Worldwide concern with security issues and disaster management within the hospitality industry is creating opportunities for hospitality management education. This study investigated essential curriculum content, student characteristics, instructional modalities, and program competencies potentially important for hospitality industry based security studies programs. Findings indicate that such programs should have non-traditional, flexible structure as initial students will likely hold middle and upper management industry positions. Executive leadership, agencies involved in emergency preparedness, and integration of systems focused on security and disaster management, both as program content and resulting competencies are important program components.