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Business and Organizational Security Management (MA)


2023-2024 GRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2023 through 31 May 2024

Please see the Graduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.


This program is offered by the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. It is available online and at select U.S. campuses, but it is not available at the St. Louis main campus. Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The complexities of modern society have combined to generate a variety of threats to business organizations, information networks, military installations, government operations and individuals. The curriculum of the program is based primarily on the social sciences. The program is designed to give maximum exposure to security management skills and to provide flexibility for the specific needs of the individual student. The content of the business and organizational security management program complements and assists the student in preparation for the Certified Protection Professional Program.

acbsp logoThe MA in business and organizational security management is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to explain the important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories used in the field of business and organizational security management.
  • Students will be able to effectively apply important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories used in the field of business and organizational security management when analyzing complex situations.
  • Students will be able to effectively integrate important facts, concepts, principles and theories used in business and organizational security management when developing solutions to multifaceted business and organizational security management problems in complex situations.

Program Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) must include the following courses:

  • SECR 5000 Security Management (Requisite Course) (3 hours)
  • SECR 5010 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management (3 hours)
  • SECR 5020 Security Administration and Management (3 hours)
  • SECR 5030 Business Assets Protection (3 hours)
  • SECR 5060 Emergency Planning (3 hours)
  • SECR 5080 Information Systems Security (3 hours)
  • SECR 5090 Behavioral Issues (3 hours)
  • SECR 6000 Integrated Studies in Security Management (3 hours)

In addition, the student chooses elective courses offered in this major and/or from the program curricula of other George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology majors.

If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major or from the program curriculum of another George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology major. Students pursuing dual majors who have the requisite course(s) waived will complete only the remaining required courses for the dual majors.

Dual Degree Option: MBA/MA in Business and Organizational Security Management

54 to 57 Credit Hours

Requirements for a dual degree with the MBA program generally include the required MBA courses (33 hours) and the required coursework in the additional degree program, except where noted below. If BUSN 5000 has been waived, the required hours are reduced by 3 credits and the BUSN 5000 course does not require a substitution.

Upon completion of all required credit hours, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

  • BUSN 5000 Business (3 hours)
  • MBA 5010 Value Creation (3 hours)
  • MBA 5020 Quantitative Methods for the MBA (3 hours)
  • MBA 5030 Market Analysis and Business Planning (3 hours)
  • MBA 5100 Adding Value through Human Capital (3 hours)
  • MBA 5200 The Financial Value of Capital Projects (3 hours)
  • MBA 5300 Providing Value to Customers (3 hours)
  • MBA 5400 The Supply Chain and Business Processes (3 hours)
  • MBA 5500 Information Support for Decision Making (3 hours)
  • MBA 5910 Cases in Value Creation (3 hours)
  • MBA 5920 Walker Consulting Project: Adding Value to Organizations (3 hours)
  • SECR 5000 Security Management (3 hours)
  • SECR 5010 Legal and Ethical Issues in Security Management (3 hours)
  • SECR 5020 Security Administration and Management (3 hours)
  • SECR 5030 Business Assets Protection (3 hours)
  • SECR 5060 Emergency Planning (3 hours)
  • SECR 5080 Information Systems Security (3 hours)
  • SECR 5090 Behavioral Issues (3 hours)
  • SECR 6000 Integrated Studies in Security Management (3 hours)

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Additional Requirements

Applicants to the business and organizational security management (MA) must have completed a business or business-related undergraduate degree meeting the following criteria:

  • University/college is regionally accredited
  • The business school must have a business-related accreditation (e.g. AACSB, ACBSP, IACBE, etc.)

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications must do one of the following:

  • Successfully complete BUSN 5000.
    • Note: BUSN 5000 will count as an elective in the program. This option is only available for students who are required to take BUSN 5000.
  • Complete all of the following undergraduate courses (or their equivalents) with a grade of C- or better (17 credit hours total, not including individual course prerequisites:
    • MNGT 2100 Management Theory and Practices
    • ACCT 2010 Financial Accounting
    • BUSN 2750 Introduction to Statistics
    • ECON 2000 Survey of Economics 
    • MNGT 2500 Marketing 
    • BUSN 3500 Business and Global Issues
    • BUSN 4500 Ethical Issues in Business 

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.