University of Maryland University College plans to begin offering undergraduate degrees this fall in homeland security, emergency management and information assurance in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, according to Provost Nicholas Allen.
“This is a collection of programs and disciplines that are really needed,” Allen said. “And UMUC has long been in tune to work force needs.”
The bachelor of science degrees will be offered online and the programs will not require additional funding, Allen said.
UMUC?s Stephen Carter, who will head the homeland security and emergency management programs, said students in all three areas are needed in government and the private sector.
On the government side, Carter said graduates could work ? and in some cases already do ? at such places as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and for municipalities.
“The second-largest federal agency is the Department of Homeland Security,” Carter said.
Within five years of implementation, Allen said he expects 66 full-time and 134 part-time students to be enrolled in the emergency management and information assurance (cyber security) degree programs. By year five, Allen anticipates having 165 full-time and 335 part-time homeland security students.
UMUC Assistant Dean Debra Tervala said there is a need for the programs in greater Washington, but because “UMUC is worldwide, we are able to reach students everywhere.”
“We are not thinking these are problems just for this region,” she said.
On Wednesday, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Committee on Education Policy voted to support the new degree program. The proposal will go to the full board for a vote in February.
“I think they are meeting a need out there and it?s clear that area is not going away,” said Regent Patricia Florestano, who chairs the education policy committee.
