10 Best Degrees For Homeland Security
If you are passionate about serving the public by protecting them and their businesses, you need a degree in homeland security to get started. However, this field is broad and offers countless areas of specialization. Graduates can work for the DHS, FBI, CBI, and many other security agencies.
These professionals are highly trained in their specific fields, but all start with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. After a first degree, one can specialize in any aspect of security they are passionate about. Are you ready to start your journey in homeland security? You can consider these ten degrees:
Sociology
Sociology teaches us how people interact with society and what drives human development. This degree is research and data-based, and students get an in-depth knowledge of how societies function. Moreover, it studies people’s culture, gender, race, and geography. This degree is crucial in homeland security jobs because students are taught to communicate effectively and analyze human interactions.
Criminal Justice and Criminology
Enrolling in criminal justice and criminology means exposing you to public administration, law, sociology, and courses that support statistical analysis. You would also study crimes, punishments, and how the justice system works. Students would be asked to intern with the FBI, a police station, or a counselling office to get insights into how the criminal justice system works.
Public Administration and Social Services
While public administration and social services are broad topics, students can narrow their interests while studying. However, the common courses to expect are economics, management, public speaking, psychology, teaching strategies, and ethics.
After the coursework, students are encouraged to intern with a community-based organization or a public agency to learn how to assist their community with health, legal, educational, or social needs.
Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis
Students that enrol in law enforcement intelligence analysis learn intelligence gathering and interpretation. They are taught to be excellent communicators with top-notch problem-solving skills and critical thinkers. The coursework includes research methods, criminal justice, criminal law, and world politics.
After the study, students can intern with patrol border agencies, law enforcement agencies, or intelligence agencies.
Cyber Forensics
Students who want to undertake a course in cyber forensics must be passionate about computer science and understand programming and other computer languages. The major coursework includes computer networks, programming, computer language, and law. Students are exposed to all types of media and how they play a role in national security.
Forensic Science
Forensic science students imbibe effective problem-solving and communication skills in interpreting and evaluating what they are taught. They major in courses like clinical laboratory science, forensic serology, chemistry, and research methodologies.
These students would also understand the legal procedures surrounding the field. Graduates can apply for jobs in many investigative fields within homeland security. Those who major in forensic science can take up roles in all aspects of forensic investigations.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
When students think of a degree in homeland security, what readily comes to mind is fighting terrorism. Students of terrorism and counterterrorism are trained to work in many fields under homeland security. Students take courses on historical terrorism, domestic and international law, and other techniques to combat terrorism and lessen its effects. This course teaches that religious, social, and political factors contribute to terrorism.
Emergency Management
Emergency management includes public relations, ethics, law, and risk management courses. Students in this field are exposed to natural and artificial disasters and how they can respond to them. Students would also learn how other agencies work together to mitigate the effects of the disaster. Graduates would be skilled in applying ethical and legal solutions to solving problems relating to emergency management.
Political Science
Political science enthusiasts are interested in the political processes of the government. They take courses in international relations, government economics, public policy, and political theory. A political science graduate is a critical thinker, problem solver, and an excellent communicator. An internship is done at a government agency or nonprofit organization, after which they land jobs as political data analysts.
Homeland Security
While other courses mentioned here can land you a job in homeland security, you can major in this field directly. Students take courses in criminal justice and law, emergency planning, bioterrorism, communication, and constitutional law. One can also specialize in disaster response, cybersecurity, political relations, law, and similar fields.
A degree in homeland security is the secret to landing a job in the DHS, NSA, and other related fields.
