Security and Risk Analysis, B.S. (Berks)

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) in the College of Information Sciences and Technology 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.

SRA program prepares students with core competence in four knowledge areas:

1. understanding the fundamentals of security, risk, analytic methods and decision support for the purpose of recognizing, articulating, and addressing analytic needs;
2. understanding the roles of data and analytics in various security domains and organizational contexts;
3. applying data analytics, methods, and tools (structured analytics; data gathering and manipulation; visual analytics; analytic judgements and presentation) to derive and communicate insights and actionable knowledge;
4. the legal, ethical, and professional issues within which analytics of security and risk are conducted.

Students may specialize in risk domains ranging from national security to community emergency preparedness and response. The SRA program positions our students to be future leaders to address the current and emerging security and risk challenges that face individuals, organizations and our nation.

SRA majors will choose one of the following options:

Intelligence Analysis and Modeling Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park, World Campus

This option focuses on developing a more thorough knowledge of the strategic and tactical levels of intelligence collection, analysis, and decision-making. This includes examining the foundations of decision analysis, economic theory, statistics, data mining, and knowledge management, as well as the security-specific contexts in which such knowledge is applied.

Information and Cyber Security Option

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Berks, Harrisburg, University Park, World Campus

This option includes a set of courses that provides an understanding of the theories, skills, and technologies associated with network security, cyber threat defense, information warfare, and critical infrastructure protection across multiple venues.

What is Security and Risk Analysis?

Security and risk analysis is a field that explores the integrated processes conducted to provide decision-makers with the information needed to understand factors that can negatively influence operations and outcomes, and make informed judgments concerning the extent of actions needed to reduce vulnerabilities, protect resources, and optimize investments. Security and risk analysis is a field of practice with two blended concentration areas: 1) security, which seeks to identify, understand, and analyze critical local, national and international security issues, and 2) risk, which includes risk assessment, risk characterization, risk communication, risk management, and the formulation of risk policy. In practice, the issues and processes for conducting of security and risk analytics are neither separate nor sequential. To be effective, the issues of security and risk must be addressed concurrently and synergistically.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITY AND RISK ANALYSIS

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.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY STUDENTS CHOOSE TO STUDY SECURITY AND RISK ANALYSIS

Entrance to Major

In addition to the minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements described in the University Policies*, all Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) entrance to major course requirements must also be completed with a minimum grade of C: IST 140 (or equivalent CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121), IST 210, SRA 111, and SRA 211. All of these courses must be completed by the end of the semester during which the admission to major process is carried out.

* In the event that the major is under enrollment control, a higher minimum cumulative grade-point average is likely to be needed at the time of confirming their major choice.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Security and Risk Analysis, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

15 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GS courses; and 3 credits of GWS courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
CYBER 221	Overview of Information Security	3
IST 110	Information, People and Technology	3
IST 210	Organization of Data	3
IST 432	Legal and Regulatory Environment of Information Science and Technology	3
IST 495	Internship	1
SRA 111	Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis	3
SRA 211	Threat of Terrorism and Crime	3
SRA 231	Decision Theory and Analysis	3
STAT 200	Elementary Statistics	4
Additional Courses
ENGL 202C	Effective Writing: Technical Writing	3
or ENGL 202D	Effective Writing: Business Writing
PSYCH 100	Introductory Psychology	3
or SOC 5	Social Problems
Select one of the following:		3
AGBM 101	Economic Principles of Agribusiness Decision Making
ECON 102	Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
ECON 104	Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
Select one of the following:		3-5
MATH 22	College Algebra With Analytic Geometry and Applications II
MATH 26	Plane Trigonometry and Applications of Trigonometry
MATH 40
MATH 41	Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
MATH 110	Techniques of Calculus I
MATH 140	Calculus With Analytic Geometry I
Select one of the following:		3
GEOG 128	Geography of International Affairs
PLSC 1	American Politics: Principles, Processes and Powers
PLSC 14	International Relations
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
SRA 365	Statistics for Security and Risk Analysis	3
or STAT 460	Intermediate Applied Statistics
Select one of the following:		3
CMPSC 101	Introduction to Programming
CMPSC 121	Introduction to Programming Techniques
IST 140	Introduction to Application Development
Requirements for the Option
Select an option		30-36

Requirements for the Option

Intelligence Analysis and Modeling Option (36 credits)

Available at the following campuses: University Park, World Campus

Information and Cyber Security Option (30 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Altoona, Berks, Harrisburg, University Park, World Campus

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Program Learning Objectives

• Understand and apply the interdisciplinary, theoretical knowledge of the information sciences or security sciences
  • Define and explain the core concepts, principles, processes, an theories within the academic majors of IST and/or SRA
  • Apply the core concepts of the academic majors of IST and/or SRA to real-world problems
  • Apply the core concepts of information and security sciences to an extended work assignment
• Understand, apply and adopt various problem solving strategies, using appropriate technology and methods
  • Identify information problems and/or opportunities in terms of the human, informational and technology dimensions
  • Analyze issues surrounding the problem and/or opportunity in terms of the human, informational, and technology dimensions; and determine the requirements appropriate to understanding the situation
  • Design systems, architectures, processes, components, or programs to meet desired needs of the human context at varying levels of analysis
  • Deploy up-to-date and appropriate techniques, methodologies, and/or tools necessary for understanding opportunities and constraints and/or the optimal design, implementation and continuance of an information based solution
  • Evaluate the success of systems, architecture, processes, components, or programs intended to meet desired needs of the human context at varying levels of analysis
• Communicate and work effectively (both individually and in teams) with a range of perspectives and audiences through a variety of media
  • Participate effectively on teams in order to accomplish a common goal
  • Communicate effectively with a range of audiences, formally or informally, through writing and the spoken word
  • Seek out, analyze, and incorporate diverse ideas and broader perspectives represented in the diversity of people
  • Make respectful and inclusive choices in interacting with customers, peers, supervisors, and/or subordinates with a diversity of identity characteristics
• Understand professional responsibilities in terms of the ethical, legal, security and social aspects of any given problem and its solution
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the cognitive, social, legal, ethical, diversity, and security perspectives surrounding a given problem
  • Assess the impact of information, computing and technology on individuals, groups, organizations, society, and the world for the purpose of making informed decisions from a sociological, governmental, legal, and/or security perspective
• Commit to the continuous acquisition of relevant knowledge for professional development by self-teaching and/or on-going education and learning
  • Employ information-seeking strategies in pursuit of current knowledge
  • Engage in self-directed learning to meet professional goals
  • Enroll in professional development and tutoring opportunities

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

Berks

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

Altoona

David Barnes
Teaching Professor, Information Sciences and Technology
Penn Building 212C, 3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5275
drb21@psu.edu

Harrisburg

Andrew B. Morrow
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, E355
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6160
abm140@psu.edu

University Park

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

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
100 Innovation Blvd
Suite 225
University Park, PA 16803
814-863-3283
advising@worldcampus.psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Information & Cyber Security Option: Security and Risk Analysis, B.S. at Berks Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

For General Education Course notations, please be sure to include three (3) credits of United States (US) Cultures and three (3) credits of International (IL) Cultures. Consult adviser for details.

²

The following courses are offered Fall Semester only: IST 432, PLSC 1, SRA 211, SRA 311, SRA 365.

³

The following courses are offered Spring Semester only: CYBER 451, CYBER 456, IST 210, PLSC 14, SRA 231.

⁴

For Support of Option Requirement, consult adviser for list.

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

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 OF THE SECURITY AND RISK ANALYSIS PROGRAM

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

Berks

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

https://berks.psu.edu/academics/baccalaureate-degrees/bs-security-risk-analysis

Altoona

DIVISION OF BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Penn Building 212C, 3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5275
drb21@psu.edu

https://altoona.psu.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/security-risk-analysis

Harrisburg

DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY AND RISK ANALYSIS
Olmsted Building E355
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6731
ajh18@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/business-administration/security-risk-analysis-bs

University Park

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

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-information-and-cybersecurity-bachelor-of-science-degree