Apr 30, 2015 03:21 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Phoenix is offering new security management degrees to address complexities of business risk and crime prevention, school officials announced Thursday.

The institution introduced the Associate of Arts in Security Management and the Bachelor of Science in Security Management degree programs  in security management designed to meet the demands of this expanding U.S. security industry by providing aspiring professionals with advanced training.

The demand and interest in the U.S. security industry are aligned as 42 percent of working adults have some level of interest in security-related careers or have worked in security, law enforcement or other criminal justice-related fields. The U.S. security industry is a $410 billion annual market, with millions of jobs that span nearly every sector of the global economy, according to data from ASIS International.

"The increasing complexity in the security industry has resulted in expanding demands for educated professionals,"  Spider Marks, executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Security and Criminal Justice, said in a statement. "University of Phoenix is working closely with industry leaders to ensure our students are trained to meet the demands and challenges of the modern security industry."

The Associate of Arts in Security Management will prepare students to work in loss prevention and asset protection, specifically in the retail industry. Potential jobs include surveillance, investigation, loss prevention and asset protection. Nationally, organized retail crime alone costs the industry $30 billion annually, making these positions critical components to supporting and protecting the U.S. economy.

The Bachelor of Science in Security Management will train students in risk mitigation and crisis management applicable across multiple industries, including energy, manufacturing, hospitality and gaming. This degree will prepare students for jobs in risk assessment, risk mitigation, crisis management and continuity planning.

The curriculum for each program is aligned with industry standards and is designed to equip job seekers with the education needed to pursue a position in the security field.

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