Back to School: Security Management

Mar 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By CORRINA STELLITANO

Every year, security professionals enter the corporate world armed with experience and education. According to respondents to the 2004 ASIS International US Employment Survey, almost 70 percent of U.S. security professionals had at least some experience at a four-year college. Some 35 percent of the 3,861 respondents had earned an undergraduate degree; another 22 percent had completed a master's degree and 14 percent had some educational experience at a four-year college.

Though these survey results do not specify the degree type, security professionals and professors report that security management degrees are becoming more common and more needed.

“As greater emphasis is placed on security education — and on the fact that security is a business function and not a spin-off or subset of the criminal justice system — one could expect to see more security professionals in management positions with certificates or degrees in security management or asset protection, rather than criminal justice or administration of justice, as has often been the case in the past,” says David H. Gilmore, CPP. Gilmore serves as vice chairman of the ASIS International Council on Academic Programs in Colleges and Universities.

Continuing education becomes essential as the demands on security managers and directors increase, says Roger Melton of the American Public University System (APUS). “The challenges they face become more sophisticated every day, whether in the areas of corporate security, physical security or information security. Security management has moved from the periphery in many organizations to the forefront — security management professionals need up-to-date education, training and certifications to remain relevant.”

Security professionals can take advantage of security workshops and short courses; these courses typically run from two to five days and may be offered by training firms, by professional organizations such as ASIS, or, in some cases, by educational institutions on a non-degree basis. Security books, journals, and trade periodicals also help to broaden professional knowledge and capabilities.

For those who wish to augment their professional experience with more education, many schools and universities are offering online classes or classes with flexible schedules allowing students to learn while they work.

Selection criteria

Only a brief Internet search yields many education choices; ASIS International offers a list of more than 100 security-related degree programs. Lists by other professional associations detail still more degrees in risk assessment, information technology and information assurance. With so many choices, how does one select a school?

First, one should check to make sure the school is accredited. Credits or degrees earned at an accredited institution are more accepted at other accredited colleges. Six regional accreditation boards oversee and accredit degree-granting institutions in their regions. The Distance Education and Training Council is a nationally recognized accreditation agency for colleges and schools that specialize in distance learning. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is also widely recognized. The Council for Higher Education's directory of recognized accrediting agencies is available at www.chea.org.

Other primary considerations will inevitably include location, class schedule and availability, and cost. Rob Metscher, a security professional with a BS in criminal justice and an MBA who has spent months researching programs for working students, suggests the following considerations:

• Cost and convenience. “I'm looking for the right price with the fewest headaches,” he says.

• Is there a residency requirement? If classes are online, there may be a requirement to visit the campus periodically. Some schools may also pair up study partners or advisors in the same local region.

• Consider the faculty. “Google is your friend,” Metscher says. “Paste the faculty member's name in Google and look at what comes up. What do the professors say? What books have they written? What have they done? Eventually you should actually talk to the professors. If you're just going to (school to get a diploma), it doesn't matter where you go. But if you're going to learn, you want to find the professor who will challenge you.”

When considering a security management degree, it is a good idea to watch for must-have coursework such as investigation, and how-to classes in managing a security program and completing risk assessment surveys. Some coverage of ethics and business concepts such as accounting, marketing and auditing should also be expected, Metscher says.

The programs listed below meet the following criteria important to security professionals:

• they focus on security management as a major or a concentration;

• they offer a bachelor's or master's degree, or a graduate certificate; and

• they provide options for completing the degree programs through evening, weekend, or online classes.

American Military University
American Public University System

Certificate in Security Management
BA and MA in Security Management
111 W. Congress Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
877-468-6268 (phone)
703-330-5109 (fax)
info@apus.edu
www.apus.edu/apu/

APUS offers a variety of security-related programs in a completely online format, including a BA and MA in security management, with available concentrations in Transportation Security, Physical and Workplace Security, Information Security, Executive Security Management or Terrorism Studies. APUS also offers a BA and MA in Homeland Security, and courses are offered in eight-week and 16-week sessions.

According to APUS program planners, APUS' curriculum offers the traditional core standards such as Principles and Theory of Security Management and Evaluation of Security Programs, and unique courses are offered at the concentration level. Specialized courses include Industrial Espionage or Computer Crime, Access Controls or Airport Security Design, Border and Coastal Security or Forecasting Terrorism.

“Today, we coordinate the inclusion of up-to-date issues by working with ASIS International professionals and frequently attending industry events and forums,” says Melton, department chair for Criminal Justice and Security Management. “We continuously upgrade our course syllabus. As an example, the minute the 9/11 Commission Report hit the market, we embedded that in some of our courses.”

Bellevue University

MS and BS in Security Management
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005
800-756-7920
www.bellevue.edu

Bellevue University's accelerated MS and BS programs can be completed in 15-18 months, and are offered online and on-campus. “The security education atmosphere was at a slow, but consistent pace prior to Sept. 11,” says Greg Allen, program director of the undergraduate and graduate programs at Bellevue. “Since then, there has been a heightened realization that there is a need for an experienced leader within corporate security departments. It's all about credentials. Corporations are looking at individuals who are professionals; someone who has the training and who can step right in and perform the duties required with very little knowledge of the company.”

Coursework includes Risk Analysis and Security Surveys, Physical Security Methods, Security Administration and Management, Legal and Ethical Aspects of Security, Fundamentals of Homeland Security, Effective Security Investigation, Threats of Terrorism, Contemporary Issues in Security Management, and Principles/Practices of Effective Emergency Planning.

University College at the University of Denver

Master Of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership (with a concentration in organizational security)
Certificate Of Advanced Study in Organizational Security2211 S. Josephine
Denver, CO 80208
303-871-3155
www.universitycollege.du.edu

University College is designed for working adult professionals, with both online and on-campus programs.

The master's program provides 21 core quarter hours in such subjects as Principled Leadership, Managerial Decision Making, Integrated PR and Marketing Strategies, Financial Analysis, Leading Organizational Change, and Graduate Research and Writing. Then students interested in security can choose an 18-hour concentration in Organizational Security (also available as a 24-hour Certificate of Advanced Study).

University of New Haven

BS in Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Private Security
Master's in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminal Justice Management
MS in National Security
300 Orange Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
800-342-5864
www.newhaven.edu/

The interdisciplinary program draws from the fields of criminal justice, forensic science, business administration, industrial engineering, and the behavioral sciences.

The National Security Program provides students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of the legal charter; presidential executive orders and the framework that guides the operation of national security agencies. Research issues in public safety emergency management and Homeland security are emphasized.

Farleigh Dickinson University

Graduate Certificate in Public Administration (new online tracks in Disaster and Emergency Management; and Security and Terrorism Studies)
BA in Criminal Justice with a Private Security Administration Concentration
Metropolitan Campus
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000
globaleducation@fdu.edu
www.fdu.edu

Fairleigh Dickinson offers several options for working security professionals. Most security classes are available online, and during evenings and weekends.

George Washington University

Master's of Forensic Sciences with a concentration in Security Management or High Technology Crime Investigation
2121 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20052
703-248-6205
www2.gwu.edu/~mastergw/index.html

George Washington University offers weekend and evening classes. Two security-related concentrations are offered at GWU's Arlington Graduate Center and are located at the Virginia Square Metro station in Arlington, Va.

The program allows students to develop advanced decision-making and problem-solving skills to gather and synthesize information and to conduct threat assessments and security surveys of facilities.

Indiana State University

Certificate in Private Security
Terre Haute, IN 47809
1-888-488-0959
http://web.indstate.edu/crim

Indiana State University offers a basic or advanced Certificate in Private Security without ever visiting the campus. All courses are available online or through correspondence. The nine-credit-hour Basic Certificate requires study in Criminology; Institutional, Industrial, and Commercial Security; and Crime Prevention. The 18-hour Advanced Certificate adds on courses in the Law of Criminal Justice, Correctional Reports and Records, and Criminal Investigation.

Johns Hopkins University

School of Professional Studies in Business and Education
Graduate Certificate in Risk Communication in Organizations (see Lesson 2 on page 53.)
BS in Business Management with emphasis in Security Management
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
Phone: 410-516-7820
Fax: 410-516-6697
www.spsbe.jhu.edu

Students can earn a BS in Business Management with a concentration in Security Management in only 2.5 years through John Hopkins University's Advancing Business Professionals (ABP) Accelerated Format. Evening and Saturday classes are held in four 10-week sessions per year.

Courses include Security Management; Asset Protection; Assessment, Management and Mitigation of Risks; Private Security Investigations; Terrorism: Impact and Implications; Workplace Violence: Preparation, Prevention, and Response; Crisis Management; Information Assurance Principles (formerly System Security); Counterespionage for American Business; and Legal Environment of Asset Protection.

Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University

MBA with Concentrations in Security Management or Information Security
Graduate Certificate in Information Security
888-KELLER8 (888-535-5378)
www.keller.edu

Classes at Keller Graduate School are offered on evenings and weekends in 74 locations in 21 states. MBA classes are also offered online.

Devry pledges to offer “practitioner-oriented graduate management education that focuses on the applied management concepts and skills required for success in a global economy.”

Terms are provided in 16-week semesters divided into two eight-week sessions. Accelerated Scheduling, including Saturday classes, allows MBA students to complete their degree in less than a year-and-a-half.

Eastern Kentucky University

BA/BS and MA/MS in Loss Prevention and Safety
Stratton 250
Richmond, KY 40475
606-622-1009
www.lossprevention.eku.edu/

Eastern Kentucky University's programs emphasize traditional loss prevention topics and offer flexible options for students desiring a security management emphasis. Options include topical seminars on security topics; and independent study with a professor experienced in the security field. Students may also import nine hours of graduate study from another approved graduate program at an accredited university.

Lewis University

MS in Criminal Justice
Accelerated Master's in Public Safety Administration with a minor in Private Security/Loss Prevention Management
BA in Private Security/Loss Prevention Management
One University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446-2200
815-836-5502
http://www.lewisu.edu

For those in the Chicago metropolitan area, Lewis University offers afternoon and evening classes at satellite campuses for security-related degrees. Courses include Private Security Investigation, Security Organization and Management and Safety and Risk Analysis.

Up to 12 credit hours may be granted for “Life Experience” for security/loss prevention professionals currently working in the field.

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Certificate Program in Security Management
883 Broadway Street
Lowell, MA 01854
(800) 480-3190
www.uml.edu/default.asp

Fully available online and designed for security professionals without a Bachelor's degree, the Certificate Program in Security Management and Homeland Security at the University of Massachusetts Lowell can be applied toward UMass Lowell's part-time Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.

Courses include Introduction to Homeland Security, Physical Security, Security Management, Introduction to Information Security (Cyber Security), and electives such as Weapons of Mass Destruction, Terrorism, and Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes.

University of Detroit Mercy

MS in Security Administration
4001 W. McNichols Rd
PO Box 19900
Detroit, MI 48219-0900
313-993-1051
www.udmercy.edu

More than 50 percent of the participants in the Master of Science (M.S.) in Security Administration program are employed full-time. Course scheduling and individualized programs are designed to take advantage of students' backgrounds and to allow students to pursue the master's degree at their own pace. Courses, all of which are available in the afternoon or evening, include Security Systems and Crime Prevention, Computer and Information Security, Legal Issues, Organizational Behavior: Management Development, and Criminal Justice Process and Criminal Law.

Webster University

MA in Business and Organizational Security Management
MBA with emphasis in Business and Organizational Security Management
Graduate and Evening Student Admissions
470 E. Lockwood
St. Louis, MO 63119
314-968-7100
www.webster.edu or online.webster.edu
(for online program)
gadmit@webster.edu

At Webster University, programs are focused on management issues in corporate security. In addition, the MBA prepares executives for the quantitative aspects of running a division or company.

Both programs are offered fully online, or at on-campus locations.

Lesson 2:

Education With A Business Slant

In the corporate world, few departments have avoided the clicking beads of today's financial abacus. Almost every business decision is weighed according to potential return on investment, and corporate security measures are rarely an exception.

To accomplish objectives in this environment, today's security management personnel must be as eloquent in the language of business as their counterparts in finance, sales or operations.

“Many years ago, the focus was on physical security. Today, it takes a manager that understands accounting principles, technology, and electronics,” says Harvey Morley, a professor of security, ethics and criminal justice at California State University in Long Beach. “Ongoing education in a multiplicity of areas is critical to the success of the security role and function.”

Some educational institutions and industry associations have begun to respond to this demand with carefully crafted programs that address a variety of business and security topics.

The International Security Management Association held its 5th Annual ISMA Leadership Program last summer in conjunction with Georgetown University. The year-long program, which has produced 150 graduates since its inception in 2000, is designed as an intensive executive education and management development seminar. And, most recently, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and ASIS International partnered to present the Wharton/ASIS Program for Security Executives.

The two-week-long program is offered once a year at Wharton's Philadelphia campus. The participants complete lengthy readings before the first week of classes, attend one fast-paced week of classes (from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. each day) and then return to their jobs for three months. They attend another intensive week of classes and discussions before returning to their companies equipped with a 100-day business implementation plan.

Steven Chupa, CPP, a member of the ASIS International Executive Committee and security director, helped develop the program and recently underwent the grueling first week.

“Corporate security executives are attending meetings with leaders of corporations and making the business case for security. Unless these security executives provide a sound business justification, they will not be effective,” he says. “Security is like lab work. The researcher in the laboratory is an extremely bright person, but is this individual a good business person? There's a point when security practitioners begin to move up the corporate ladder. ASIS wanted to provide a strong business program in which the examples used in the classroom go back — not to business, but to security, so the people in our industry can become familiar with the business posture and become partners in the business relationship.”

John Hopkins University recently began offering a graduate certificate designed to improve risk decision-making within organizations, which can be applied to an MBA. Led by Dr. Beverly Sauer, the Certificate in Risk Communication in Organizations combines the strategy and practice of communication with quantitative and qualitative methods of risk assessment to improve risk decision-making within organizations.

The weeknight classes teach students to write communication plans, manage communication during a disaster, define stakeholder concerns and improve the everyday communication and dissemination of risk information in the workplace. Most important, say program planners, the Risk Communication in Organizations program will help organizations develop a comprehensive and strategic approach to communication that can be applied in non-life-threatening, strategic decision-making.

“I'm really interested in complex decision-making where there is a high level of uncertainty and very large consequences in human life. The real issue is that the more we document and articulate the reasons why we make decisions, the more likely we are to make good decisions,” Sauer says.

Among Insurance Assurance programs, Vermont's Norwich University has emerged with a degree program for working professionals that benefits their careers and their companies. Norwich University offers the Master of Science in Information Assurance (MSIA), an online program that focuses on protecting a company's information assets.

“We have a unique case study system that requires students to examine their own workplace and produce consulting reports on its information security posture,” says John Orlando, Certificate Program Director, Norwich University. “The employer receives consulting that would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the student gets valuable consulting experience.”

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