April 07, 2010
Through its new B.S. degree in
Homeland and Corporate Security, St. John’s University
continues to win acclaim as a national leader in protecting
citizens and businesses from threats to their safety. Launched in
Fall 2009, the program is already ranked in the top 100 “Best
Degree Programs” by Security Magazine.
The
first-of –its-kind curriculum focuses on protecting the national
infrastructure from acts of terrorism and other major criminal
acts. After 9/11, Deans
Kathleen Vouté MacDonald, Ed.D and
James O’Keefe, Ph.D, with Professor Jeffrey P. Grossmann, Esq.,
were instrumental in developing the program. Courses include
Industrial Espionage, Intelligence Gathering and Analysis and
Emergency Management.
After graduation, students seek positions within the many agencies
of the Department of
Homeland Security, such as the Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE).
The Target Corporation has provided a $4,000 stipend for
undergraduates in the Introduction to Homeland and Corporate
Security course, who are developing strategies to reduce shortages
in their electronics and entertainment division. In teams of 10,
the students are creating proposals, with the top five to be
presented to Target executives.
“Corporations have welcomed us with open arms,” said Prof.
Grossmann, the program’s Director. “Through our partnerships,
students gain the knowledge and skills to become future safety
executives.”