Connect with Us!
Spring 2019Connect with Us! is a quarterly newsletter that features UTEP Connect's online programs and the faculty, staff and students associated with them. Featured Programs: Online BA in Security Studies & Master of Defense & Strategic Studies Both our featured programs are offered through the National Security Studies Institute at UTEP. The Institute is a part of the College of Liberal Arts and serves the educational needs of more than 500 students through its on-campus and online degrees. Classes are also offered at Ft. Bliss to serve the military community, and programming is tailored to give veterans, active servicemembers and working professionals the flexibility they need. Faculty provide a great balance of academic and real-world expertise and the goal of the Institute is to provide students with practical skills and experience.
UTEP EdgeOur student success initiative, the UTEP Edge, develops upon students’ assets through a variety of high-impact experiences. These experiences are designed to improve student skills and give UTEP students a competitive advantage as they move forward in their lives and careers. Our goal as a campus is to
provide these UTEP Edge experiences to all students, regardless of their area of study, so they will graduate with a competitive advantage over their peers.
Bachelor of Arts in Security Studies (BASS)
The online BA in Security Studies was developed with funding from the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate. The program is designed to meet the career objectives of current U.S. Department of Homeland Security and military service personnel; it is a great choice for students seeking to pursue a variety of national security careers. The curriculum focuses on four main areas: Cybersecurity, Homeland Security, Intelligence and National Security, and Security Operations. The goal of the program is to give graduates a competitive edge by
providing the domain knowledge and analytical skills in demand by federal and private security employers.
Edge experiences BASS students will have - Research and Scholarly Activities
- Student Leadership
- Study Abroad/Study
Away
- Capstone Experience
Edge skills they will graduate with - Confidence
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Global Awareness
BASS Student Spotlight: Justin Sallese
As a self-professed "military brat," Justin Sallese has lived all over the country. Justin now lives and works in Austin TX, where he is an escalation engineer at AlienVault, a security management and intelligence company.Justin's interest in cybersecurity led him to the online BA in Security Studies degree at UTEP, and he believes this degree will help him advance in his career. He is a fan of UTEP's approach to online learning and the 7-week format of the courses. Justin expects to graduate in 2020.
"My only regret is that I didn’t sign up for this program sooner. The subject matter is interesting, the professors are knowledgeable and approachable, and I believe this degree will help further my career."
Dr. Geoff Hamm, Lecturer, Bachelor of Arts in Security Studies
Dr. Geoff Hamm has taught in the online BA in Security Studies program since 2015. His research background is in military history, intelligence, and international relations in the First World War, but his historical interests run much broader geographically and chronologically. His passion for teaching stems from a fascination with history and geography (both are subjects in which he teaches first-year survey courses). He enjoys hearing different perspectives from his online students and is energized when his classes resonate with his
students.
"I don’t think a successful online student is much different than any other. I think successful students everywhere share many of the same characteristics: discipline, a good work ethic, and an open mind."
Master of Defense and Strategic Studies (MDSS)
This 100% online degree is an ideal choice for military or civilian personnel currently working in—or planning to work in—national security and defense. UTEP's Master of Defense and Strategic Studies degree provides a solid background for individuals who want to: - Work within the U.S. government in intelligence or homeland defense
- Support foreign relations by working in the U.S. diplomatic corps
- Advance in the armed services
- Help influence defense policy by providing legislative support on Capitol Hill
Edge experiences MDSS students will have - Capstone Experience
- Learning Communities
Edge skills they will graduate with - Problem-solving
- Global Awareness
- Critical Thinking
MDSS Student Spotlight: Leslie Andrea Reynoso
Leslie Andrea Reynoso is a 20-year old El Paso native who graduated from the Master of Defense and Strategic Studies program in December 2018. She is also a first-generation student who appreciates her hard-working parents who provided her with opportunities they never had. Leslie's progress towards her master's degree is impressive. She graduated from high school in 2015 at age 16 as a three-year graduate. She then went on to community college in 2016 for an associate degree in Criminal Justice, and graduated with a bachelor's degree from UTEP in
the same area a year later.
She hopes that her undergraduate work in criminal justice together with her most recent master's degree in Defense and Strategic Studies will give her the foundation she needs to build a successful career in U.S. national security.
"The MDSS program is very fast-paced and therefore requires students to have a tremendous amount of self-discipline. Although the program is very rigorous, it still offers students flexibility and the learning opportunity of a lifetime."
Dr. Joseph P. Bassi, Adjunct Lecturer, Master of Defense and Strategic StudiesDr. Joseph Bassi is a retired U.S. Air Force officer with twenty-six years of active duty. He has taught at UTEP since Fall 2015; the courses he teaches are Intro to U.S. National Security and Future of War. Dr. Bassi had many space-related assignments at various points in his military career. After retirement from active service, he also served served as a space policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
while working for the Aerospace Corporation. In the online classroom, Dr. Bassi strives to personalize the learning experience for his students. At the graduate level, he says that being successful requires a combination of hard work and interest in the subject. And his advice to his students? Simple: Read the instructions!
"Simply, read all the class instructions and instructor communications, i.e. syllabus, class announcements, etc. (Most student) questions are answered in the guidance or (in topics) I have posted on."
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