Information on Master’s Degree Programs in Corporate Security
Majors Overview September 17, 2015This article talks about master’s degree programs in corporate security and their educational requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master’s Programs in Corporate Security
Schools offer corporate security graduate programs under various degree formats and program names. These include a Master of Science (M.S.) in Professional Security Studies, Master of Arts (M.A.) in Security Management, and MS in National Security Studies with a corporate security concentration. Enrollees in these programs gain expertise in the prediction, identification and evaluation of every type of corporate security threat. Additionally, the focus of program coursework is on the establishment and maintenance of business continuity in response to these disruptions. Schools offer programs in both on-campus and online formats. Program coursework usually takes 1-2 years to complete.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to submit all graduate and undergraduate transcripts, apart from letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and an admissions essay. Individuals seeking admission to programs devised to suit the needs of working security professionals may have to submit proof of work experience. A criminal background check is a common requirement for admittance at most schools offering these programs.
Coursework
Program coursework nearly always includes a capstone project or a master’s thesis. A set number of credit hours are assigned per term for students to work on their thesis after they complete core coursework that covers topic areas such as:
•Corporate threat analysis
•Statistical methodology
•Corporate counterintelligence
•Electronic security
•Crisis management
Career Choices
Program graduates can seek senior security positions in local and federal governments, the corporate sphere, the non-profit sector and education. They can choose from possible job positions such as:
•Director of loss prevention
•Business continuity consultant
•Security Manager
•Chief security officer
Job and Wage Outlook
In May 2014, PayScale.com reported that most security managers brought in an annual wage ranging from $31,771 to $101,559; the average annual wage was $57,499. Experienced security managers earned $61,419 per annum, on average.
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates who seek continuing education may enroll in doctoral degree programs in security and risk management or homeland security. They may also attend continuing education courses and seminars, where working security professional are allowed to stay abreast of the ever-changing world of corporate security risks.
