B.S., Security and Risk Analysis
Analyze. Mitigate. Communicate. Protect.
Having a highly trained analytic workforce is critical to protecting the critical assets and infrastructure that support our everyday lives. The B.S., Security and Risk Analysis program positions you to develop these analytical skills that can prepare you to address the security and risk challenges facing individuals, organizations, and the nation. By understanding how intelligence is collected and analyzed, you can communicate the information needed to help decision-makers reduce vulnerabilities, protect resources, and optimize investments.
Is Security and Risk Analysis Right for Me?
SRA combines technology with math, law and policy, and psychology, enabling you to create a safer and more secure world. This program could be a great fit if you want to
- protect people, information, and assets from manmade and natural threats
- leverage critical thinking and problem-solving to pursue mission-oriented work
- make informed strategic decisions that help to defend critical infrastructures
What You'll Study
Gain foundational knowledge and state-of-the-art skills needed to protect critical assets and infrastructure by exploring topics like these.
- Threats of Terrorism and Crime
- Intelligence Environment
- Deception and Counter Deception
- Decision Theory and Analysis
- Risk Analysis in a Security Context
- International Relations
- Visual Analytics
Support of Option Courses
Support of option courses add value to your degree and educational experience by taking courses around a cohesive theme like these.
- Business
- Communications
- Crime/Criminology
- Cybersecurity
- Geography
- Global Security
- Military Studies
National Center of Academic Excellence
The College of IST is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. SRA graduates can earn a Letter of Recognition and Certificate of Achievement from these agencies, which certify that the student graduated from an institution and program whose security-related faculty, resources, curricula, and commitment were evaluated and found to be of high quality.
Earn a B.S. and M.S. at the Same Time
You can pursue a B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis and a master's degree at the same time through the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) degree program. IUGs make it possible to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years!
The Power of Internships
Every Security and Risk Analysis student must complete at least one internship before graduating—most complete more than one, and 84% receive a job offer from an internship provider. With hundreds of organizations recruiting and a dedicated Career Solutions team to support you, you'll have the tools and opportunities to launch your career.
View Past Internships
"I love that I can take classes to explore my interests and get the knowledge I need for my career. Faculty bring professional experience to help me better understand how to apply what I'm learning to the real world."
Azziyah LaRue '24
Discover Your Career
Technology is ever-changing, and so are the careers that create, use, and study it. As you work toward your degree, you’ll identify and refine your career interests through courses, student organizations, and experiential opportunities. With guidance and resources from our dedicated Career Solutions team—from your first job to the executive suite—you'll gain the technical expertise, business savvy, and communication skills to lead in business, health care, defense, technology, and countless other industries.
Intelligence Research Analyst
Collects, evaluates, analyzes, and interprets information to provide insights that support decision-making in national security, law enforcement, business strategy, or competitive intelligence.
Cybersecurity Engineer
Focuses on designing systems resilient to disruptions, from natural disasters to malicious acts, ensuring solutions meet functional requirements while preventing misuse through security policies.
Computer Forensics Specialist
Assists law enforcement in cyber crimes by evaluating attacks, collecting evidence, and extracting data to identify the attack type, perpetrator, and stolen information.
Counter-Terrorism Analyst
Analyzes intelligence data on terrorist groups, discerns relevant information, and assesses their plans and capabilities to communicate findings effectively.
Technology Advisor
Provides expert advice and detailed information in a specialized field, guiding organizations to ensure safe, effective practices and informed decision-making in complex or high-risk scenarios.
Application Security Specialist
Conducts security assessments, improves application security practices, and educates development teams to ensure delivery of secure, reliable software.
Cyberthreat Advisor
Analyzes the threat landscape and recommends security measures to help companies understand and prepare for cyber risks.
Data Visualization Specialist
Creates visualizations and analytical tools to address targeted problems, enhancing data understanding, knowledge distillation, and decision-making by bridging computational systems with human analytical skills.
Network and Systems Security Analyst
Protects the usability and integrity of networks and data, using hardware and software technologies to manage access and prevent threats from entering or spreading.
Red Cell Analytics Lab
Through mentored research, experiential learning opportunities, and student organizations like the Red Cell Analytics Lab, Security and Risk Analysis students can extend learning far beyond the classroom. The Red Cell Analytics Lab collaborates with Penn State and external partners to engage students in addressing real-world problems through structured analytics, critical thinking, and visual analytics.
