Master’s Degree in Biosecurity—an Update
As the first year of the MS in Biosecurity program draws to a close, it is instructive to take a brief moment to reflect on where we started, where we currently stand, and the future direction of the program. The MS in Biosecurity program began in Fall, 2005 with a starting class of 21 students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. There were 4 courses taught the first semester with topics ranging from an introduction to terrorism organizations and motivations to the public health threat from infectious disease emergencies. The classes provided fascinating discussions on all aspects of infectious disease emergency preparedness. In the Spring 2006 semester, 9 additional students joined the program and 1 joined the Certificate in Biosecurity program, bringing the total to 31 students. Another 4 courses were taught, including topics such as infectious disease emergency planning and managing the mental health consequences of terrorism.
In the late spring/early summer, the faculty and staff of the Institute for Biosecurity evaluated the curriculum for the MS in Biosecurity program and made a few changes. Student evaluations and existing competencies for biosecurity were examined and used to alter the curriculum to maximize student learning and practice outcomes. In addition, it was decided that students should be allowed to tailor their program to their specific needs or interests. To accommodate this, some existing courses were condensed or combined to allow students to open slots in the curriculum for which students could choose elective classes for their program. The number of total credits for the program remains the same (35), but the changes will enable students to select courses that most interest them. The new curriculum will be rolled out in Spring, 2007, although some changes will be implemented in the Fall, 2006 semester.