March 23, 2007—Davenport University, a 141-year-old school in Grand Rapids, Mich., now offers two- and four-year biometric security degree programs, according to The Associated Press. Currently, about 55 of the school’s 13,500 students are enrolled in the new programs.
Biometric security, which identifies people based on unique personal characteristics, has become more common since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Government agencies and private businesses are now investing in biometric devices that grant or block access after scanning fingerprints, eyes, facial features or vocal patterns.
The industry has grown from barely $300 million in 2001 to more than $2 billion last year, according to the National Biometric Security Project, a nonprofit consulting service.
The Davenport program emphasizes the technology’s application in security in business or government. The students are taught how to create security systems and understand their ethics, says Reid Gough, dean of Davenport’s School of Technology.
West Virginia University is the only other college in the country with a degree program in biometrics, officials at the two schools say. Since 2000, West Virginia has offered a bachelor’s of science in biometric systems, focusing on the engineering and design of biometric devices.
For more information, see the Davenport Web site.
