from various disciplinary perspectives.
Foundation #2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to explain the history, roots and enforcement approaches to national and global security.
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze the interrelationship between human and natural environments in the contexts of individual and national security.
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to evaluate strategies and resources employed by policymakers nationally and internationally related to traditional and human security.
Foundation #3: Research Methods
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to employ social science research methods and techniques related to the study of security in various forms.
Foundation #4: Ethics
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to evaluate moral and ethical implications of policies intended to address security from social, political, economic, and environmental perspectives.
Foundation # 5: Information Security
- Learning Outcome: Students will be able to evaluate strategies and resources employed to maintain security of information in digital environments.
Students pursuing a B.S. program in Security Studies must complete the following courses:
Outline of Curriculum Requirement
The B.S. Program in Security Studies consists of 13 courses
The following courses are required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation 1 - Broad Security Studies Perspectives | ||
| PAFF 1005 | Introduction to Security Studies | 4 |
| PAFF 2005 | Introduction to Homeland Security | 4 |
| Foundation 2 - Historical and Comparative Perspectives | ||
| POLI 3065 | International Politics & Relations | 4 |
| PAFF 4000 | International Dimensions of Security | 4 |
| PAFF 4005 | Counterterrorism in a Changing World | 4 |
| Foudation 3 - Research Methods | ||
| SOSC 3025 | Social Science Research Methods | 4 |
| Foundation 4 - Ethics | ||
| PAFF 4132 | Legal & Ethical Foundations of Public Service | 4 |
| SOCI 4035 | Privacy Security & Freedom: Social Concerns for the 21st Century | 4 |
| Foundation 5 - Information Security | ||
| INFT 2020 | Introduction to Digital Crime & Digital Terrorism | 4 |
| INFT 3020 | Cyber Crime & Computer Forensics | 4 |
Students must also take a minimum of 3 of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRJS 3020 | Crime & Intelligence Analysis | 4 |
| PAFF 3003 | Security Implic Glbl Clim Chng | 4 |
| SOCI 3045 | Disaster & Society | 4 |
| SOCI 3065 | Perspectives on Terrorism | 4 |
| EMGT 3030 | Leadership & Management in Disaster Response | 4 |
* Note that some prior learning may substitute for some required courses. Faculty review and approval is required before a substitution can be made.
** Students must also satisfy all other college academic requirements, which include the SUNY General Education requirements and working with a faculty mentor to meet additional program requirements.