Teaching Security Courses Experientially

Abstract

Courses in security are essential in criminal justice programs, but tend to be nonexistent at many postsecondary institutions. Faculty often struggle to legitimize these types of courses, and find that students are reluctant to take them. However, prior research indicates that student career choices and perceptions of the security field change after taking a course in security. The current work summarizes the need to teach security‐related topics to criminal justice undergraduates and details two personal experiences on how to successfully do so. It also advises instructors on how to utilize university campuses internally and practitioners externally toward this end.

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to express their appreciation for the earlier reviews from JCJE. We would also like to thank the following individuals for their helpful comments: Stephanie Walsh, PhD (Aurora University) and Stephanie Fletcher (Aurora University).

Notes

1. Although there are clearly more than six across the nation offering at least one course in private security, many institutions were difficult to access for research evaluation purposes.

2. For example, continuity of operations was quite relatable considering the annual hurricane threats coastal residents of Florida know all too well.