Security Technologies Curriculum
ST students in a classroom, listening to instructor

The Security Technologies (ST) curriculum offers the flexibility to focus on building expertise in one area of specialization or related sub-areas in science, technology and social sciences to complete the 32-credit degree program. Students meet on average two to three nights per week, completing the program in just 21 months. 

The program's capstone workshop course includes applied investigation, case study preparation, teaching, and an oral examination. Elective courses cover crucial topics such as cybersecurity and risk management, enhancing technical proficiency and strategic awareness.

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2-3 evenings per week
In-person

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32 Credits

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Rigorous Core Curriculum

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Personalized Career and Academic Advising

In our graduate programs, students typically enroll in 4-5 classes per semester. To help make the workload more manageable and improve work/life balance, the course schedule is designed with care. Generally, only 2-3 classes run concurrently. Some courses start at the beginning of the semester and conclude by mid-semester, while others begin mid-semester and finish at the end of the semester. There is limited overlap between the courses starting at the beginning and those starting mid-semester.

Core Curriculum

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Term 1 - Fall

ST 8109 Cybersecurity Foundations: Technology, Risk & Communication (2 credits)
Explore cybersecurity risks through evaluation of consumer-driven technology concepts and their applicability to enterprise. Learn how technology works, how to understand and communicate risks to business management, and deliver actionable risk mitigation approaches. Discover core technology concepts that face both consumers and businesses as well as security standards and benchmarks that guide industry.

ST 8330 Critical Infrastructure Protections (2.5 credits)
Discover an overview of risk, its definition and application to critical infrastructures as it relates to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, as well as best practices to reduce the vulnerability of critical infrastructure systems due to accidents, material failure, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks.

MOT 5009 Communication for Technology Leaders (2 credits)
In the rapidly evolving domain of technology, effective communication stands paramount for technological leaders. This course focuses on developing foundational and advanced communication strategies, underscoring the importance of clear, impactful, and influential communication. Recognizing the myriad challenges and nuances of communicating in a technological environment—from risk assessment to executive decision-making—the curriculum provides a holistic exploration of theories, practices, and real-world applications. Through a combination of case studies, hands-on exercises, theoretical insights, and practical application, students will be equipped to navigate various communication scenarios as they prepare to lead, influence, and drive success in diverse technological settings.

MOT 5012 Understanding Technology of the Future (2 credits)
This course is designed to give students knowledge and skills necessary to be successful technology leaders in a variety of business settings and industries. Technology leadership begins with the understanding of what new and innovative technologies are being developed around them. But it is also important for leaders to be able to understand if those technologies are relevant and important for their business. Technology leaders need to work collaboratively with other business leaders to ensure new technologies are grounded in business strategies and understand what the company can leverage.

Term 2 - Spring

ST 8111 Methods, Theory, and Applications (2.5 credits)
Focus on methods, theory, techniques, and models including qualitative and quantitative risk modeling, decision analysis (fault-tree analysis and event-tree analysis), and probabilistic risk assessment techniques.

ST 8113 Information and Cyber Security (2 credits)
Develop an understanding of vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure systems to failure—focusing on cyberterrorism—and recommended security solutions for operational levels of trust.

MOT 5010 Enhancing Technology Leadership Skills (2 credits)
This course focuses on preparing students to be leaders in the technology industry, with a focus on understanding their personal values, emotional intelligence strengths and challenges, business and technical communication, persuasion, personal management, and impact. Critically important to success is demonstrating executive presence and gravitas when dealing with all levels of the organization - staff, leaders, and customers. Organizations, team responsibilities, and roles are constantly evolving, and it is up to savvy technology leaders to be future-focused - anticipating and understanding what the organization needs today - and what it will need to grow, and change driven by the business strategies. A technology leader must be a strategic thought leader, a catalyst for change, and think through innovative and values-driven strategies for their work and their organizations.

MOT 5013 Leading the Business of Technology (2 credits)
This course is designed for people with a basic understanding of business principles in a technical setting and are looking to progress toward being a technology leader. This course will bring together knowledge and skills necessary to be a leader in budget, legal, pricing, marketing, and finance facets, strategies, and formulation, and consider portfolio management and business governance on a foundational level. There will be lecture and hands-on components.

Term 3 - Fall

ST 8220 Ethical Decision-Making & Strategic Communication in Risk Leadership (2 credits)
This course develops risk leadership skills by teaching you to integrate vulnerability, threat, and risk assessment into organizational decision-making. You'll learn to navigate complex security dilemmas where diverse perspectives, competing priorities, and ethical considerations make it challenging to identify critical issues and mobilize action. Through real-world scenarios, you'll practice articulating key problems, evaluating options using ethical frameworks, and recommending courses of action that encompass both immediate needs and root-cause remedies. The course emphasizes building your influence as a security professional, helping you find your voice to advance principled, evidence-based positions.

ST 8331 Dynamic Systems Modeling and Simulation Tools (2 credits)
Unearth techniques for modeling complex systems and predicting and evaluating risks associated with a variety of sources, pathways, and consequences, as well as a survey of key dynamical equations and non-sensitive databases that are used in computer simulations of linked infrastructure systems.

ST 8511 Public Policy (1 credit)
Examine key questions and issues facing the U.S. intelligence community and its role in homeland security and homeland defense, as well as address policy, organizational, and substantive issues regarding homeland intelligence support.

MOT 5011 Creating a High-Performing Technology Organization (2 credits)
This course will provide the student with a blueprint for creating and maintaining a technical workforce that is high-performing and diverse, helping students become technical leaders that can effectively lead a transformation to support business strategies. This course will provide the tools and context to ensure the technology leader is creating and sustaining a culture of innovation, accountability, and creativity.

MOT 5020 Capstone Workshop (0.5 credits) 
The Capstone Workshop culminates a graduate student’s experience at TLI. Using concepts and methods learned throughout their course of study, students will identify a problem and opportunity to complete one of the following: an applied or hypothetical project, a technology analysis, or a start-up/business plan. Students will conduct primary research and secondary research and analyze resulting data to produce evidence-based, actionable recommendations. Based on project results, students will complete a written report and presentation.

Term 4 - Spring

ST 8512 Navigating Contemporary Threats: Context, Strategy, Risk, Response, and Values (2 credits)
This course prepares students to think through and operate in a complex decision environment by using national security as a gateway to understand the layered challenge of balancing threat, hazard, risk, response, and values.

MOT 5020 Capstone Workshop (1.5 credits) 
The Capstone Workshop culminates a graduate student’s experience at TLI. Using concepts and methods learned throughout their course of study, students will identify a problem and opportunity to complete one of the following: an applied or hypothetical project, a technology analysis, or a start-up/business plan. Students will conduct primary research and secondary research and analyze resulting data to produce evidence-based, actionable recommendations. Based on project results, students will complete a written report and presentation.

Security Technologies Capstone

Capstone Stories

Some examples of capstone projects are:

  • "The Rise of AI in Cybersecurity: Fostering Awareness for Effective Defense"
  • "Zero Trust Framework for the Manufacturing Industry"
     

Security Technologies (ST) Elective Courses

Approved elective courses for the Security Technologies graduate program are listed by department in the menu:

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Approved ST Electives

Accounting (ACCT)
ACCT 6003 - Accounting and Information Systems (2 credits) 

Computer Science (CSCI)
CSCI 5221 Foundations of Advanced Networking (3 credits)
CSCI 5271 Introduction to Computer Security (3 credits)
CSCI 5471 Modern Cryptography (3 credits)
CSCI 5980 Computation Geo-Informatics (3 credits)*
CSCI 8715 Spatial Database (3 credits)

Curriculum and Instruction (CI)
CI 5301 Foundations of Computer Applications for Business and Education (3 credits)

Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (ESPM)
ESPM 5604 Environmental Management Systems and Strategy (3 credits)

Geographic Information Science (GIS)
GIS 5574 GIS and the Internet (3 credits)
GIS 5577 Spatial Database Design and Administration (3 credits)

Geography (GEOG)
GEOG 5561 Principles of GIS (4 credits)
GEOG 5563 Advanced Geographic Information Science (3 credits)
GEOG 5564 Urban GIS and Analysis (credits)

Forest & Natural Resource Management (FNRM)
FNRM 5131 - Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (4 credits) 

Institute for Health Informatics (HINF)
HINF 5502 Python Programming Essentials for the Health Sciences (1 credit)

Information and Decision Sciences (IDSC)
IDSC 6423 Enterprise Systems Technology (2 credits)
IDSC 6444 Business Intelligence (2 credits)
IDSC 6490 Information-Based Goods in the Network Economy (2 credits)*

Integrated Food Systems Leadership (IFSL)
IFSL 7031 Food Security, Safety, and Defense (2 credits)

Law School (LAW)
LAW 6022 Seminar: National Security Law (2–3 credits)
LAW 6103 Privacy (2–3 credits)
LAW 6651 - Special Topics in Administrative Law (3 credits)
LAW 6832 Seminar: Cyberspace and the Law (2–3 credits)

Management (MGMT)
MGMT 6004 Negotiation Strategies (2 credits)
MGMT 6034 Strategic Leadership (2 credits)
MGMT 6084 Management of Groups (2 credits)
MGMT 6402 Integrative Leadership: From Theory to Practice (3 credits)

Management of Business Administration (MBA)
MBA 6111 - Organizational Behavior (2 credits)
MBA 6301 - Strategic Management (3 credits)

Mathematics (MATH)
MATH 5248 Cryptology and Number Theory (4 credits)
MATH 5251 Error-Correcting Codes, Finite Fields, Algebraic Curves (4 credits)

Medical Device Innovation (MDI)
MDI 5101 Introduction to Medical Device Cybersecurity (3 credits)

Security Technologies (ST)

ST 5661 Securing Cyberspace - Fundamentals (3 credits)
ST 5662 Securing Cyberspace - Advanced (3 credits)
ST 5663 Hacking, Breaking, and Poisoning: Red Teaming Cyber, Physical, and AI Systems (2.5 credits)
ST 8113 Information and Cybersecurity Management (2 credits)
ST 8200 Special Topics in Security Technologies (0.5 credit)
ST 8441 - Internship (1 credit)
ST 8513 Cyber Threat Intelligence (2 credits)

Sociology (SOC)
SOC 8412 Social Network Analysis: Theory and Methods (3 credits)

Supply Chain Operations (SCO)
SCO 6059 Quality Management and Lean Six Sigma (4 credits)**
SCO 8892 Readings in Operations and Management Science (3 credits)

Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD)
OLPD 5310 Data Driven Decision Making (1 credit)
OLPD 5611 Facilitation and Meeting Skills (1 credit)
OLPD 5619 Planning and Decision-Making Skills (1 credit)
OLPD 6402 Integrative Leadership Seminar (3 credits)

Political Science (POL)
POL 4885W International Conflict and Security Global Perspectives, Writing Intensive (3 credits)
OLPD 5607 Organization Development (3 credits; Online may be available)
POL 8402 International Security (3 credits)

Public Affairs (PA)
PA 5011 Public Management and Leadership (3 credits)
PA 5105 Integrative Leadership Seminar (3 credits)
PA 5190 Managing Conflict: Negotiation (3 credits)*
PA 5405 Public Policy Implementation (3 credits)
PA 5711 Science and Technology Policy (3 credits)
PA 5741 Risk Analysis for Science and Technology Policy (3 credits)
PA 5826 National Security Policy (3 credits)
PA 5890 Topics in Foreign Policy and International Affairs (0.5-5 credits)
PA 5920 Skills Workshop (0.5-4 credits)*
PA 5920 Action-Oriented Strategy Mapping (1 credit)*
PA 5920 Assessing Leadership Capability (1 credit)*
PA 5984 Elections Security: How to Protect America’s Elections (2 credits)
PA 8790 Advanced Topics in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy Topics Course (1-3 credits)

Public Health (PUBH)
PUBH 6123 Violence Prevention and Control: Theory, Research, and Application (2 credits)
PUBH 6182 Emerging Infectious Disease: Current Issues, Policies, and Controversies (3 credits)
PUBH 6232 Emergency Preparedness: A Public Health Perspective (2 credits; Online may be available)
PUBH 6571 Principles of Management in Health Services Organizations (2 credits)
PUBH 6702 Integrative Leadership Seminar (3 credits)*
PUBH 7200 Public Health Practice Topics Course (0.5-4 credits) 
PUBH 7214 Principles of Risk Communication (1 credit)
PUBH 7221 Planning/Urgent Threats (1 credit)
PUBH 7223 Concepts of Disaster Behavioral Health (1 credit)
PUBH 7225 Communication and Information Technology Tools for Public Health Emergency Response (1 credit)
PUBH 7227 Incident Management Systems: The Public Health Role (1 credit)
PUBH 7230 Topics in Infectious Disease (1 credit)
PUBH 7233 Food System Defense (1.5 credits)
PUBH 7242 War and Public Health (1 credit)

Veterinary Medicine, Graduate (VMED)
VMED 5920 Food Defense: Prepare, Respond, Recover (3 credits)

Writing Studies (WRIT)
WRIT 5001 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Scientific and Technical Communication (3 credits)
WRIT 5112 Information Design: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
WRIT 5561 Editing and Style for Technical Communications (3 credits)

* denotes a class for which you'll need the instructor's approval to register.

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