Security Management Degree Programs


Security management degree programs are a leading career choice for individuals to pursue a specific area of security. However, persons considering such a career have to decide what area of security management they want to pursue and what level of training they need. The training for security careers can range from a two-year associate degree to a PhD. A person has to decide if he wants to be in the field, in a management position or does he intends to be in an educational or consulting division.

What is a Career in Security Management?

Many people do not understand security personnel. A search of the Internet about average pay for security personnel shows the first two pages, are dominated by links about what armed and unarmed security guards working in banks, bowling alleys, department stores, or other similar facilities, make each year. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how much a person going into security management will earn each year.

As the accepted definition of security personnel grows beyond the typical uniform guard to include people who work for government agencies, police departments, and private companies with people to protect and computerized information to guard, the range of salaries will become more apparent than they are today.

Thus, knowing that it is not easy to predict what kind of salary will be offered for that first job, the decision has to be made regarding what the next step will be. There are many options, but there is one thing to remember. If security management offers a serious interest, then pursuing a degree will help provide the qualifications that may be needed in the future.

Making The First Decision

When determining the best degree choice, an individual must decide whether a security degree is going to lead to the desired career. If not, is it going to be a temporary job to try out or used to lead into another field? Thus, it is best to have an idea of what the various security careers are about.

What Skills are Required to be a Security Manager?

According to a number of Internet sources, security management can include loss prevention, data protection, intrusion detection, and physical security. Thus, a range of skills, including beginning police observation and investigative skills can be a good starting point. Knowing the use of primary security equipment and the basics of endpoint protection, which is a policy-based approach to network security, can also be helpful when seeking that first job.

Finding the Right Security Career

There is no clear path to the perfect job. Therefore, making the right choice depends on what type of security career someone is interested in and any prior experience. A person with expertise in loss prevention may not be suitable for securing computer files. Previous experience in law enforcement, military activity, and primary computer security may provide an advantage when trying to determine a specialty or earn a security degree.

If the time permits, the student may combine online courses with some practical training for the desired security job. Assuming the interested candidate is looking at a traditional college education and is starting out at the bachelor’s degree level, there are many schools that offer degrees in different types of security. A search of the Internet will provide a multitude of “Top 10” lists. This is where the potential student has to start making some decisions.

Finding The Top 10 Security Schools

When selecting the best school to attend, the potential student has to determine several things. The student must know if he has a specific career goal, or is he going to use the school as a means of determining his future career.

The Security Degree Hub is a good starting point for finding a top security school. Individuals with a degree in security find work in law enforcement, security consultants, emergency management, and homeland security. When looking for a degree individuals should consider the purpose of getting a degree, future employment options, completion time, and leading post-grad opportunities.

Additionally, it may not be practical for some people to attend a program because of location and expenses. Therefore, the option of obtaining an online degree may be a viable option.

Can You Earn a Security Management Degree Online?

Yes. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in security management as well as a certificate online. There is also the possibility of pursuing a master’s degree in security. At this point, the degrees are more specialized in fields such as homeland security, information technology, computer systems security, and cyber security. In addition, many companies will have a niche job for a person versed in many forms of security who may be responsible for managing contracted specialists in specific fields.

Furthermore, while “security degree management” is perhaps the broadest term that can be used, there are related specialized degrees. These include cyber security, public safety, emergency management, homeland defense, terrorism, homeland security, information security, criminal justice, and corporate security.

Do Not Limit Your Options

People with professional and academic security training will be able to seek jobs in both the public and private sectors. The United States employs civilian security experts for some areas and depends on the military for providing security in other areas. Thus, selecting the desired security-related task must be remembered when deciding what course of study you want to take. There are countless ads on the Internet and in other places advertising for security personnel. Some of these jobs are for highly trained people. Others might be for people who can work as bouncers at a bar—it is still a form of security.

Therefore, when seeking a security position, make sure it is a job or career for which proper training has been completed. Even if the degree has not been earned, check the Internet, newspapers, and other sources to see what security jobs might be available. Reading the ads and getting a head start on understanding the underlying meanings of the advertising jargon will prove beneficial when you start to look for that first security job.

Is Security Management a Good Degree and Career?

This is a field that will be fulfilling and satisfying over the years to come. Any career requires a considerable investment of time. Some people manage to use that investment to switch to a different but similar career, while others sometimes have to start from the beginning and learn a whole new skill set.

Study the available jobs. Talk to security people. Do not depend on what is taught within the classroom as being your only source of information. Talking to people already in that field can offer major advantages in the future.

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