Bachelor of Science in Transnational Security Studies

Read program requirements and course descriptions in the undergraduate catalog:
B.S. Transnational Security Studies

Today’s world is a stage of actors. Some act in the interest of peaceful coexistence while others behave with nefarious intent to undermine or destroy such peaceful coexistence; often through insidious or overt means. While this notion is nothing new, modern vulnerabilities, risks and threats are amplified through the very technological advances the world’s global economies enjoy. Through past, present, and future advances in technology, a nation’s borders are more permeable to the more rapid flow of goods, services, finance, communications, media and propaganda, crime, and terror. Borders are an increasing nebulous consideration for deterring an evil actor’s will to perturb humankind’s stability and security, with the goal to impose their will.

Through its interdisciplinary structure, the Transnational Security Degree Program allows students to examine global security issues and the policy responses to those issues, with special emphasis on emerging transnational threats. These threats include, but are not limited to, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, regional and ethnic conflicts, international crime.

Faculty from various disciplines help students gain blended perspectives in the roles diplomats, the intelligence community, the military, and economic policy officials play in forging comprehensive approaches solutions and policies to solving complex problems. Curriculum subjects include homeland security, vulnerabilities, threats, crisis management, recovery, and resiliency, industrial security, economic and industrial espionage, computer security, and information assurance.

By combining coursework in foreign language and area studies, strategic intelligence analysis methods, and geographic information systems (GIS), students develop multicultural competencies to better understand a nation’s history, culture and values, as national and international strategies and policies are developed to preclude or conclude ethnic and regional conflicts. Through higher-order thinking and analysis of a nation’s policies, practices, and actions, students develop methods for evaluating the motives influencing a nation’s agenda, and comprehend the security implications of a globalized economy. As future leaders, students are enabled to consider a nation’s true agenda, and develop balanced national and international security policies, market strategies, or serve in non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Elective courses, such as grant writing, business continuity planning, and project management, help to bolster workforce readiness skills that are useful for experiential and service learning, internships. These opportunities help students to be better poised for entry into their professional fields. Students maintaining a “B” average in the program can pursue internships, and study abroad opportunities.
Upon concluding their learning journey, Transnational Security Studies graduates can find employment opportunities in all levels of government, domestic and international defense and homeland security related organizations and industries, service organizations, NGOs, and other private sector and non-profit organizations.

COMPETENCIES
• A global understanding and knowledge of broad global security issues, at a level adequate for entry-level career positions. Arts and sciences coursework serve as threads to understanding various historical, political, and cultural dimensions, as students pursue viable policy solutions to attaining peace, stability, justice, and truth.
• The ability to objectively evaluate one’s logic and reasoning, through critical thinking. This is demonstrated in oral and written work at a level adequate for entry-level career positions. Students would also be prepared for graduate level studies.
• The ability to conduct and apply research, by seeking and analyzing data, in written or visual form. This is demonstrated through applying research as a method for seeking root causes of issues, and for deriving fact-based effective courses of actions, during peacetime and crisis settings.
• The ability to work individually, or as a team member, in developing viable security policies and practices to strengthen international relations, commerce, and the overall well-being, peace, prosperity, on behalf of their home country.
• Develop effective written and oral communication skills, considering multicultural audiences, in times of calm or crisis.

ASSESSMENT
• Individual and team papers
• Team projects,
• Case studies
• Role playing exercises
• Vulnerability assessment evaluations
• Internship and study abroad evaluations

TRANSFER POLICY
Students must complete at least half their major/minor credits at Rivier University. All 300-400 level courses including the capstone course must be taken at Rivier University.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
(42 credits)
One credit in service learning may apply toward the core degree requirements as well as the following courses:
• BUS224 – Principles of Macroeconomics
• REL330 – World Religions

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
(minimum 42 credits)
TSS 101 US Homeland Security
TSS 201 Evolution of Terrorism
TSS 211 Area Study I
TSS 212 Area Study II
TSS 230 Vulnerabilities
TSS 250 Geographic Information Systems
TSS 300 Emergency Management
TSS 310 Espionage
TSS 320 Strategic Intelligence
TSS 330 Non-Governmental Organizations
TSS 340 Multicultural Competence
TSS 360 Immigration Seminar
TSS 400 Human Security
TSS 490 Post-Crisis Resilience

EXPLORATION AREA ELECTIVES
(9 credits)
Select three courses. No more than one course from any one of the following four areas.
• Humanities
• Natural/Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology
• Social Sciences
• Professional Studies

GENERAL ELECTIVES
(minimum 27 credits)
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
(minimum 120 credits)

MINOR IN TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES
(18 credits)
Students who elect a minor in transnational security studies take a minimum of six courses, chosen in consultation with the director.
Such a minor generally includes:
• TSS 101 US Homeland Security
• TSS 201 Evolution of Terrorism
• TSS 211 Area Study I
• TSS 230 Vulnerabilities

And two electives, chosen from the following list:
• TSS 300 Emergency Management
• TSS 310 Espionage (Recommended for Business Administration Majors)
• TSS 320 Strategic Intelligence
• TSS 330 Non-Governmental Organizations
• TSS 340 Multicultural Competence
• TSS 360 Immigration Seminar

TRANSFER POLICY
Transfer students must complete at least half of the minor courses at Rivier University.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
TSS 101 US Homeland Security
This course provides a general overview of the development of US homeland security policy. Policies and programs are examined from an all-hazards perspective. Roles of federal, state and local governments, agencies, industry, and non-profit sector organizations are discussed.
Credits: 3
TSS 201 Evolution of Terrorism
This course examines the evolution of domestic and foreign-initiated terror activities, is support of advocating a change in a nation’s domestic or foreign policy. The course considers factors of conflict and ideology, in the organizing, planning and conduct of terror activities aligned with the actor’s agenda. Emerging terror-based nefarious business enterprises are discussed.
Credits: 3
TSS 211 Area Study I
The first of a two-semester sequence course Area Studies I introduce students to the basics of a foreign language, cultural studies relevant to that language, and basic analysis skills utilizing the DIME (Diplomatic, Information, Military, and Economic) and the PMESII (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, and Information) models to facilitate an understanding of the culture studied.
Credits: 3
TSS 212 Area Study II
The second of a two-semester sequence course Area Studies II continues the study of the basics of a foreign language, cultural studies relevant to that language, and basic analysis skills utilizing the DIME (Diplomatic, Information, Military, and Economic) and the PMESII (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Infrastructure, and Information) models to facilitate an understanding of the culture studied. Students are also introduced to counterterrorism analysis models in Area Study II.
Credits: 3
TSS 230 Vulnerabilities
This course discusses the differences and relationships between vulnerabilities, threats, risk, and intent. Vulnerability assessment models are introduced. Using these assessment models, students select and conduct vulnerability assessment on their selected national infrastructure area.
Credits: 3
TSS 250 Geographic Information Systems
This course provides a practical, hands-on approach to spatial database design and spatial data analysis with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and its utility in numerous professional disciplines. Focus is given to applications in the emergency management and intelligence areas.
Credits: 3
TSS 300 Emergency Management
The aim of this course is provide an overview of Emergency Management (EM) roles and responsibilities relevant to government and community agencies. Topics include concepts, principles, prevention, preparedness, planning, information management, response, relief and recovery.
Credits: 3
TSS 310 Espionage
This course explores the evolving roles of espionage in domestic and foreign endeavors. Through selected case studies, students explore various motives, and the clandestine tradecraft, tactics, and elicitation techniques to obtain information. Emphasis is placed on state-sponsored espionage organizations, and the issues and ethics associated with industrial espionage, and the importance of identifying vulnerabilities, threats, and impacts stemming from espionage activities.
Credits: 3
TSS 320 Strategic Intelligence
This course provides an overview of strategic intelligence, and its role as an instrument of a nation’s power. The components of organization administration, clandestine and open-source research methods, program management, data collection, analysis, and dissemination are considered. Select foreign strategic intelligence organizations are examined.
Credits: 3
TSS 330 Non-Governmental Organizations
The roles and limitations of international non-governmental organizations are examined. The focus of understanding is NGO functions supporting global peace, security, and disaster relief, as well as organization development, funding, and staffing. Related functional areas include treaty verification, environmental issues, international criminal justice, consultative, and emergency relief operations.
Credits: 3
TSS 340 Multicultural Competence
This course is designed to motivate students to appreciate the need to develop skills to successfully interact with people of different cultures, through an understanding of their sociological backgrounds. Students apply multicultural competence roles in diverse settings, such as social services, business, and intergovernmental role-playing exercises.
Credits: 3
TSS 360 Immigration Seminar
In this course, students discuss the pros, cons, and overall effectiveness of US immigration policy, and the sources of sources of both the Federal and a State’s authority to establish immigration statutes and regulations. Various categories of immigrants are examined. Students will compare and contrast US immigration policies with those of another selected country.
Credits: 3
TSS 400 Human Security
This course examines concept of human security as a key component for regional, national, and global stability and security. The course takes a blended approach, as it considers various aspects, such as natural disasters and crises, crimes against humanity; treaties; developmental programs, and Globalization. Case studies allow review and reflection of past and current human security issues, the cultural influences leading to actions or inactions taken, and the long-term impacts.
Credits: 3
TSS 490 Post-Crisis Resilience
This capstone course for all transnational security studies majors must be taken through Rivier University. In this course, students leverage previous courses to comprehend the complex challenges in attaining and maintain a healthy posture of global security, peace and prosperity. Through situation-based crisis situations, students assume various roles, exercising each actor’s agenda.
Credits: 3
TSS495 Internship/Seminar
The internship provides the student an opportunity to gain work experience in an international security environment. In working a minimum of 120 hours for an organization in a professional capacity, the students learns first-hand how these organizations operate and how theories discussed in the classroom apply in this field of work. The internship is available to juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.00. Students must gain the approval of the International Security Studies Coordinator in order to be enrolled in the course. Approved internships must be in the field of international security and must provide a significant learning experience for the student.
Credits: 3

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