New Undergraduate Program in Homeland Security Studies Now Accepting Applications

The College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University is introducing a new undergraduate major in the Department of Security Studies. The new online undergraduate major in Homeland Security Studies introduces students to the broad theory and mission of homeland security and some of the specialty areas that have developed to protect the public against natural and other disasters.

The security studies program has grown significantly in the last few years, with nearly 100 students enrolled in the graduate program from around the world, including active military personnel in Germany and Afghanistan. With increasing numbers of undergraduate students signing up for security studies classes for the minor, the Department is excited to fill an obvious need by offering an undergraduate degree option.

Students can choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. The Bachelor of Science has some flexibility in the curriculum allowing for degree-specific electives in the social sciences, while the Bachelor of Arts requires additional hours of a foreign language (e.g., Spanish, French, American Sign Language, etc.). Students will have the option of taking their general education requirements and some of the other coursework face-to-face.

“This coursework will broaden their horizons beyond traditional criminal justice fields so that they have a better understanding of the role of law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies in the larger picture of cooperating with other non-CJ agencies, as well as the private sector in coping with major challenges to the security and stability of the nation,” said Nadav Morag, department chair and associate professor

Homeland Security Studies is a newer discipline that emerged as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and has expanded to include a wide variety of security and public safety areas. The broad educational objective is to develop thinkers, analysts, managers, and leaders who possess expertise in both theoretical and experiential dimensions of homeland security.

Morag hopes to expand the program, by developing not only practitioners who will serve in the field, but also scholars who will lead research on emerging issues. The Department currently offers a Master’s in Homeland Security, two certificate programs in Emergency Management and Critical Infrastructure Protection, and an undergraduate minor in Homeland Security.

“I think this is a good program, and it touches on all the main sub-fields of homeland security,” said Morag. “We have really great faculty, with expertise in a range of areas, and this will give students a broad and diverse outlook on the Homeland Security enterprise.”

Throughout his career, Morag has been heavily engaged in counterterrorism and homeland security policy in the United States and Israel. Based on his experience, Morag said government agencies are looking for practitioners who can think and communicate effectively.

The department chair also hopes to launch the first Ph.D. program in the nation in Homeland Security in the future, as well as to develop an executive education degree and certificate programs in Homeland Security for energy and/or healthcare companies in the Houston region.

Popular courses for the undergraduate program include:

• Border Security
• Homeland Security Intelligence
• Intelligence Analysis
• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Transportation Security
• Global Terrorism and Homeland Security
• Public Health in Homeland Security
• Water Security

The Department assembled an Advisory Board of leaders in the Homeland Security Enterprise to ensure that the curriculum offered remains relevant to the field. The advisory board also will help the program to develop new classes as the discipline evolves.

Applications for the program are now available. For more information, contact Vivian Carlson at vxc003@shsu.edu or (936) 294-1646 or visit the Homeland Security Studies website.