Homeland Security: Career Options and Education Requirements

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was born in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a mandate to protect the nation from future disasters. You can lend a hand in the effort to reduce U.S. vulnerability to terrorism and natural disaster by training for a career in homeland security.

Which Types of Jobs Are Available in Homeland Security?

Homeland security has evolved to include a range of occupations related to national security. Opportunities for work with homeland security agencies and contractors cover intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, immigration policy, and more.

Jobs in homeland security include:

• Immigration officer
• Security specialist
• Detention and deportation officer
• Customs and import specialist
• Border patrol agent
• Federal coordinating officer for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
• Law enforcement instructor
• Information security specialist
• Intelligence operations specialist
• Policy analyst
• Criminal investigator

Each of these homeland security jobs features a unique job description--no two roles are alike. You may find yourself dealing directly with suspected terrorists as a criminal investigator or analyzing communications records as an intelligence analyst. Emergency management jobs within the Department of Homeland Security emphasize operations planning and logistics, risk assessment, and security.

Homeland security offers a rewarding career path for individuals dedicated to public service. At the same time, jobs in homeland security bring challenges. Some roles on the frontlines of counter terrorism and immigration enforcement can expose you to difficult, antagonistic situations. Meanwhile, white-collar office jobs hazard the opposite frustration of bureaucracy and red tape. Ultimately, all national security professionals enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to a greater cause: protecting U.S. citizens from terrorist attack and disaster.

Formal Training Required to Work in Homeland Security

Formal training in homeland security is as diverse as the job descriptions. The most versatile credential, the bachelor's degree in homeland security, qualifies you for entry-level positions as a border patrol agent, immigration officer, or agency administrator. For management or specialist roles in areas such as intelligence analysis, policy analysis, and cybersecurity, continue on to a master's degree. Your homeland security education options include:

• Associate's degree in criminal justice or homeland security
• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, emergency management, information security, or homeland security
• Master's degree in management, homeland security, information assurance
• Certificate in homeland security, for returning students

Most of these degrees are available online to accommodate professionals already working in the field or managing busy schedules. Program times range from a few months for a homeland security certificate to four years for a college bachelor's degree. Graduate programs such as the MS, MBA, and Master of Public Administration (MPA) generally involve one to two years of post-graduate study.

The Typical Career Path of Someone Working in Homeland Security

Homeland security professionals typically enter as administrators or program agents and advance into positions of greater responsibility or expertise. Depending on your chosen career in homeland security, you may promote your career development through on-the-job experience or further education in your field. Graduate degrees in management or technical specialties such as management information systems or infrastructure security offer a powerful boost to your resume. Graduate-level homeland security jobs include emergency management directors, intelligence data and systems analysts, and scientific investigators and engineers.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Those Working in Homeland Security

Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the U.S. government has invested an estimated $130 billion in homeland security. Federal funding in counter terrorism and natural disaster prevention should persist for the foreseeable future, as the Department of Homeland Security confronts critical threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad. Some of the top issues shaping career opportunities in homeland security include:

• Counter terrorism
• National infrastructure security
• Immigration policy
• Information security
• Intelligence systems engineering
• Disaster response

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect specific statistics on homeland security, but related career paths send a clear message of growth in the field. Federal and state law enforcement agents should see ten percent growth in employment from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Criminal investigators earned a median salary of $62,110 in 2009. Border patrol agents brought home average earnings of $59,594 in 2009. Customs and border protection agents, meanwhile, earned $92,558.

A decade of homeland security has yielded advances in national security and strong career opportunities for trained criminal justice and public administration professionals. Join the ranks of national security leaders and experts with a degree or certificate in homeland security.