Campuses:

• Twin Cities
• Crookston
• Duluth
• Morris
• Rochester
• Other Locations

Prospective MSST Students

Why MSST?

MSST graduates will be prepared to address stressors and destabilizers such as natural disasters, aging infrastructure, critical networks/systems, and the threats of terrorism, disease and crime.  They will be able to take a proactive approach to prevention, protection, emergency response and recovery. Their career paths include the following:

• Public Service: Many graduate students choose to pursue a career in security technologies or homeland security as a form of public service. Helping to protect citizens, critical systems and infrastructure from terrorism, disease and crime is both a challenging and satisfying pursuit.
• Engine for Economic Growth: Apart from patriotic and altruistic motives, the security industry is a major employer with high business growth potential, generating over $100 billion per year in the United States alone. Opportunities for innovative and meaningful work exist in both the public and private sectors.
• Develop or Expand Expertise in a High-demand Field: The MSST program prepares students to help shape public policy or direct implementation at many levels of government. Graduates may work in exciting areas of emerging science like nanotechnology, sensor networks, bio-sensing, critical infrastructure protection, food and bio safety, cyber systems, and energy security.

Whether students choose to create new security products, systems and methods or direct policy and implementation, the Master of Science in Security Technologies enables them to advance in fulfilling and rewarding careers.

For whom is the program intended?

The program is considered full-time, but classes are scheduled so that working professionals can also complete it on schedule. Alternatively, for students who wish to extend their studies for up to 22 months it is possible to enroll as part time students, as space permits with priority given to those planning to complete the MS degree in 14 months. MS and PhD minors will also be offered for those specializing in related fields.

The program attracts graduate students who are:

• Recent graduates seeking a professional career in the engineering or business of security systems and technologies
• Seasoned professionals with several years (or more) of work experience in a field where security and risk management are becoming increasingly critical
• Individuals interested in the social, legal and policy dimensions of shaping security/privacy policy informed by methods, tools, systems and applications expertise

Qualified applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree in a related field, e.g. in biological or physical sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics, social sciences, or public policy. While not required, it is desirable that students come to the program with one year of calculus, probability/statistics, or two science or engineering courses. Preference will be given to applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above.

Career Opportunities

Virtually every crucial economic and social function depends on the safe, secure and reliable operation of our national infrastructures. Critical infrastructures such as energy and electric power, banking/finance, oil/gas/water pipelines, government/policy, transportation, food/agriculture, health services, manufacturing, and telecommunications information networks including Internet and digital systems rely increasingly on effective security.

"Security is one of the fastest-growing professional careers worldwide.... The security industry in the U.S. is a $100 billion a year business and growing." (Career Opportunities in Security, ASIS International, 2005, p.3.)

A July 24, 2008 e-mail from the Homeland Security Research Corporation entitled “The 10 Fastest Growing Homeland Security Market Sectors” noted, in part:

“We forecast that the private sector will procure $28.5 Billion in HLS [Homeland Security] products and services from the HLS industry during 2007-2011. These markets are analyzed and segmented by industry sector (e.g. banking & finance, chemical & HAZMAT, energy, water) and products/services category procured (e.g. perimeter protection systems, cyber terror security, biometric systems).

“We forecast that ten HLS industry sectors will each total over $8.5 Billion in revenues over the five-year period … (e.g. Airport Security, Port & Maritime Security, Information Technology, Perimeter & Border Protection, and Cyber-security).

“We forecast that the revenues of ten HLS industry sectors will grow by 60% to 400% during 2007-2011… (e.g. RFID Systems, Nuclear Screening Portals, Communication Interoperability, Bio-Chem Agents Detection & Mitigation)…”

Surveys and focus groups conducted by TLI in assessing the value of the MSST indicated that, in addition to the needs of the public sector, there is a need for more and better-trained individuals in security technologies in:

• Large private security system manufacturers and sensor development companies
• Audit and compliance companies
• Sensor development companies
• Financial institutions
• Food production companies
• Healthcare organizations
• Defense Industry contractors
• Security Consulting firms
• Retail companies
• Medical device manufacturers
• Information providers

Examples of companies in Minnesota that represent these sectors include: 3M, American Defense, ATK, BAE, Best Buy, Boston Scientific, Cargill, Ernst & Young, GE Security, General Dynamics, General Mills, Honeywell, MedNet, Medtronic, Minnesota Defense Alliance, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, St. Jude, Target, Thomson Reuters, United Healthcare Group, US Bank, Wakenhut, Wells Fargo.

Information Sessions

The Technological Leadership Institute is offering a new master's program in Security Technologies. If you are interested in learning more about the curriculum, admissions requirements, and would like to meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and admissions staff, then attend an information session or sign up for a one-on-one session. Attendance at one of these sessions will fulfill one of the admissions requirements for the program. Group information sessions are generally held in the fall and spring.

To sign up for an information session, please contact Jenna Egan at 612.624.4380 or tliss@umn.edu.

Application Deadline

Applications are now being accepted for the University of Minnesota's Master of Science in Security Technologies class that will begin in June 2012.

To request additional information or to RSVP for an information session, please contact Jenna at 612.624.4380 or tliss@umn.edu.

Funding your master's program

MSST is an investment in your education, career, and earning potential; nonetheless, it is a significant expenditure.  The MSST accepts funds from federal loans as well as awards from scholarships and other funding.  Click here for a list of financial aid resources.