Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services
Security Science and Technology
Study that focuses on the general application of science and technology to security.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 9 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Security Science and Technology, General
- Study that focuses on the general application of science and technology to security.
- Criminalistics and Criminal Science
- Focuses on the application of clinical and criminal laboratory science, investigative techniques, and criminology to the reconstruction of crimes and the analysis of physical evidence. Covers laboratory science, laboratory procedures, criminology and police science, evidentiary testing and analysis, computer applications, record-keeping, reconstruction techniques, evidence handling and storage, and applications to specific types of evidence and crimes.
- Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism
- Focusing on the principles and techniques used to identify, search, seize and analyze digital media and to conduct cyber investigations against criminal and terrorist activity. Covers computer boot processes and drives, jumper setting, file access and reconstruction, hacking, network systems, cryptography, programming, investigative techniques, forensic imagery, web-based investigation methods, cyberterrorism, and applicable laws and administrative procedures.
- Cybersecurity Defense Strategy/Policy
- Focuses on the study of strategy, policy, and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace. Covers incident response, information assurance, recovery policies, vulnerability reduction, deterrence, threat reduction, and resiliency.
- Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
- Focusing on the principles and techniques of conducting investigations into financial crime, terrorist activity, and the analysis and use of accounting data as evidence. Covers the principles of accounting, investigative auditing, computer investigations, accounting system documents and software, business corruption, criminal and terrorist financial networks, international money markets and movement, net worth analysis, financial fraud, exposing concealed assets, records seizure, fraud and money laundering statutes, fraud case initiation, case management, and case presentation.
- Forensic Science and Technology
- Focuses on the application of the physical, biomedical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects. Covers forensic medicine, forensic dentistry, anthropology, psychology, entomology, pathology, forensic laboratory technology and autopsy procedures, DNA and blood pattern analysis, crime scene analysis, crime scene photography, fingerprint technology, document analysis, witness and suspect examination procedures, applicable law and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
- Geospatial Intelligence
- Prepares you to analyze security and intelligence problems using a geographic perspective by relating human actions to cultural, political, economic, social, and physical landscapes. Covers aerial photography analysis, cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), physical geography, remote sensing, spatial programming, and quantitative methods in geographic research.
- Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis
- Focusing on the preparation of law enforcement personnel to perform intelligence and surveillance operations and to analyze and use data collected via such operations. Covers the intelligence cycle, information sources, data retrieval, digital investigation, financial investigations, document analysis, external sources, geographic information systems, link analysis, operation planning and security, case management, applicable law and regulations, and case preparation.
- Security Science and Technology, Other
- Security science and technology not listed above.
Also called Internet Investigation
Also called Fraud and Money-Laundering, International Banking and Money-Laundering, Terrorist Finance, Asset Forfeiture, Economic Crime Investigation, Investigative and Forensic Accounting
Also called Crime Scene Investigation
Also called Electronic Surveillance
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.
Accountants and Auditors
- Median pay
- $83,680
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.0%
- Job openings a year
- 115,300
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyManagers, 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 economyPolice and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
- Median pay
- $76,210
- Hiring change through 2035
- 3.5%
- Job openings a year
- 51,500
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
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 slowlyDetectives and Criminal Investigators
- Median pay
- $93,790
- Hiring change through 2035
- 0.2%
- Job openings a year
- 7,800
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career GrowingComputer Occupations, All Other
- Median pay
- $116,580
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.1%
- Job openings a year
- 27,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyLife, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Median pay
- $62,280
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.4%
- Job openings a year
- 11,200
To get hiredAssociate's degree
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 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 fastInformation Security Analysts
- Median pay
- $129,180
- Hiring change through 2035
- 21.0%
- Job openings a year
- 14,100
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingPrivate Detectives and Investigators
- Median pay
- $51,220
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.5%
- Job openings a year
- 3,200
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career Growing fastForensic Science Technicians
- Median pay
- $72,060
- Hiring change through 2035
- 13.3%
- Job openings a year
- 2,800
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it.
Working style
How and where the work happens
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College options
Where to study it
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