Homeland Security Careers: More Opportunities Than Ever Before
By Bob Jaffin
Homeland security as a discipline is still in its infancy. However, the field is having an enormous impact on our world, our economy — and the job market. The Department of Homeland Security employs nearly 200,000 workers, making it the third largest federal agency.
What is even more exciting is the convergence of homeland security with traditional disciplines, such as criminal justice, emergency and disaster management, intelligence, and security management. An example: Recently, a New Jersey metropolitan police department hired a private security firm to provide physical security for its civilian employees at its headquarters.
What does this mean for you? Law enforcement, intelligence, and special operations professionals, as well as security management professionals have more career opportunities than ever before. Some positions are so new they do not even have names or titles yet. Preparing for Your New Career
So, the jobs are there. How can you earn one? In some cases, you may just need additional training. For example, the National Sheriff’s Association and the Office of Domestic Preparedness offer programs — at no cost to the participant’s agency.
Some positions may require a bachelor’s degree or even an advanced degree. Many higher education institutions incorporate homeland security into existing degrees or offer separate degrees. If choosing that route, keep these guidelines in mind when researching degree programs: - A solid homeland security program should include courses that combine theory with practical application.
- Any program — whether it is for a full degree or a certificate — should require students to earn at least 15 credits or more.
- This level of study ensures a good balance between theory and practical approaches.
- The program should include courses from a variety of disciplines, such as criminal justice, law, emergency management, intelligence, social science, security management, and communications. It should definitely include courses covering the role of the federal government and constitutional law.
- The program should match your career goals. For example, some programs may focus more on emergency management, while others may lean toward criminal justice and yet others may focus on health care. If you are not sure after looking at the course offerings, contact the department chair or other program advisor for more information.
- Faculty should have relevant “real-world” experience. Modern homeland security is so new that textbooks are being written right now. To be successful, a program must incorporate what is happening in the field.
One Homeland Security Degree Program American Military University’s online homeland security degree program was launched in May 2001 – months before 9/11. It was the first available in the United States and remains the nation’s largest program, with more than 1,400 civilian and military students pursuing undergraduate and graduate homeland security degrees online.
The multi-disciplinary program depends heavily on portions of the criminal justice and intelligence specialties. Major courses cover criminal justice, security management, intelligence and selective medical and health studies as well as national security, international relations, and public management. A program such as this provides a firm and diverse foundation upon which students can either later specialize or become a generalist.
At the graduate level, the core requirement draws from emergency and disaster management, intelligence and national security.
Check out the University’s blog, www.inhomelandsecurity.com, for ongoing discussions related to homeland security, intelligence and more.
Bob Jaffin is a program manager for American Military University. |
