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Science and Security Minor

The Science & Security (SS) minor is open to all majors and is administered by the director of Science and Security in the Department of International Studies. SS courses may also be taken as electives without the minor.

Purpose: The Science & Security minor integrates the study of engineering, science, and social science to produce graduates prepared for careers in national and homeland security, including positions in government agencies (FBI, CIA, DIA, NSA, and the Department of Homeland Security), private research and public policy institutes (Institute for Defense Analysis, Center for Strategic and International Studies, ANSER, and RAND), and in the legislative branch as congressional aides and on committee and sub-committee staffs.

Requirements: Admission requires approval from the cadet's major adviser, department head, and the director of Science & Security.

Must have a 3.0 GPA to be admitted

Must complete seven 3 credit hour courses (total of 21 credit hours) as follows:

Required coursework:

SS 360 (IS) National Security and Homeland Defense Seminar

SS 347 (IS) Science Technology and International Relations

SS 458 (Interdisciplinary) Capstone Research Experience.

Must complete three more courses from the following: 

  • SS 340 (BI) Biological Agents in Warfare and Terrorism
  • SS 343 (CE) Environmental Terrorism
  • SS 342 (CH) Chemical/Radiological Agents & their Forensic Detection
  • SS 343 (CS) Computer Forensics
  • SS 344 (MA), The Making and Breaking of Codes
  • SS 345 (CS) Information Security

The Science and Security Minor is supported in part by the Jackson-Hope Fund.