Security & Strategic Intelligence, B.S.
Study trends in intelligence gathering surrounding such critical and timely topics as terrorism, homeland security, and cybercrime with a Bachelor of Science in Security and Strategic Intelligence. Offered through Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies you will acquire the skills you need through a robust curriculum with options to specialize in business continuity, global corporate security, or strategic intelligence. You will learn industry best practices and the critical thinking skills needed for securing data and facilities against external threats. Students graduate with the security, intelligence, and computer information systems skills needed to compete for highly coveted positions in a burgeoning strategic intelligence market.
As part of the School for Professional Studies, this online program offers you a flexible option to meet your personal career goals. With six start terms each year offered by SLU online, you can begin working toward your degree at any time. All courses are offered entirely online in 8-week terms, making advanced education more accessible for working professionals.
Careers
Careers for graduates with a degree in security and strategic intelligence - business continuity track include business continuity planners, business intelligence analysts, business operations specialists, and emergency/risk managers.
Careers for graduates with a security and strategic intelligence degree - strategic intelligence track include intelligence analysts, investigators, intelligence officers, special agents, and criminal investigators.
Careers for graduates with a degree in security and strategic intelligence - global corporate security track include security and asset managers, security management specialists, transportation security screeners, retail loss prevention specialists, loss prevention managers, and criminal investigators and special agents.
Admission Requirements
- Age: 22 years or older (exceptions may be made)
- Work Experience: At least three years or the equivalent
- Education: High school diploma or composite GED score of at least 2250
- Interview: Successful completion of a meeting with an academic coach (this can be done over the phone or on campus)
- Grade Point Average: Minimum transfer cumulative GPA of 2.5 (unless qualified for conditional admittance)
- Transcripts: Official transcripts from all institutions attended
Admission Procedures
Step 1 — Complete Application
Complete the application for admission online at https://www.slu.edu/online. Applications are accepted and processed on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply for admission at least one month before the term in which they wish to enroll.
Step 2 – Request Official Transcripts
Have official transcripts mailed directly from all previously attended colleges to:
School for Professional Studies
Attention: Eric Miller
3840 Lindell Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63108
Official transcripts may also be emailed directly to Eric Miller at eric.miller@slu.edu.
Applicants seeking a degree or certificate who have not earned a bachelor’s degree must obtain official transcripts for all previous college course work. If students have never attended college or have less than 15 credits of transferable college credits they will need to provide official high school or GED transcripts.
Applicants seeking a certificate who have a bachelor’s degree need only provide an official transcript from their primary higher education institution or evidence of a high school diploma or GED.
Non-degree applicants only need to provide unofficial copies as needed for prerequisites.
Step 3 — Meet with Academic Coach
Contact an academic coach to discuss the status of the application and educational and career goals. Students may schedule an appointment to speak with an academic coach on campus or over the phone/Zoom by calling 314-977-2330 or emailing sps@slu.edu.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. The School for Professional Studies offers numerous scholarships and awards specially for new students.
- Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
To determine eligibility for financial assistance, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early for maximum consideration. FAFSA is available online at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Active Military and Veterans
Students may be eligible for a reduced tuition rate of $410 per credit for this program. In addition, Saint Louis University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program for eligible students.
- Graduates will be able to describe the cycle of intelligence and components of global security.
- Graduates will be able to use analytics to inform risk management decisions.
- Graduates will be able to integrate computer information systems with security and intelligence domains.
- Graduates will be able to analyze the global factors that impact security and strategic intelligence.
- Graduates will be able to distinguish between the professional, ethical, legal, security and social dimensions of a strategic intelligence plan.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 39 | |
| Major Requirements | 27 | |
| Foundations of Security and Strategic Intelligence | ||
| Threat and Risk Assessment | ||
| Coordination across Agencies, Organizations, and Departments | ||
| Analytics in Security and Intelligence | ||
| Trends in Strategic Security and Intelligence | ||
| Security and Strategic Intelligence Capstone | ||
| Workplace Ethics | ||
| Database Analysis and Design | ||
| Major electives | 6 | |
| Cybersecurity Principles | ||
| The Fundamentals of Computer Forensics | ||
| Cyber Threats and Defense | ||
| Training & Development | ||
| Concentrations (select one of the following) | 12 | |
| General electives | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Business Continuity Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SSI 3010 | Business Continuity and Impact Analysis | 3 |
| SSI 3300 | Integrated Risk Planning, Strategy and Compliance | 3 |
| SSI 4090 | Resilience, Recovery and Contingency | 3 |
| SSI 4500 | Financial & Regulatory Considerations in Risk Planning | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Strategic Intelligence Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SSI 3020 | Intelligence and its Use in National & Corporate Security | 3 |
| SSI 3200 | Terrorism: Causes, Tactics, and Mitigation | 3 |
| SSI 4010 | Diplomacy and Foreign Policy | 3 |
| SSI 4200 | Collection Assets and Capabilities | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Global Corporate Security Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CMMK 3250 | Strategic Communication Across Professional Settings | 3 |
| SSI 3030 | Global Security Management | 3 |
| SSI 3600 | Tangible Asset Security | 3 |
| SSI 4500 | Financial & Regulatory Considerations in Risk Planning | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA.
SPS Core Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication and Technology | 9 | |
| Public Speaking in Org. Life | ||
| Writing & Research Methods | ||
| Business and Professional Writing | ||
| Critical Thinking and Problem Solving | 6 | |
| Discrete Methods and Models | ||
or CIS 2850 | Principles of Data Analysis | |
| Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | ||
or PHIL 1105 | Introduction to Philosophy: Critical Thinking | |
| Ethics, Values & Spirituality | 9 | |
| Theological Foundations | ||
| Ethics | ||
THEO/SPR | One additional THEO or SPR course | |
| Engaging the Human Experience | 15 | |
| Engaging the Human Experience | ||
Two Humanities courses | ||
| Approaching the Arts | ||
| Twentieth Century Art | ||
| Intro to Literary Study | ||
| Introduction to Short Fiction | ||
| American Literary Traditions: Special Topics | ||
| Origins of the Modern World to 1500 | ||
| Origins of the Modern World, 1500 to Present | ||
| U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction: 1850-1877 | ||
| The Saint Louis Region | ||
| Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy: Critical Thinking | ||
| Science and Religion | ||
| Spirituality: Work & Vocation | ||
| Spirituality, Peace & Justice | ||
| American Christianity | ||
| One Natural Science course | ||
| Introduction to Ecology and Evolution | ||
| Biology of Health and Disease | ||
| The Biology of Plants and Animals | ||
| Concepts in Ecology | ||
| One Social Science course | ||
| Introduction to American Politics | ||
| General Psychology | ||
| Survey of Economics | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| One Diversity course | ||
| Workplace Ethics | ||
| Professional Communication Between Cultures | ||
| Interpersonal Relations in Org | ||
| Applied Personality | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Fall 1 | ||
| PST 1000 | Learning Strategies and Processes | 3 |
| ENGL 1505 | The Process of Composition | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| CIS 1150 | Concepts & Applications of Technology | 3 |
| ENGL 2005 | Writing & Research Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| SSI 1500 | Foundations of Security and Strategic Intelligence | 3 |
| CIS 1300 | Information Systems and Technology | 3 |
| Spring 2 | ||
| ARTH 1005 | Approaching the Arts | 3 |
| CIS 2700 | Discrete Methods and Models | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| HUM 1500 | Engaging the Human Experience | 3 |
| CIS 3150 | Workplace Ethics | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| CMMK 1210 | Public Speaking in Org. Life | 3 |
| THEO 1005 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
| Fall 2 | ||
| SSI 2000 | Threat and Risk Assessment | 3 |
| PHIL 1055 | Intro to Phil: Self & Reality | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| CIS 3600 | Networking and Telecommunications I | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| CIS 3300 | Database Analysis and Design | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| SSI 3800 | Trends in Strategic Security and Intelligence | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| PHIL 2055 | Ethics | 3 |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | ||
| SSI 3000 | Coordination across Agencies, Organizations, and Departments | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| SSI Concentration | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| SSI Concentration | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| SPR/THEO | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fall 1 | ||
| ENGL 4005 | Business and Professional Writing | 3 |
| SSI Concentration | 3 | |
| Fall 2 | ||
| SSI 3100 | Analytics in Security and Intelligence | 3 |
| CIS 4600 | Cyber Threats and Defense | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Spring 1 | ||
| SSI Concentration | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Spring 2 | ||
| CIS 4300 | The Fundamentals of Computer Forensics | 3 |
| SSI 4900 | Security and Strategic Intelligence Capstone | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
For additional admission questions please call (314) 526-2825 or email sps@slu.edu.