Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Organizational Security and Management
Majors Overview March 8, 2015Get information about bachelor’s degree programs in organizational security and management and their educational requirements, coursework, career choices, and job and wage outlook.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Organizational Security and Management
Schools offer numerous bachelor’s degree programs in this area, including the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Security Management or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Organizational Security Management. Students enrolled in the programs learn about every aspect of the security profession and its many industries. Security professionals with greater technical competence in the international as well as national arenas enjoy a growing demand.
Students learn about security processes typically employed in the private security and criminal justice industries. There is a combination in the coursework of technical and management skills including crisis management, human resources management, budgeting, or information security with a focus on managing organizational security systems and teams. Many programs focus on terrorism as well as homeland security, which is a related field.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma, in addition to submitting to physical fitness tests in some schools. Schools also expect prospective students to submit a personal essay, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and high school transcripts.
Coursework
The diverse skill set required in security management often serves to make coursework interdisciplinary in nature and may include courses in areas such as political science, criminal justice, computer science, and business. Core coursework may include topic areas such as the following:
•Terrorism
•Principles of investigation
•Homeland security
•Human resources management
•Information processing
•Industrial safety
•Global security issues
Career Choices
Those who complete a bachelor’s degree program in security management can seek jobs in various industries, including numerous international employers. They can look into job titles such as:
•Homeland security advisor
•Counter-terrorism consultant
•Prison human resources manager
•Private investigator
•Building security manager
•Correctional officer
•Information security specialist
Job and Wage Outlook
A 12% employment growth rate has been predicted for security guards over the 2010 – 2020 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these workers brought home an average annual salary of $24,020 (BLS).
Private investigators and detectives, including loss prevention agents and corporate investigators, are expected to see a 11% growth during the same decade. In May 2012, these detectives and investigators brought home an average annual salary of $45,740 (BLS).
