Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Homeland Security
Focusing on security policy, planning and operations dedicated to the protection of U.S. territory, assets, infrastructure, institutions and citizens from external threats. Covers national security policy, government relations, intelligence, law enforcement, security technology, communications and information technology, homeland security planning and operations, disaster planning and applications to specific threat scenarios.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 4 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management
- Focusing on the application of the incident command system model to formulating and implementing effective response to natural and man-made disasters. Covers contingency planning, hazard and risk assessment, joint operations, law and ethics, emergency response and recovery, event mitigation, emergency rescue and medical operations, incident command, terrorism and national security issues, law enforcement, relief administration, volunteer and citizen coordination, public relations and applications to specific types of incidents.
- Critical Infrastructure Protection
- Focusing on the design, planning and management of systems and procedures for protecting critical national physical and cyber infrastructure from external threats, including terrorism. Covers homeland security policy, critical infrastructure policy, information security, matrix vulnerability assessment, threat assessment, physical security, personnel security, operational security, contingency planning, case analyses of specific industries and systems, redundancy planning, emergency and disaster planning, security systems, and intelligence operations.
- Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
- Focusing on the study of terrorism as a global and national threat and the methods for analyzing and countering it. Covers 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.
- Homeland Security, Other
- Homeland security not listed above.
Also called Disaster Planning and Management, Emergency and Disaster Mitigation, Emergency Preparedness and Technology, Incident Command Systems, Emergency Training, Disaster Operations and Recovery, Integrated Emergency Management, Disaster Medicine and Management, Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Management
Also called Search and Rescue Technician, Emergency Telecommunicator, Emergency Services Communications, Public Safety Communications
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.9%
- Job openings a year
- 100,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyFirst-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Median pay
- $106,040
- Hiring change through 2035
- 3.3%
- Job openings a year
- 10,600
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing with the economyPostsecondary Teachers, All Other
- Median pay
- $77,640
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.0%
- Job openings a year
- 12,500
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyEmergency Management Directors
- Median pay
- $93,330
- Hiring change through 2035
- 3.9%
- Job openings a year
- 1,100
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyFirst-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
- Median pay
- $55,940
- Hiring change through 2035
- 3.7%
- Job openings a year
- 6,800
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing slowlyCriminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $76,590
- Hiring change through 2035
- 1.5%
- Job openings a year
- 1,100
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career Growing slowlyFirst-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $76,400
- Hiring change through 2035
- 1.9%
- Job openings a year
- 1,700
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $40,678 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.
College options
Where to study it
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