Saint Leo Introduces 3 New Innovative Programs for Fall 2017

Are you intrigued by advancing your career in emergency services? Looking to dive into the ever-growing world of data analytics? Concerned about the ever-increasing need for cybersecurity against the world's most sophisticated hackers?

If you nodded your head "yes" to any of these questions, you'll be excited to hear that Saint Leo University is offering 3 brand new academic programs within these unique areas of study beginning in the fall of 2017. Let's explore each program in a little more detail to determine how each track can help lead to a rewarding career.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Emergency and Disaster Management – Specialization in Fire Science Administration

Saint Leo is offering a Master of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management – Specialization in Fire Science Administration. This innovative specialization is designed for working adults who are first responders and require an educational component to augment their experience, enabling them to achieve personal and professional growth or even earn the opportunity for a promotion in their careers.

Along with the core curriculum, this specialization includes an additional 4 courses, each of which lasts for an 8-week term, that students take 100% online at their own pace. It is designed to be completed in 2 years, but students can take more time if they need it. Being fully online, this program has the flexibility to accommodate the commonly unpredictable schedules of fire service or public safety personnel – or anyone who is currently busy working.

The curriculum coincides with accepted best practices by fire service organizations. All of the courses work together cohesively to convey an expert understanding of these major topics: 

• Personnel administration for fire and emergency services
• Political context of fire and emergency services administration
• Fire service organization dynamics
• Fire-related human behavior

Students will learn real-world approaches to fire science administration and skills that they can actually use on the job. Graduates should be ready to seek viable employment when they complete the program. With this master's degree, they should be able to make valuable contributions in fire protection, mitigation, investigation, and other related services.

The program prepares students to advance into many high-demand managerial roles. It appeals to achievers who want the highest level of education in their field. More importantly, for those seeking a promotion, a master's degree is an essential qualification for attaining certain higher-level and higher-paying positions in various fire, police, and emergency services organizations and government agencies. In addition, this master's degree program provides excellent preparation in fire service for those seeking opportunities in the private sector.

Examples of potential positions students could attain with this degree include:

• Fire marshal
• Arson investigator
• Smoke jumper
• Fire captain
• Fire chief

Learn more about this exciting program in our M.S. in Fire Science Administration Q&A.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Data Analytics

As technology has soared to never-before-seen heights in the past decade, data has been collected in countless ways, particularly in the world of business. This is how data analytics has grown into a tremendously important industry.

Data analytics involves examining large data sets to uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and other key insights on which certain determinations can be made. Thanks to 21^st-century technology, it's now easier than ever to analyze data and obtain results in just seconds.

Data analytics demonstrates how statistics, computer science, and data visualizations all converge to produce powerful information. The concept has numerous real-worldapplications across a wide variety of industries, including business, marketing, health sciences, and technology.

The intended goals behind data analytics can help organizations with:

• Increased efficiency
• Cost reduction
• Higher profits
• Faster and more strategic decision-making
• Ideas for new products and services
• Improved customer satisfaction

The Master of Business Administration with a specialization in data analytics provides a comprehensive curriculum that gives students the power of an MBA education, but with a specialization that can help graduates define their goals and attain gainful employment in data analytics.

This online program comes with the much-desired flexibility of allowing students to complete their coursework in an environment they choose for success.

Graduates may find employment opportunities as:

• Computer and information analysts
• Research scientists
• Software developers
• Operations and research analysts
• Mathematicians
• Statisticians
• Educators in statistics, data analysis, etc.

Students and working professionals looking to transform their skills with analyzing data will greatly benefit from enrolling in this highly relevant program.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields with job growth that has exploded in just the last few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity positions were expected to grow by 37% from 2012 to 2022 – by far the most rapidly growing field. This rate could rise even more over the next 5 years.

As we rely on technology more and more each day that goes by, our lives become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, identity theft, and many other potential problems that were non-existent only a decade or two ago. More than ever before, it's a must to protect any typed of data – from personal identifying information like Social Security Numbers to confidential corporate financial records. There is a dire need for skilled professionals to protect all cyber communications systems from the constant threats that exist today.

The Associate of Arts in Cybersecurity is an undergraduate online degree program that prepares students with knowledge and applicable skills necessary for entry-level careers in cybersecurity. Plus, it provides the broad foundational knowledge to continue on to a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity and related areas.

Students will be educated in the technical aspects of cyber security systems and will be prepared to assume responsibility for the operation and oversight of these systems. Learn to solve real-life problems involving the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, network, and systems for securing information resources.

Students will gain marketable skills in:

• Network defense
• Internet security
• Ethical hacking
• Computer forensics
• Managing information security

Typical career paths for graduates of this program include:

• Security engineer
• Security analyst
• Information security engineer
• Network security engineer
• Information technology security analyst
• Security administrator
• Network administrator

Almost every day, shocking headlines run across news sites about the latest hack or security breach. This program is essential to providing a comprehensive introduction to the world of cybersecurity – and why it is more critical than ever today.