What is the highest-paying job in homeland security?

It depends on your experience level and career path, but the BLS projects that information security analysts earned a median annual salary of $120,360 in 2023.

Is a bachelor’s degree in homeland security worth it?

If you're interested in a career protecting communities and the country, earning a bachelor's in homeland security could be a good fit. These academic programs build specialized technical knowledge that can help you enter and advance in security-related career paths.

What is the difference between a bachelor’s in homeland security and a counterterrorism degree?

Compared to counterterrorism, homeland security is a broader field. Many homeland security programs focus on counterterrorism, but homeland security programs also deal with border security, cybercrime, natural disasters, law enforcement, and intelligence. If you'd like to study counterterrorism, consider a homeland security program with a counterterrorism concentration.

Bachelor's in homeland security

A bachelor's in homeland security program can prepare you to address ever-evolving security issues, from the climate crisis to global terrorism. Explore the academic discipline as you seek the right match for your security-focused career interests.

See all homeland security bachelors programs

Why earn an online bachelor's degree in homeland security?

Train for a rewarding career

Open doors to multiple paths in law enforcement, cybersecurity, national defense, and public service.

Learn about public safety

Learn actionable strategies, methods, and best practices for protecting public safety and addressing potential threats.

Access flexible programs

Online degrees can grant you access to schools outside your geographic area that can work within your schedule.

Explore related criminal justice programs and courses

What can you learn in an online bachelor's in homeland security?

Bachelor's programs in homeland security explore international conflict, national defense, and counterterrorism from military, intelligence, and law enforcement perspectives. These programs might match your goals if you're interested in a career protecting the country and its communities.

You can major in homeland security or minor in it while pursuing a different bachelor's degree, such as , , law, police science, or political science.

What jobs can you get with a homeland security bachelor's degree?

A bachelor's in homeland security can prepare you for careers in security, intelligence, and law enforcement. The job market for these professionals depends on factors like government funding and geopolitical developments. Some roles that you could pursue with a degree in homeland security include:

Information security analysts

The BLS reported a median annual salary of $120,360 for information security analysts in 2023. Note that information security careers generally require additional computer science or cybersecurity training.

Federal agent

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal agents earn an average of $89,000-$129,000 per year.

Border patrol agent

In October 2024, listings on USA Jobs showed starting annual salaries of about $48,800 for border patrol agents.

Police and detective

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), police and detectives earned a median annual salary of $74,910 in 2023.

Bachelor's in homeland security curriculum

Bachelor's programs in homeland security cover topics like conflict theory, risk assessment, and analytical and strategic field practices.

Curricula often cover such courses as:

Critical incident response
Infrastructure protection
International relations
Legal frameworks in homeland security
Public safety leadership

Some programs may require you to complete a capstone, which synthesizes your coursework. This usually involves completing an original long-form interdisciplinary project of your design.

Concentrations

Concentrations allow you to specialize in specific homeland security subfields. Common options include:

Counterterrorism: Focus your learning on the methods and techniques for detecting, analyzing, preventing, and responding to terrorism threats.
Cybercrime: Learn to protect the digital systems that control critical infrastructure, such as electricity and water supplies.
Emergency and disaster response: Explore response actions to mass-scale emergencies and natural or human-made disasters. This course is oriented toward first responders and those who manage them.
Intelligence analysis: Understand the methods for collecting, verifying, evaluating, and acting on intelligence-based insights.

Further education in homeland security

After completing your bachelor's in homeland security, you can continue into an in-field master's program. Master's students explore similar topics in deeper detail and can often access additional specialization opportunities.

Doctoral programs are the highest level of education in the homeland security academic path. These programs may lead to doctor of philosophy, doctor of management, or doctor of professional studies credentials.

You can also pair your homeland security bachelor's with undergraduate or graduate degrees in:

Law
Military, police, or political science

Admissions requirements for an online bachelor's in homeland security

You do not necessarily need an in-field background to enroll in a homeland security bachelor's program. You may qualify with a high school diploma or the equivalent if you meet minimum academic performance requirements.

The application materials you'll submit typically include:

Academic transcripts
Letter(s) of recommendation
Personal essay or statement of purpose

Ultimately, schools set their own admissions policies. For complete information, refer to materials published by the school hosting the program you're interested in.