American University’s online MS in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security prepares law enforcement and intelligence professionals for a wide variety of homeland security careers and counter-terrorism jobs. Roles in these areas increased substantially after 9/11 and opportunities remain strong today.
Build In-Demand Skills
The master’s program builds broad, interdisciplinary skills that are applicable to a wide variety of the federal law enforcement jobs available in most federal agencies, though these roles are competitive and may require years to gain entry. The largest number of positions are employed by the Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury, and Defense Departments. More than 180,000 federal workers are employed by the Department of Homeland Security alone.1
Moving forward, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of protective service occupations will grow 5 percent from 2016 to 2026, resulting in about 158,200 new jobs.2
Prepare for Federal Government Opportunities
Students who have earned the online homeland security master’s degree on campus have pursued positions at U.S. federal government agencies and intelligence communities post-graduation, which focus on law enforcement and intelligence operations. These positions are in both headquarters in Washington, D.C. as well as field offices around the nation and the world.
The job growth related to these industries, which are federal government focused, will depend to some extent on the threat level and funding provided to these agencies. There are also government contractors who focus on these issues and could drive some of the growth in this industry.
There are many internships and jobs that are only available to current students, such as the US Government Pathways program. Others are available to recent graduates, such as the Presidential Management Fellowships program. All online students have access to the same benefits as on-campus students, including online career workshops and career coaching opportunities. Our goal is to help students access the educational, internship, and job opportunities they need to successfully build or advance their careers in intelligence or law enforcement.
Graduate Ready for Intelligence and Law Enforcement Roles
Sample jobs graduates may pursue include:
- Law Enforcement Federal Agent, state or local sworn officer, analyst, and support personnel
- Intelligence Officer, analyst, and support personnel
- Homeland Security analyst, and support personnel
- Criminal Intelligence Analyst, State Level Department of Law Enforcement
- Data Analyst, protecting critical infrastructure
- Intelligence Analyst, US Department of Justice
- Federal Agent, DoD Criminal Investigative Entity
- Section Chief, US Department of Homeland Security Component
Jobs at federal agencies are highly competitive, and sometimes take years to gain entry. However, a sample of agencies for these careers include:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- State and Local Police departments
- Defense Intelligence Agency
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Secret Service
Take Advantage of a Promising Job Market
The ongoing job growth related to counter-terrorism and homeland security moving forward will depend to some extent on the threat level and funding provided to federal agencies responsible for these areas. But a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General stated that the department is facing challenges in hiring an additional 15,000 law enforcement officers, a sign that demand for professionals in these areas who are highly qualified will be ongoing.3
1 federaljobs.net
2 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/home.htm
3 https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2017/OIG-17-98-SR-Jul17.pdf
To learn more about American University’s online Master of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security and the career opportunities it can create for you, call 855.725.7614 to speak with an admissions adviser or request more information.
