The Professional Security Studies Department was jointly designated by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence (effective for 2009-2014).
In the post-9/11 era, current and future leaders from all aspects of public safety, including law enforcement, security, fire service, emergency management, business, and public health, need to understand the concepts, theories and methods applicable to contemporary risk, terror and vulnerability. Students are increasingly pursuing educational avenues allowing them to function effectively in the new terror environment, where they are able to develop the competencies crucial to collaborate and coordinate with various organizational levels and disciplines.