Jobs in the Area Are Plentiful; Academic Training Options Are Not
ST. LOUIS -- Emerging homeland security threats have spurred a new degree option at Saint Louis University - a master's degree in biosecurity. To help educate as many people as possible across the United States in this critical area, the degree will be offered as an online "distance learning" program.
"Our program is contributing toward a brand new field, a new vocation," said Bruce Clements, MPH, one of the faculty members at the Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University School of Public Health. "Every state has a bioterrorism coordinator. Most major cities do, too. But almost none of them have formal academic training in this area."
The program's first students will be enrolled this fall, and faculty will include ex-military and ex-FBI professionals, all of whom have published in the field.
Greg Evans, Ph.D, director of the Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, says this is the first such program like it in the country using online instruction. And he says it's sorely needed.
"Many people working in the field of biosecurity have minimal relevant education in the field," Evans said. "Our program is a way of enhancing the nation's security by providing education across potentially large distances to those working in the field. The program will prepare leaders to deal with the consequences of an epidemic of infectious disease that is either natural or man-made, and with other consequences of public health disasters."
The program will teach students to respond to the threats of emerging infectious diseases, such as Avian Flu and SARS, and bioterrorism, which could include potential anthrax or smallpox attacks.
Evans said biosecurity is likely the most rapidly growing discipline in public health. For example, in 2003 approximately $1.4 billion was provided to states to assist in bioterrorism and emergency preparedness.
"The workforce in biosecurity is therefore new and largely untrained," Evans said. The degree is targeted to non-traditional students who have an interest in biosecurity. The program will be important to those who are not able to participate in a classroom setting because of work and family responsibilities. Distance technology permits a student to decide when they will study and how long it will take them to get their degree."
The degree is offered through the Institute for Biosecurity at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, formerly known as the Center for the Study of Bioterrorism and Emerging Infections. The Institute of Biosecurity at SLU was established in 2000 with funding from the CDC. A major goal of the institute is to develop and implement educational programs that can reach the largest audience.
The 35-credit program will be taught entirely by distance technology with an optional three-month summer residency. A subset of the courses also will be offered as a graduate certificate, 14 credit hours, for those people who do not want to pursue the master's. Courses included in the degree program include "Bioterrorism: The Public Health Response," "Terrorism Overview and Response Capabilities," "Fundamentals of Infectious Diseases" and "Crisis Communications."
Evans said that with new emerging threats to the United States "we need to create a new vocation with new credentials." He said the job market for biosecurity careers is robust and will be for many years.
"Biosecurity is a relatively new field that has unfortunately been greatly advanced by the tragedy of 9/11, mailed anthrax letters, concern over future bioterrorism attacks, and emergence of new diseases such as West Nile Virus and SARS," Evans said. "Every health department in the country, more than 5,000, has been mandated to develop programs to prepare for the consequences of bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. The Department of Homeland Security recognizes that bioterrorism is the most significant threat facing this country in the foreseeable future."
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor's degree. Each candidate will be interviewed by faculty members at the school, in person for local applicants and over the phone for out of town applicants.
For more information about enrolling in the program, call 314-977-8135.
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(Editor's note: To interview Greg Evans or Bruce Clements, please call Joe Muehlenkamp at 314-977-8015.)
