Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
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Loughborough University

Programme Specifications

Programme Specification

MSc Security Management (DL) (Sept 2010 - 2015 entries)

Academic Year: 2015/16

This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided.

This specification applies to delivery of the programme in the Academic Year indicated above. Prospective students reviewing this information for a later year of study should be aware that these details are subject to change as outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Study.

This specification should be read in conjunction with:

  • Summary
  • Aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Structure
  • Progression & weighting

Programme summary

Awarding body/institution Loughborough University
Teaching institution (if different)
Owning school/department School of Business and Economics
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body
Final award MSc/ PGDip / PGCert
Programme title Security Management
Programme code BSPT52
Length of programme The programme is normally offered on a part-time basis. The minimum period of study for the award of MSc is thirty-six calendar months. The minimum period of study for the award of Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma is twelve and twenty-four calendar months respectively.
UCAS code
Admissions criteria

See: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/departments/business-economics/securitymanagement/

 

And also the following: 

 

1.1          Entrance requirements to the programme are: 

i)                Possession of a degree or equivalent 

Or 

ii)               Have achieved the academic requirements for corporate membership of a British Chartered professional institution.

Or 

iii)              Hold any other relevant qualification or professional experience as determined by the Programme Director together with a reasonable level of formal academic education. 

Candidates who were awarded the Loughborough University Postgraduate Certificate in Security Management may count a minimum of 60 credits towards the award of Diploma. 

Candidates who were awarded the Loughborough University Postgraduate Diploma in Security Management may count a minimum of 100 credits towards the award of an MSc.

Date at which the programme specification was published Fri, 27 Nov 2015 15:47:00 GMT

1. Programme Aims

  • To promote knowledge and understanding in the subject of Security Management.
  • To provide advanced training where an opportunity is afforded for the security professional to bring together professional expertise and growing academic abilities.
  • To promote security management as a serious subject for academic study within the security industry.
  • To enhance the self-esteem of the participating students and to establish security management as a relevant discipline within the corporate environment in order that it might rank alongside other management disciplines.
  • To assist individuals with career development, advancement of their professional competence and standing, and their lifelong learning.
  • To provide an opportunity for security professionals from uniformed backgrounds to migrate into the corporate and private sector security domains.
  • To provide a unique academic qualification in security management, that brings together professional expertise and academic disciplines relevant to this interdisciplinary field.
  • To assist with entry into security representative bodies, for example The Security Institute, Association of Security Consultants and to assist in gaining Fellow status.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The Programme conforms to the benchmarks published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in respect of Masters awards in business and management in 2002. Specifically the programme meets the requirements of a specialist Masters degree (Type 1 B). 

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of;

Organisational behaviour, managing organisational change, and how such concepts interact with the role of the security manager.   Have a critical understanding of professional standards of behaviour and ethical conduct, together with security licensing arrangements via the Security Industry Authority framework.  Students should also understand the due legal process and the key elements associated with a crime and various criminological perspectives.  Additionally, an awareness of how the legal systems; criminal, civil and industrial tribunals impact on the work undertaken by the security professional.  Students must also understand the nuances associated with operating within both corporate and criminal domains and have an appreciation of Human Rights legislation and its’ impact upon the security industry.  The concept of pure risk, risk assessments, business continuity and contingency planning must be clearly understood.  Students must have a clear understanding of the international standards to be applied in the fields of business continuity and contingency planning.  Students will also gain knowledge of fraudulent activity, key principles of physical security (including closed circuit television) and of fraud prevention strategies.  An appreciation of the Fraud Act 2006 and the new bribery and corruption act must also be in evidence.   Data and Information Technology Security must also be understood including the relevant legal framework and countermeasures.

However the levels of knowledge and understanding are linked to the study programme undertaken, i.e. Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or MSc.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to understand security management as both a practically and academically based profession that adds real value to an organisation’s effectiveness, including financial performance as opposed to being regarded as a general overhead cost. Students should also view security management not only in problem solving mode but conceptually. They should be able to conceptualise various security problems and appreciate the ramifications of various courses of action. But most important of all, the solutions on offer must be based upon credible evidence and graduates must be willing to challenge conventional wisdom.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to understand and debate the changing nature of organisations and critically analyse the nature of management and motivators within a security management context. They should also be placed in a position to understand and to apply financial appraisal systems.   Students should also appreciate the importance of professional standards and ethical frameworks and workplace diversity within a security context. In addition to this they should appreciate the evolving nature of legislation, offender behaviour and be able to construct coping/preventative strategies for dealing with nefarious activity. They should appreciate the rudiments of pure risk, be able to analyse problems and offer up practical cost effective solutions. Students should be able to apply the various crime prevention theories in a practical setting and analyse logically crime statistics. They must be capable of devising policies and procedures to deal with physical, data protection and information technology security issues, these to include risk assessment, business continuity and contingency planning.

Student should gain an appreciation of computer related crime and the application of various security countermeasures. All students should be able to conduct and evaluate primary and secondary research in the field of security.  Students are aware of the various security related international standards and their location and interpretation when policy documents have to be written.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to write a good quality academic essay in both a logical and coherent fashion in a variety of security related settings by making use of a variety of information sources. This skill set should prove invaluable when the security manager is detailing a business case to acquire additional resources.

The student will also be capable of critical analysis of source material and have the ability to work to a pre-set timescale, and independently of others, in an organised fashion.  An ability to manage time efficiently, must also be demonstrated.

 

 

4. Programme structure

4.1 Modules 

 

 4.1 Compulsory Modules (total module weight of 60)

   

Module Weight

BSP563*

Physical Security and Fraud and Information Security

20

BSP564*

The Management of Computer Related Crime

20

BSP565*

Security Risk Management

20

 

4.2 Optional Modules (total module weight of 60)

   

Module Weight

BSP996* Crime Investigation Management Skills 

20

BSP561*

Business Management Skills

20

BSP562*

Law and Criminology

20

BSP566*

Research Methodology

20

 

4.3 MSc Subjects (total modular weight of 60)

BSP558*

Masters Project

60

*  by Distance Learning 

 

4.4 The choice of optional subjects will be made from those available.  Information on the up-to-date position is available from the School of Business and Economics. 

4.5 For full details of the specific assessment requirements for each module see the Module Specification.

 

4.6 Exemptions

If applicants possess certain prior qualifications they may be considered for exemption from some modules. 

.1         Consideration for exemption from BSP562 will be given if candidates have a first degree in law from a UK University. 

.2         Applicants possessing a recognised Postgraduate Diploma in Security Management, from another UK University, may be considered for the Masters with exemption from certain modules, providing the final award totals 180 credits. 

.3         Exemption from the compulsory module BSP558 will not be granted. 

.4         Any exemptions to be offered must be at the final discretion of the Associate Dean (Teaching).

 

 

 

 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1   In order to be eligible for an award, candidates must not only satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI but also:

5.1.1 To be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Certificate, candidates must have accumulated at least 60 credits.  Specifically, candidates must complete and achieve credit in BSP563, BSP564 and BSP565.

5.1.2 To be eligible for the award of MSc, candidates must have satisfied all the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma  and in addition must have accumulated 60 credits from the modules listed in 4.3.

 5.2 Candidates who have the right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed in the University’s special assessment period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

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