by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations involves the study of Terrorism And Counterterrorism Operations. A Program Focusing On The Study Of Terrorism As A Global And National Threat And The Methods For Analyzing And Countering It. Includes Instruction In Psychology, Cultural Studies, Terrorist History And Organization, Terrorist Capabilities, Terrorist Finance And International Money-Laundering, Threat Assessment, Intelligence Operations, Incident Command Systems, Border Security, Emergency Response, Joint Operations, Surveillance And Communications Systems, Cyberterrorism, Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Counterterrorist Operations, And Applications To Specific Terrorist Organizations And Threats. Continue reading for the essential details every terrorism & counterterrorism operations major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering terrorism & counterterrorism operations programs.
Across the country, terrorism & counterterrorism operations is a popular field of study, with 181 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations Schools ranking analyzes these 14 schools to determine the best overall colleges for terrorism & counterterrorism operations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of terrorism & counterterrorism operations programs later in this article.
Studies in Terrorism & Counterterrorism Operations build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations terrorism & counterterrorism operations graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a terrorism & counterterrorism operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a terrorism & counterterrorism operations major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several terrorism & counterterrorism operations degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 49 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 129 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.2% |
| Master’s degree | 8.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.9% |
| Some college courses | 7.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in terrorism & counterterrorism operations careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in terrorism & counterterrorism operations opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to terrorism & counterterrorism operations.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Emergency Management Directors | 390,880 | 12.5% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of terrorism & counterterrorism operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,896 |
| 4 years | $65,332 |
| 5 years | $74,471 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for terrorism & counterterrorism operations graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers terrorism & counterterrorism operations grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 14 different terrorism & counterterrorism operations programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased terrorism & counterterrorism operations school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in terrorism & counterterrorism operations, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security | 2,871 |
| Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management | 2,513 |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | 545 |
| Homeland Security, Other | 213 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
