At which campus can I study this program?
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).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| SRA 111 | Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis  | 3 |
| SRA 211 | Threat of Terrorism and Crime | 3 |
| SRA 221 | Overview of Information Security | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| IST 140 | Introduction to Application Development | 3 |
| or CMPSC 101 | Introduction to Programming | |
| IST 220 | Networking and Telecommunications | 3 |
| 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
114B Dawson
120 Ridge View Drive
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2593
dls102@psu.edu
Wilkes-Barre
Brian Reese
Program Co-Coordinator, IT
44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9277
bzr5097@psu.edu
World Campus
Undergraduate Academic Advising
100 Innovation Blvd
Suite 225
University Park, PA 16803
814-863-3283
advising@worldcampus.psu.edu
York
Bill Cantor
Assistant Teaching Professor in Information Sciences and Technology
1031 Edgecomb Ave.
York, PA 17403
717-771-4143
wpc2@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.
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
114B Dawson
120 Ridge View Drive
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2593
dls102@psu.edu
https://scranton.psu.edu/academics/minors-programs/security-and-risk-analysis
Wilkes-Barre
44 University Drive
Dallas, PA 18612
570-675-9277
bzr5097@psu.edu
World Campus
COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
411 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub Building
State College, PA 16801
814-865-3528
York
1031 Edgecomb Ave.
York, PA 17403
717-771-4143
wpc2@psu.edu