Michigan State offers security master's degree on the Internet

Feb 1, 1999 12:00 PM, George Partington

Want to advance in your career but have little time for graduate school? What if the graduate school came to you? Michigan State University has such a program, the MSU virtual university, and its latest offering is a master's of science degree in criminal justice with a security management specialization.

The virtual university, also offered by Michigan State's schools of nursing, computer sciences and engineering, instructs students throughout the world over the World Wide Web.

Radford Jones, academic specialist and project director for the Internet security master's program, says Target department stores approached the university in August 1997 about providing advanced degrees for their asset protection personnel. The general merchandise retailer had 19 students ready to enter the program. One law enforcement officer joined the initial group, and classes began in January 1998.

Qualifications for the two-year program, which are no different than those required of traditional students, include a 50 percentile or higher score on the Graduate Record Exam, a 3.2 grade-point average, three letters of reference and a personal statement outlining reasons for entering the program. If prospective students do not meet all the criteria, a review committee may admit them as provisional students. "Maybe they don't score that well, but have shown success in work history," says Jones. "They have the discipline and work attributes to be successful in the master's degree program."

The first students to receive a master's in security management from the virtual school of criminal justice will graduate in December 1999. The degree, and the work required to earn it, will be no different than if the students had attended classes at the East Lansing, Mich., campus.

"We've taken the same program that is offered on campus - 10 courses, 30 credits - and we've put it in the Internet format," says Jones. "It is available to the student by going on-line and entering his or her student identification password."

Jones says the virtual university is for working professionals who are unable to attend classes on campus.

Class discussion, led by a professor, is a part of a virtual class. Students can enter a discussion "room," see what other students are saying and what points the instructor is putting across, and, with a few keystrokes, add to the discussion. Professors also have office hours for live on-line discussion or for phone calls.

Students have on-line access to the MSU library. If they need a book or other materials, they e-mail the library, and the materials are mailed within 48 hours. The MSU Writing Center is available on-line to assist with writing and research.

In addition to gaining expertise in their field, students are learning how to use new technology to conduct business around the world, notes Jones. "We have had people in their 40s and 50s who aren't computer literate, and they are working with it and learning it," he says.

For information; contact Radford Jones at 517-355-2227; e-mail rad.jones@ssc.msu.edu; Web site www.vu.msu.edu.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue