Security and Risk Analysis, Minor

Program Code: SRA_UMNR

Program Description

The minor in Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) is intended to familiarize students with the general frameworks and multidisciplinary theories that define security and related risk analysis. Course work will engage students in the challenges and problems of assuring information confidentiality and integrity (e.g., social, economic, technology, and policy issues) as well as the strengths and weaknesses of various methods for assessing and mitigating associated risk in the students' major field.

The minor provides a grounding in analysis and modeling used in information search, visualization and creative problem solving. This knowledge is set in the context of legal, ethical and regulatory issues of security including analysis of privacy and security law, internal control standards, regulatory policies and basic investigative processes and principles. Such understanding overviews the information technology that plays a critical role in identifying, preventing and responding to security-related events in the student's major field.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You want to protect people, information, and assets from manmade and natural threats.
  • You want to understand the role of data in protecting individuals, organizations and our nation.
  • You are mission oriented, a good critical thinker and wish to put your problem-solving skills to work to make the world a safer place.
  • You want to make informed strategic decisions that help to defend critical infrastructures that supports our daily lives.

Program Requirements

Requirement Credits
Requirements for the Minor 21

Requirements for the Minor

At least 6 credits must be at the 400 level.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
SRA 111Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis Keystone/General Education Course3
SRA 211Threat of Terrorism and Crime3
SRA 221Overview of Information Security3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
IST 140Introduction to Application Development3
or CMPSC 101 Introduction to Programming Keystone/General Education Course
IST 220Networking and Telecommunications3
or SRA 231 Decision Theory and Analysis
Select 6 credits of the following:6
Legal and Regulatory Environment of Information Science and Technology
Network Security
Legal and Regulatory Environment of Privacy and Security
Legal, Regulatory, Policy Environment of Cyber Forensics
Computer and Cyber Forensics
Information Security Management
The Intelligence Environment
Spatial Analysis of Risks
Informatics, Risk, and the Post-Modern World
Crisis Informatics

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Undergraduate Academic Advising Center
E103 Westgate Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8947
advising@ist.psu.edu

Abington

Joseph Oakes
Program Chair
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
267-633-3316
jxo19@psu.edu

Beaver

Michelle Kurtyka
Assistant to the Director of Academic Affairs
100 University Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
724-773-3824
mck15@psu.edu

Berks

Tricia Clark
Program Coordinator, Instructor
Gaige 211
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6349
BKSecRiskAnalysis@psu.edu

Mont Alto

Paul Bart
Lecturer, IST
6 Bookstore Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6241
pjb159@psu.edu

New Kensington

Harold Smith
Associate Professor
3550 Seventh Street Rd.
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6138
hhs10@psu.edu

Scranton

Debra Smarkusky
Associate Professor
212F Dawson
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2593
dls102@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu

Career Paths

The Security and Risk Analysis program responds to the expanding need for a highly trained analytic workforce to address a wide range of security and risk domains including national/homeland security, emergency and disaster management, law and crime, as well as enterprise risk management. The SRA degree prepares students to be future leaders to address the current and emerging security and risk challenges that face individuals, organizations and our nation. IST's Office of Career Solutions helps students navigate internship and career development through coaching, workshops, interview preparation, resume reviews, career fairs, job postings, and networking opportunities.

Careers

Security and Risk Analysis students may specialize in risk domains ranging from national security to community emergency preparedness and response. Because our courses blend technical knowledge with skills in communication and business, a Security and Risk Analysis degree allows students to pursue opportunities in intelligence, counterterrorism, computer forensics, and a number of other growing careers. SRA graduates work in a variety of fields, including defense, business, and emergency management; and many graduates go on to work for government intelligence agencies like the CIA, FBI, and NSA.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES WITH A MINOR IN SECURITY AND RISK ANALYSIS

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

With a focus on problem solving, critical thinking and the presentation of analytic findings, the SRA program is a great stepping-stone to graduate education and higher learning. Many SRA graduates will go on to pursue graduate degrees in fields like law, cyber security, and data science. The foundational skills obtained in the SRA degree directly apply to graduate education.

Contact

University Park

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
411 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub Building
State College, PA 16801
814-865-3528

Abington

DIVISION OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
267-633-3316
jxo19@psu.edu

https://www.abington.psu.edu/joseph-oakes

Beaver

100 University Drive
Monaca, PA 15061
724-773-3824
mck15@psu.edu

Berks

EBC DIVISION
Gaige Building
Reading, PA
610-396-6349
BKSecRiskAnalysis@psu.edu

https://ist.psu.edu/current/undergraduate/minors/security-risk-analysis

Mont Alto

6 Bookstore Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6241
pjb159@psu.edu

https://montalto.psu.edu/directory/baccalaureate-information-technology-program

New Kensington

3550 Seventh Street Rd.
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6138
hhs10@psu.edu

Scranton

212F Dawson
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2593
dls102@psu.edu

https://scranton.psu.edu/academics/minors-programs/security-and-risk-analysis

World Campus

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
411 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub Building
State College, PA 16801
814-865-3528

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-security-and-risk-analysis-minor