"Daniel Webster's newest undergraduate program, designed to take advantage of the college's distinctive strengths in aviation and computer science, reflects how we look at the concepts of peace, war, security, liberty and freedom, as we face conflicts on the ground and from sources on a scale new in its experience," said Myers.

Daniel Webster's program is unique in several ways. By taking advantage of the college's strength and high industry visibility in aviation and computer science, the program gains immediate credibility that other institutions cannot approach.

Additionally, with the college's 40-plus year history of responding to new and emerging workforce needs in professional and technologically challenging fields, graduates with a DWC degree in homeland security will be "workforce ready" and able to fill employers' immediate needs. And finally, this program, unlike many others, provides broad preparation instead of narrowly focusing on emergency preparedness.

Homeland security involves dozens of critical roles played by men and women that the public rarely sees. With the 9/11 tragedy, government and corporate planners sought out and employed military and law enforcement professionals.

Since that time, corporations and other organizations -- especially those in aviation, computing, and other high-risk fields -- have invested in resources designed to secure their operations.

Current and retired senior homeland-security professionals are quick to point out that many of those staffing the government agencies and corporate security roles are midcareer and senior officers. When they retire, there will be a significant void to be filled and a scarcity of new professionals to take their place.

Beyond the obvious concerns with the war on terror, federal resources have also been invested in planning and improving capacity to respond to natural disasters and plan for threats to safety that arise from disease.

From Daniel Webster College students' first semester, they will be practicing participants in interactive projects overseen by industry/faculty experts. Studies include the sociology of disasters; risk and crisis management; continuity and recovery; ideology, conflict, and terror; and homeland security vulnerabilities and threats. Each student will also participate in a mandatory homeland security internship. Students have the option of declaring a concentration in aviation security, computer security, or designing a custom concentration to suit their own goals.

The objective of the program is to provide broad preparation that exposes students to the nature of the threats to which homeland security seeks to respond, the tools that may be used in threats to homeland security, and fundamental methods of assessment and response.