SRA Degree Options

Students in the Security and Risk Analysis major can choose from three degree options in order to focus their studies in a particular area:

Intelligence Analysis and Modeling — Teaches students how to calculate, evaluate, and predict risk in a variety of fields, including business and national security. To enter this option, you should be able to think critically and have an interest in learning how to protect vital infrastructure against subversive attacks. Students in this option complete projects such as evaluating the risk of putting information on Facebook according to the site’s privacy settings.

Information and Cyber Security — As people continue to shift more of their business and personal interactions to the Internet, the need for professionals who can keep information and data secure is growing. This option teaches students how to deal with security and privacy concerns in all types of organizations, and make sure that computer operating systems and related products are secure. For example, you will learn how to effectively “police” the area of cyberspace your employer occupies to ensure that it is free from cyber crime.

Social Factors and Risk — In this option, students explore the psychological and sociological causes of terrorism and crime, and how information technology is transforming each. In the classroom, students work on teams in which they role-play both terrorists and criminals and the intelligence and security officers combating them. This option also examines the privacy policies and legal regulations within companies and the government. Students learn to critically read privacy policies and understand government regulation so they can help improve their own privacy policies and ensure users that the data they provide is secure.