Security Studies
The master's program in Homeland Security Studies is moving to The Woodlands Center in the fall for new graduate students.
The program will continue to offer classes in Huntsville for the current cohort of second year masters’ students, as well as undergraduate classes for the Homeland Security Studies minor. The Department of Security Studies provides options to take graduate courses through online or face-to-face classes.
“We are looking to make the program increasingly accessible for folks working in the field within the Homeland Security Enterprise, while providing an opportunity for younger students to get experience by taking classes with veterans working in the discipline,” said Nadav Morag, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Security Studies. “it’s a win-win for students and professionals alike.”
The 36-hour master’s program also will offer three different tracks to address the unique needs of each student. The capstone/internship option provides an opportunity to work part-time for agencies or businesses in homeland security and present a shorter research paper on practical or policy issues. For those interested in academic pursuits, thesis track candidates produce a substantial scholarly research paper on issues of significance to the field. Finally, the third track allows working professionals to write a shorter research paper and to take an extra elective course.
To serve working professionals, in-person classes will be offered in the evening. The presence of practitioners will enhance the learning experiences for other students as they discuss real world issues and scenarios in the discipline.
The security studies program has grown significantly in the last few years, with nearly 100 students enrolled in the graduate program from across the state, nation, and world, including active military personnel in Germany and Afghanistan. With more undergraduate students signing up for security studies classes or the minor, the Department is working on offering an undergraduate degree in Homeland Security Studies in the future.
To address the growth, the Department will add a new faculty member this fall. Natalie D. Baker, Ph.D., currently is an assistant professor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. She specializes in emergency management and public health issues, most recently completing a study on the Ebola scare in the United States. She also conducted other research examining the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and earthquake preparedness in southern California.
The Department also is assembling 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.
The Homeland Security Studies program delivers core courses in the foundations of security studies, unconventional threats, research methods, critical infrastructure protection, security and management, emergency management, ethics and law, and a global perspective. Electives include cybersecurity, Information and Intelligence, and other Special Topics. Summer classes also are available online.
The deadline to apply for the fall semester is July 1. For more information, contact Vivian Carlson at vxc003@shsu.edu or (936) 294-1646 or visit The Homeland Security Studies web site.
