Program Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Courses
Program Description
The Master of Science in Security Studies is a unique program that provides a comprehensive security management program to individuals wanting to advance their knowledge, skills, and qualifications within the dynamic field of security. This specialized degree program will produce professionals who are best qualified to meet the intersecting demands of the criminal justice system and homeland security. The broad educational objective of the program is to graduate managers and leaders, individuals who will possess expertise in both theoretical and experiential dimensions of security management.
Admission
Admission considerations include: (1) an undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution in an allied field; (2) official transcripts of all academic coursework previously undertaken; (3) test scores from the Graduate Record Examination; (4) at least three letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors referencing the applicant’s ability to perform graduate work; (5) a current resume; and (6) a personal essay regarding career background and goals. International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) is required.
A holistic review of each student’s application will be completed on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Security Studies may be completed with or without a thesis.
Plan 1 - MS in Security Studies (Thesis)
| Notes: |
| 1 | Once enrolled in CJ 699 <CRIJ 6399> Thesis, students must enroll in this course in every semester until graduation.* |
Once enrolled in CJ 699 <CRIJ 6399> Thesis, students must enroll in this course in every semester until graduation. Effective Summer 2012, graduate students will take dissertation/thesis classes for 3 credit hours until they have completed the degree requirements (12 hours for dissertations; 6 hours for thesis); then they may sign up for 1 credit hour for continuous enrollment. Students do not have to sign up for thesis/dissertation classes during the summer if they are not working on their thesis/dissertation or if they are not graduating or working on their portfolio. If students do not stay continuously enrolled, they will be back enrolled in 1 semester hour and have to pay for the course.
Plan 2 - MS in Security Studies (Non-thesis)
| Notes: |
| 1 | CJ 670 <CRIJ 6370> must be taken twice for a total of 6 credit hours. |