Security and Risk Analysis Capstone
Sample Syllabi
Course Composition and Objectives
The broad objective of the course is to support overall curricular objectives of the Security and Risk Analysis program. By so doing the course helps to prepare future leaders to address the many security and risk challenges that face our nation and the world. The course also supports the core values of the College of IST: respect for technology, cultures, and the law.
Specific Objectives:
- Individually:
- To examine complex issues in substantial pieces of analysis, presentation and writing.
- To demonstrate mastery of the various structured analytic techniques used throughout the course, including: Driver Analysis, Force Field Analysis, Indicators and Warnings Analysis and Alternate Futures Analysis, among others.
- To be able to communicate orally and in writing, the results of individual research and analysis.
- As part of a Team:
- To work collaboratively to research and analyze a significant real-world problem or issue in which security and risk is part of the solution.
- To organize research and analysis efforts effectively
- To communicate results clearly in both written and oral form to an audience of security and risk professionals.
Major topics within the course include: the research of a national, regional or global security issue; instantiation of the key driving forces that influence the issue; current state analysis and report of the issue; and derivation of a set of alternate future states. The course will culminate in an analytic decision scenario where student teams will transform the classroom into a command post and put into practice various structured analytic techniques in a team problem-solving exercise that represents on such alternate future state for the problem under consideration.
Course Description
SRA 440W, the Capstone course for the Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) Curriculum is intended to provide an intensive experience in critical analysis, broaden students’ perspectives beyond their culture or discipline and provide an opportunity for the integration of previous courses in the major and the core curriculum. The Capstone will put into practice the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) developed in all of the previous SRA core courses. The course will require students to examine complex issues in substantial pieces of analysis, presentation and writing.
Entrance into the Capstone course follows completion of the core curriculum; therefore this course is designed for seniors. Topics of the Capstone will address the key disciplines of the two (2) options of the Security and Risk Analysis major: Information & Cyber Security (ICS), and Intelligence Analysis & Modeling (IAM), respectively. Issues relating to the SRA options will require the analysis of complex problems relating to security and risk as played out in a semester-long scenario. The analysis derived from the security and risk scenario will require an application of the varied skill sets across both disciplinary lines.
The broad objective of the course is to support overall curricular objectives of the Security and Risk Analysis program. By so doing the course helps to prepare future leaders to address the many security and risk challenges that face our nation and the world. The course also supports the core values of the College of IST: respect for technology, cultures, and the law.
Framing the Capstone – Why this course is relevant. Designed expressly for Security and Risk Analysis majors in the Baccalaureate degree, the SRA capstone represents the culmination of knowledge and learning for the curriculum. The capstone requires students to work collaboratively in teams of 6 students, with each team comprised of students from each of the SRA options to research and analyze a significant real-world problem or issue in which security and risk is part of the solution. Teams will be expected to organize research and analysis efforts effectively and to communicate its results clearly in both written and oral form to an audience of security and risk professionals. Major topics within the course include: the research of a national, regional or global security issue; instantiation of the key driving forces that influence the issue; current state analysis and report of the issue; and derivation of a set of alternate future states. The course will culminate in an analytic decision scenario where student teams will transform the classroom into a command post and put into practice various structured analytic techniques in a team problem-solving exercise that represents on such alternate future state for the problem under consideration.
This course will incorporate collaborative and action-learning experiences wherever appropriate. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical thinking and critical writing as expressed in numerous analytic assignments. Instructor derived solution will be provided for the more extensive individual and group assignments.
SRA 440W was designed as a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) course. As a PBL participant, you will be assessed on your comprehension of the analytic processes introduced throughout the semester and by your ability to put the course material into practice. To achieve this goal, various practical application assignments have been created all specifically tailored to the task.
The second element of assessment is participation, which in judged in two components: individual participation in classroom discussions and activities and individual participation during group work. It is essential that each student achieve success in both of these areas to maximize the learning experience.
The “W” designation represents the writing requirement for the Capstone. As such, well-researched, well-written products will be the expectation and requirement throughout the course. Given the team construct, this requirement may represent a challenge for students who hang in the background and allow others to do the heavy lifting (writing). Therefore, each student is encouraged to take an active part in the preparation of written products and presentation materials. Correct formatting, spelling, grammar and references are all given at this point in the curriculum.