The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a vital American organization that helps protect the public in times of need. They define themselves as being “committed to relentless resilience, striving to prevent future attacks against the United States and our allies, responding decisively to natural and man-made disasters, and advancing American prosperity and economic security long into the future.” The six overarching missions of the Department include:

• Counter terrorism and homeland security threats 

• Secure U.S. borders and approaches 

• Secure cyberspace and critical infrastructure 

• Preserve and uphold the nation’s prosperity and economic security 

• Strengthen preparedness and resilience  

• Champion the DHS workforce and strengthen the Department 

Starting a career in the Department of Homeland Security is a versatile path—job categories can be administrative, involve network security, or require boots on the ground. Because of the broad range of opportunities, you may be wondering where to start. In this article, we’ll examine a few of the common career paths in homeland security and explore a degree that can help build your skills and make you a competitive job candidate.

Types of Homeland Security Careers

There are many different career options in homeland security, and finding the right one for you will depend on your personal career goals and interests. Below are some examples of different career paths and opportunities within those categories.

Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency that works to protect our borders, stop illegal trade and transportation, engage in counter-terrorism operations, and much more. Because this is such a large agency, there are many different work areas to choose from. Career paths include:

• Office of Field Operations: The Office of Field Operations enforces immigration laws and works to prevent drug smuggling.  

• Office of Professional Responsibility: The Office of Professional Responsibility conducts investigations of criminal activity and employee misconduct within the Customs and Border Patrol agency.  

• Office of Trade: The responsibility of the Office of Trade is to protect our economy and consumer health by enforcing trade laws.  

• U.S. Border Patrol: The U.S. Border patrol works to protect our borders and keep them secure from illegal activity. 

Emergency Management Agency

The goal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is to provide aid to those affected by disasters, either before, during, or after. Emergency management covers a wide range of departments including logistics, energy, communications, and more. Some careers include:

• Local Hire: Local hire workers are hired for 120-day periods to help their communities with disasters. Depending on the severity of the disaster, this employment period may be lengthened.  

• Reservists: Reservists act as on-call employees who respond to disasters, big and small. The nature of this work is unpredictable, but vital.  

• Technologists: Technologists use skills in software and data engineering, user research and design, data science, and geospatial analysis to provide relief in disasters.  

• Transportation Specialists: Transportation specialists are responsible for planning the logistics of transport operations in disaster situations. 

U.S. Secret Service

The United States Secret service works to safeguard the country against foreign threats, conducts financial investigations to protect the integrity of our financial system, and much more. Opportunities with the secret service include:

• Intelligence Research Specialists: Intelligence research specialists maintain an awareness of intelligence information in specific geographic areas.  

• Investigative Analysts: Investigative analysts gather and evaluate criminal activity data. Threats investigated include cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, and more.  

• Network Intrusion Forensic Analysts: Network intrusion forensic analysts are experts in digital forensic areas including computer forensics, network intrusions, virtual computer system environments, and more.  

• Special Agent: Special agents in the Secret Service conduct investigations, ensure the safety of elected officials, develop training programs, and more.

Requirements to Work for the Department of Homeland Security

You may be wondering what kind of degree is necessary for pursuing a career in the Department of Homeland Security. As we have explored above, there are a wide range of jobs and career paths in this field but having a solid foundational knowledge in counterterrorism and homeland security will put you at a tremendous advantage.  

American University’s online Master of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security is a 30-credit program that explores key topics such as national security law and policy, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, the causes of political violence, and more. In this program, you’ll build strong interdisciplinary skills and gain in-depth knowledge of terrorism as a social and psychological phenomenon with a focus on national and international law enforcement.  

Graduates of the Master of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security will have the expertise to:

• Spot and analyze security issues
• Develop public policies and programs
• Provide solutions to threats
• Solve policy challenges 

Homeland Security Job Versatility and Demands

Homeland security doesn’t just include the big agencies. There are a wide range of other important sectors, including intelligence consulting contractor firms, national security non-governmental organizations, corporate intel and risk assessment firms, D.C. think tanks, terrorism insurance agencies, and more. Each of these career paths come with their own rewards, challenges, and demands.  

Depending on your career goals, other factors may be important when applying for homeland security jobs. For example, if you are interested in a job as a firefighter or a border patrol agent, physical fitness will play an important role in your ability to perform job duties. You will also need to consider what types of security clearance are necessary for your chosen career path.

Take Your Next Career Step

If you are interested in a career with the Department of Homeland Security, earning a Master of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security from American University is a great first step. American University’s homeland security master’s program is designed to help you develop key skills and stand out among the competition. 

Explore what AU has to offer and take the next step in an exciting career path today!