Homeland/Corporate Security

Are you interested in protecting and securing the United States, private businesses, and non-profit organizations? The security industry is a $400+ billion/year industry and offers a wide range of career opportunities. Additionally, Western Pennsylvania is on the forefront of security partnerships between universities, businesses, and government agencies such as the National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA) and the PA Region 13 Task Force, bolstered in part by the presence of multiple federal agency field offices in Pittsburgh.

Expand your knowledge and build your professional career with Slippery Rock University's Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and the Bachelor of Science in Corporate Security. 

Join Us for a Virtual Meet the Faculty Session

We invite you to explore what makes Homeland/Corporate Security unique. Please join us in conversation to learn about academic and career pathways in the security industry by talking to a faculty member. Schedule a session by emailing Dr. Susan Lubinski at susan.lubinski@sru.edu.

Why Choose Slippery Rock University to Major in Homeland/Corporate Security?

The mission of the Department of Homeland/Corporate Security Program is to prepare future security leaders with the technical knowledge, communication, critical thinking, analytical, interpersonal skills, and the reflective legal/ethical mindset required of protective service professionals to solve complex security issues within a diverse and increasingly connected world in the homeland, private sector, and not-for-profit enterprises. We accomplish this by providing a program offering rigorous instruction, accessibility, and high-quality educational experience to learners in Pennsylvania, the United States, and worldwide.

Our vision is to be the premier institution for providing in-demand, entry-level professional security leaders in Pennsylvania, and in the United States who will exercise a flexible skillset ensuring continual learning, creative problem solving, and stewardship of organizational and community assets.

The Department's goals are to:

• Create a curriculum providing collaboration between students and faculty to enhance solution-driven thinking embracing civic and social responsibility to diverse populations.
• Provide faculty who are diverse, qualified, student-centered and who provide innovative, high quality, relevant and integrated experiences for our students.
• Challenge students to understand divergent ways of thinking when engaging in solution-driven thinking to solve complex security issues affecting many diverse groups.
• Ensure the curriculum is distinctive, quality, and able to prepare students for security-related professional certifications enhancing marketability in related agencies and professions.
• Offer curricular and co-curricular programs and experiences so students are exposed to projects, case studies, and hands-on activities simulating real security issues and can meet professionals within the security industry through speakers, internship experiences, and conferences.
• Develop students professionally by providing opportunities to enhance their written, oral, networking, organization, and time management skills.
• Prepare undergraduate students for careers in homeland and corporate security, its subfields, and related occupations.

Our department partners with outside agencies to enhance the student’s learning and provide direct application of material learned.  We were selected by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) as a participant in the ACFE’s Anti-Fraud Education Partnership.

National and State Ranked Program: Our homeland security program was ranked number six in the Top Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Homeland Security by Study.com (nationwide) and we were ranked in Source 2021 Best Colleges Niche as one of the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania with a Homeland Security degree. Our homeland degree was ranked number nine by College Rank in the "35 Best Bachelor's in Homeland Security".

Security Careers in the Region

Graduates of the department have secured jobs in the following areas: 

• Stadium Operations and Security Trainee, Atlanta Braves
• Command Center Operator/Control Room Operator, Convergint Technologies
• Claims Benefit Specialist, CVS Health Company
• Digital Loss Prevention Analyst, Dick’s Sporting Goods
• Command Center Monitoring Agent, Edgeworth Security
• Risk Detection Specialist/First National Bank
• Security Planner, First National Bank
• Associate Risk Control, Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Physical Security, Lockheed Martin
• Detection and Investigation Analyst, PNC Bank
• Business Continuity Specialist/PNC Bank
• Agent, Transportation Safety Administration
• Intelligence Analyst, U.S. Army Intelligence
• Border Agent, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Agent, U.S. Secret Service
• Protective Detail, U.S. Supreme Court Justices
• Customs Agent, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Intelligence Analyst, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
• Officer, NYPD Counterterrorism Unit
• Audit Evaluator, USPS Office of Inspector General
• Asset Protection Agent, Nordstrom’s
• Covert Protection Agent
• Physical Security and ATFP Manager, U.S. Navy
• Security Officer, Corporate Security and Investigations
• Security Operations Center, Westinghouse Electric Company
• Audit Evaluator, Office of the Inspector General, United States Post Office
• Analyst, Defense Intelligence Agency
• Secured Space Coordinator, Amazon Protective Services
• Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
• Special Agent, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations

Professional Certifications

All of our undergraduate degree programs provide a foundation of knowledge needed for students interested in a variety of careers. There are a variety of professional certifications you may obtain upon graduation. The list below is not inclusive but includes the most popular certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements of these certifications as many of them require the passing of an exam and relevant work experience.  

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) offered by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP) offered by ASIS International
• Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) offered by ASIS International
• Physical Security Professional (PSP) offered by ASIS International
• Certified Homeland Protection Professional (CHPP)

Slippery Rock University offers a Prelaw Program. 

SRU is required by the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement and US Department of Education to notify you whether our program meets the academic licensure/ certification requirements in another state. All jurisdictions have their own requirements for licensure/certification eligibility. SRU is approved to offer programs that may lead to licensure/certification in Pennsylvania. We are unable to determine our program’s eligibility in states other than PA. Please review the licensing board contact resource at www.sru.edu/licensure-certification to seek guidance on the requirements of licensure in your home state or where you would like to practice professionally. Note that state requirements are subject to change at any time and without notice.