5 Homeland Security Careers for Recent Graduates

Homeland security is a field with one straightforward objective: protecting America and its citizens. However, to accomplish that goal, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must be able to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and cyber sabotage, as well as a long list of other urgent threats. For that reason, the homeland security workforce needs the talents of a diverse team of professionals.

If you’re interested in a homeland security career of your own, here’s what you need to know about the education often required to work in the field , the agencies you might work for, and the diverse paths you might take.

Preparing for Careers in Homeland Security

While responding to each type of threat requires a different skill set, homeland security professionals typically need to learn about several essential topics. Many gain this knowledge by earning a bachelor’s degree in a field such as security studies, cybersecurity, or criminal justice.

Prospective homeland security professionals benefit from coursework on topics such as the following:

• National security policy
• American foreign policy
• Global politics
• Political science
• Criminal justice
• International relations

Students can prepare for careers in specific sectors by pursuing coursework in topics such as network security, geographic information systems, toxicology, computer science, analytics, foreign languages, conflict management, and disaster planning. Individuals who want to advance in DHS careers may pursue graduate degrees.

Homeland Security Agencies and Potential Employers

With over 260,000 employees, the DHS is one of the largest employers of homeland security professionals in America. The department comprises various agencies and offices, each focusing on a specific aspect of homeland security.

The following agencies make up the DHS:

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Transportation Security Agency (TSA)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
• U.S. Secret Service (USSS)

Other federal agencies, such as the CIA and FBI, also employ homeland security professionals. More roles can be found through different branches of the military and private businesses that receive government contracts.

Homeland Security Careers

Each homeland security agency is made up of front-line personnel, support specialists, and policymakers. The list below describes the responsibilities and requirements of some of the field’s most dynamic positions.

1. Intelligence Analyst

Intelligence analysts collect and interpret information from numerous sources. This often includes information on the military and economic capabilities of foreign governments gained from human sources and signals intelligence operations.

The branches of the military use intelligence analysts to plan military operations and inform foreign policy. Similar intelligence-focused homeland security careers can be found within the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. At the bachelor’s level, prospective intelligence analysts typically take classes on foreign policy; modern warfare; and various social sciences, such as political science and population theory.

2. Homeland Security Program Analyst

Homeland security program analysts review and advise on the effectiveness of programs and policies related to homeland security. This includes using data to assess the efficacy of programmatic and administrative elements of management and process. 

Program analysts who work in homeland security may advise on a number of subjects, including budgeting and finance, strategic planning, and operations. They can work for the DHS or ICE. Students who want to become homeland security policy analysts can take classes on national security policy; foreign policy; international relations; and political science. 

3. Information Security Analyst

The federal government maintains vast IT networks that run critical infrastructure and contain sensitive data. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, these networks were the targets of nearly 31,000 cyberattacks in 2022 alone. Information security analysts collect data and form insights that repel digital assaults.

One of the main employers of information security analysts is CISA. However, the Cyber Crimes Center and the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans—both part of DHS—also employ cybersecurity professionals. Students entering this field may want to take classes on network security; software engineering; and computer science.

4. Special Agent

Special agents are front-line criminal investigators. They’re similar to police officers and detectives, but they investigate crimes that threaten national security, such as smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism. When needed, special agents work abroad and cooperate with foreign security forces.

A special agent’s exact duties depend on the agency they work for, such as the following:

• Homeland Security Investigations. HSI is the primary investigatory branch of DHS. Its agents pursue terrorists, gangs, and other international criminals.
• USSS. Along with protecting government officials, USSS agents investigate financial crimes and plan security operations for events attended by the nation’s leaders.
• ICE. ICE special agents investigate human traffickers, employers who exploit immigrants, and other criminals who undermine the country’s immigration policies.
• FBI. Similar to HSI, the FBI investigates crimes that violate federal law. However, the FBI is primarily focused on domestic crimes and often helps local law enforcement agencies run complex investigations.

Future special agents may want to take classes on foreign and domestic policy, criminal justice, and terrorism. Upon being recruited by an agency, new agents must typically complete a specialized training program. Prior law enforcement experience isn’t typically required.

5. Defense Analyst

Defense analysts assess and interpret data related to domestic and global security threats. They are responsible for reviewing and analyzing intelligence data, reporting on their findings, and making recommendations for effective decision-making. 

Defense analysts may work in homeland security or military settings, advising on operational, training, and budgetary processes. Prospective defense analysts may take courses on national security policy; foreign policy; and international relations.

Discover Your Place in Keeping the Country Safe

Whether you have a mind for statistics or a passion for criminal investigation, the online Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies degree completion program at East Carolina University® can help you apply your talents to any number of homeland security careers.

Through the program’s core classes, you’ll learn the basics of security planning and how multiple disciplines come together for the sake of public safety. With electives including Vector Borne Disease Ecology, Religion and Violence, and Sociology of Deviant Behavior, you can customize your curriculum to be as diverse or as focused as your future career demands.

To find out more about how ECU can help you learn how to make informed, lifesaving decisions about national security, contact our admissions team today .

Recommended Readings

How to Get Started in Cybersecurity With No Experience

Why Is Criminal Justice Important?

Sources:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Annual Performance Report Fiscal Year 2023-2025

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Detail Opportunity  

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Operational and Support Components

Federal Emergency Management Agency, About FEMA

U.S. Government Accountability Office, Cybersecurity

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Management and Program Analyst

U.S. Secret Service, The Job of a Special Agent

ZipRecruiter, What Is a Defense Analyst and How to Become One