What Is A Homeland Security Degree, And Is It Worth It?
After the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, the US government formed the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS is responsible for counterterrorism, aviation, port, maritime, and cyber security. Since then, the unit has seen exponential growth and other agencies springing underneath it.
Today, students can aspire to have a degree in this field and function in many aspects of securing their communities. A degree in homeland security explores all topics related to security in the country. Upon graduation, graduates are equipped with the needed skills to find solutions to security issues at the local, regional, and national levels.
Are you a high school graduate looking for a course that assures you of job security after school? Or you’re probably looking to work for the government at any level? Here are some reasons a homeland security degree is worth it:
Federal Employment
For people who aspire to work for the federal government because of the prestige associated with it, this is your chance. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in homeland security doesn’t mean you can work only for the DHS. You can function in other agencies like the US department of labor, which employs inspectors for emergencies, or the US state department, which needs agents to advise US ambassadors and protect the country’s dignitaries.
Should you want to try something more technical, you can apply to the Central Intelligence Agency. These parastatals are under the federal government’s purview and offer juicy take-homes.
State and Home Employment
If you would rather stay closer to your community to protect it and offer your security expertise, you can get a job closer to home. You can work as a safety worker or a first responder at a utility. Local and state governments also have emergency management services that respond to disasters and threats within their domain. You can be employed to lead the team.
A Private and Non-profit Organization
Modern companies have made data security a priority due to recent breaches. Therefore, they need someone with a background in homeland security to respond to such threats. Non-profit organizations also need people to conduct research and assessment in any given task and an experienced person to handle it. The first people they look out for are those with a degree in homeland security.
Diversity of Careers
A degree in homeland security is diverse and allows students to follow their passion while impacting multiple sectors simultaneously. There’s practically no aspect of security students are not exposed to when they decide to venture into this field.
Like in the case of the September 2001 attack, these experts ensure that businesses that suffered disasters can bounce back. These professionals also ensure that the affected sector is prepared for future occurrences and responds accordingly.
Infrastructure Protection
If the department of homeland security had been functional before the 9/11 attacks, the effect of the disaster may have been minimal or non-existent. A degree in homeland security might land you a job in infrastructure protection where you protect public utilities like the health, communication, and transport sector.
It is necessary to protect public facilities because they are investments that generate income for the government. Moreover, they employ people that would be out of jobs should these investments collapse.
Lucrative Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in homeland security are lucrative. The more you upgrade, the more you increase your chances of better pay. Those hired to respond to disasters earn an average annual salary of $70,000. This figure isn’t bad when compared to similar jobs. However, the figures vary based on the job title and experience.
Now that you know that a degree in homeland security is worth it, should you consider it?
Before enrolling in this program, you should ask why you are taking it. Is it for the pay, or you’re passionate about the job? Like with every career, you must be certain about your intentions and do further research to ensure you’re not making a mistake.
Also, note that the government or your prospective employer would do security checks on you before hiring. You may want to consider if you would pass the test before applying to study. Better still, reach out to a career advisor to open your eyes to other aspects of the job you may not have considered.
