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Why does this program exist?
or why at the community college level?
When did the program
officially begin? When do classes start?
Does this
program result in an academic degree? How long
does it take to complete the program?
Will
the credits earned at Pellissippi State Technical
Community College transfer to a four-year college?
Is there a
Bachelor's Degree offered anywhere in a related
field?
What kinds of employment
opportunities are available to someone with this
kind of academic training?
What kinds of technology
will the students be able to use in this program?
Why does this program exist or why at the community
college level?
Many of the leaders of the local security community
approached the administration at Pellissippi State
Technical Community
College even before the catastrophic events of 9/11/01
asking for a program to produce qualified employees for
the growing private security market. Then, the focus
was more on well-trained technicians to install a variety
of
sensors and alarms. After the terror attacks on the U.S.,
it became painfully obvious to all that the whole filed
of security needed to be re-analyzed.
The original ad-hoc
group of advisors grew to include some folks with very
diverse, and highly specialized security experience,
including work with the U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD), Department
of Energy (DoE), Military and/or Police tactical operations,
Federal Investigations, and Counter-Terrorism. From
this group, the original vision was expanded and the
program
was refined to reflect these additional objectives.
There developed two different "tracks" within the SEAT
program: the "Technician" track and the "Administration" track.
This flexibility is designed to meet the needs of local
security consumers (Local government and industry, who
remain the principal stakeholders in the academic mission
of a community college) and the needs of state and federal
agencies and departments that exist inside and outside
of our local "market."
When did the program
officially begin? When do classes start?
The course was approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents
in July, 2005. Course development was underway and
some of the technical courses were already being offered
through different degrees programs, such as High Performance
Computing (HPC) and Electrical Engineering (EET). Four
of the "Administration" track courses rolled
out in January of '06 and two more were
added for the Fall of '06. See the course offerings
on the PSTCC web site for those that will be offered
each semester. The first SEAT graduates are expected
in 2007.
Does this program result in an academic degree?
How long does it take to complete the program?
When a student successfully completes the SEAT program
requirements, he/she will be awarded the Associates Degree
in Applied Science (AAS). A full time enrollment schedule
will allow a student to complete the requirements in
two years (four semesters) for a total of 60 hours minimum.
See the SEAT Program Structure for a breakdown of course
offerings, requirements, electives, and a schedule of
completion.
Will the credits earned at Pellissippi State
Technical Community College transfer to a four-year
college? Is
there a Bachelor's Degree offered anywhere in a related
field?
There are many Bachelor's degree programs that are
currently offering, or planning to offer some kind
of degree in
Homeland Security or a related field. There are even
some Master's Degree offerings available (Check out
the online resources at our web links page ). Currently,
discussions are underway with other institutions in
Tennessee
to develop articulation agreements that will permit
the AAS degree to transfer directly into 4-year academic
program. This process takes some time, but the outcome
looks very promising!
What kinds of employment opportunities are available
to someone with this kind of academic training?
There are immediate openings with local (Knox and surrounding
counties) security providers (alarm and other security
services) and occasional openings with local governments.
There is an ongoing recruitment effort taking place in
the U.S. Marshall's Service, the FBI, The Department
of Homeland Security, etc., however most of those potential
employers require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, and
often some kind of applicable experience. The Pellissippi
State Technical Community College service area also includes
the Oak Ridge National Lab, Y-12, and a host of contractors
and sub-contractors that do business with the Department
of Energy and supporting agencies and entities. There
are many opportunities to network with people who are
in need of someone with specialized security training
and experience. Part of the SEAT program involves internships
or work-study opportunities that will put the students
in touch with employers in the private security sector.
What kinds of technology will the students be able
to use in this program?
There are several technology applications that we currently
use and they are basically divided into three categories:
(1) intrusion detection, (2) access control, and (3)
investigation tools. We train with alarm devices used
to detect motion, sound, and heat. Students will learn
about biometric devices such as iris scanners, palm geometry
readers, fingerprint readers and similar devices. Students
will learn how surveillance cameras are installed and
how they may record digital images that are then analyzed
using facial recognition software to assist investigators.
Newer technology is constantly being reviewed for possible
security applications.
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