Are you interested in protecting your country from threats of terrorism and protecting fellow citizens during times of crisis? If so, then Homeland Security could be the major for you.
Studying Homeland Security will provide you with knowledge about security threats, both domestic and international. Classes will cover such topics as international relations, homeland defense, government, bioscience, consequence management, and terrorism. Current issues in this field are keeping American interests in mind worldwide, drug trafficking, and emergency management.
Some concentrations you may be able to specialize in are Disaster Management, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations.
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Homeland Security Degrees in the United States
#117Most Popular Major
6.8kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
In 2021-2022, homeland security was the 117th most popular major nationwide with 6,812 degrees awarded.
This year's Best Homeland Security Schools ranking compares 69 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom homeland security rankings further below.
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Homeland Security Degree Requirements
This major teaches students many valuable and practical skills. You will learn how to evaluate domestic security challenges and propose changes to government at the local, state, and federal level. This requires a logical thinker who doesn't shy away from controversial topics. Students should be objective and pay close attention to detail in their research in order to have accurate outcomes.
A career in homeland security requires clear thinkers who are able to make decisions and keep calm in emergency situations. You may face any number of dangerous environments. Students should be physical fit and strong as well as emotionally consistent.
ADBLOCK #171
Prior Education for a Homeland Security Program
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific homeland security careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Homeland Security Degree Types
There are various different levels of homeland security degrees. Homeland Security programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest homeland security degree you can get. Different homeland security degrees vary in how long they take.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to homeland security, with approximately 47.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for homeland security workers below.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree
43.4%
Master’s Degree
17.8%
High School Diploma
10.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)
9.9%
Some College Courses
6.7%
ADBLOCK #172
75.3% of homeland security workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in homeland security have received.
This of course varies depending on which homeland security career you choose.
Homeland Security Careers
AverageNumber of Jobs
$68.1kAverage Starting Salary
8% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Graduates will have learned a broad set of skills they can apply to a number of different occupations. Many grads work for the department of homeland security as federal agents, law enforcement officers or first responders. Other options are to become a law maker, detective, government lawyer or police officer.
Growth Projected for Homeland Security Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your homeland security degree? Homeland Security careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to homeland security.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Managers
1,071,700
8.0%
Professors
258,700
9.4%
Police and Detective Supervisors
111,600
6.6%
Protective Service Worker Supervisors
78,700
4.7%
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
19,400
12.1%
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Dive deep into counterterrorism issues, focusing on intelligence analysis, threat assessment and advanced surveillance with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Recently graduated homeland security students earned an average of $68,089 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $27,387 to as high as $165,273. As you might expect, salaries for homeland security graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Homeland Security Careers
Salaries for homeland security graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers homeland security grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Managers
$115,590
Police and Detective Supervisors
$93,100
Emergency Management Directors
$82,570
Professors
$76,990
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
$72,390
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Homeland Security Degree
With over 602 different homeland security degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased homeland security school rankings to help you with this.
by our College Data Analytics Team
