What Is Public Policy? Must-Knows for Security Studies Graduates

Written by: East Carolina University® • Dec 17, 2025

A policy analyst reviews data in an office.

What Is Public Policy? Must-Knows for Security Studies Graduates

Public policy influences nearly every aspect of our lives. From something as simple as having access to a grocery store to something as monumental as having access to lifesaving surgery, public policy determines what our lives look like.

Many factors contribute to the formulation of public policy, with a key aspect being how the policy will impact public safety and security. The relationship between public policy and security is cyclical. Studying and analyzing security risks and threats allows us to shape effective policies, which in turn help define a nation’s security.

With a bachelor’s degree in security studies , students can prepare for careers that leverage their skills to influence public policy and increase security on local, state, national, and international levels.

What Is Public Policy?

Public policy is the collection of decisions made by governing bodies to address public issues at three levels: federal, state, and local. At the federal level, key guidance and regulations are issued that states may or may not implement in their jurisdictions.

Local governing bodies, like mayor’s offices and city commissions, supervise daily operations and how communities function across various sectors, including healthcare, education, employment, transportation, agriculture, and immigration.

While public policy encompasses the laws and regulations various governmental agencies pass, it also includes programs they choose to establish, foreign missions to advance national interests abroad, and information campaigns spread internally and abroad. It even includes what governments actively decide not to do, as not addressing an aspect of community life shapes it in its own way.

Public policy shapes and is shaped by many different factors: Public opinions, economic conditions, environmental concerns, and security. Security, in particular, plays a significant role in the formation and implementation of public policy across various levels, including international security, national security, and intelligence collection and analysis.

Public Policy in International Security

Foreign policy is one branch of public policy. According to the Pew Research Center, Americans’ top foreign policy goals are protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks, reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S., and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. These goals are largely only possible due to the work of people in international security.

An example of public policy implementation at the international level is the work of the U.S. Department of State (DOS), which works to advance abroad the American vision on policies involving the security and prosperity of our citizens. When the U.S. government develops public policy in relation to these types of foreign policy goals, the DOS organizes missions to ensure that the international dimension of the policy is implemented and achieves its intended effects.

Public Policy in Homeland Security

Homeland security also plays into the formation and implementation of public policy. Consider the priorities of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which protects the lives and property of citizens, businesses, and public entities. The department was formed in the wake of the September 11 attacks, with a commitment to preserving the safety and security of the U.S.

Its goals are to combat all forms of terrorism and other types of politically motivated violence and to increase the security of U.S. infrastructure. Public policy regarding immigration reform, disaster recovery and response, and public safety all fall under DHS’s purview.

Public Policy in State and Local Security

Public policy is not only shaped on a federal or international level. Just as states and local communities have their own governing bodies, they also have forms of public policy that directly impact the lives of the individuals in the community.

Community members encounter public policies that guide topics such as public utilities, job placement, and food insecurity every day. Different towns and localities may also have topic-specific forums where citizens are engaged in policy formulation, such as human rights commissions or cultural committees. These policies are informed by community well-being and safety, and in turn, they shape the safety and security of each community. It’s worth considering that decisions made on a state or even local level also have the power to impact federal or even international relations and policies.

Public Policy in Intelligence

Security involves physical protection, such as the work of law enforcement professionals in apprehending individuals who’ve committed crimes or guarding important figures. However, one of the most vital parts of U.S. security is its intelligence circles. The U.S. Intelligence Community comprises 18 organizations—including the FBI and CIA—with the common mission of preventing attacks on American safety, security, and prosperity.

Regardless of the organization, the Intelligence Cycle (see visual here ) follows the same process for collecting, analyzing, and using information. To begin, public policymakers decide what issues to address, such as terrorism or weapons proliferation. These concerns help them set intelligence priorities.

Policymakers also decide what collection methods are lawful. Once intelligence is collected, it’s processed and analyzed before it’s disseminated to policymakers, who use it to develop new public policy. The last stage is promulgation (or sharing) of the intelligence results among various agencies involved in public policy development in this sphere.

Careers in Public Policy for Security Studies Graduates

Security studies graduates come away with the skills to excel in various security careers, including those that help create and enforce public policy. These careers require a deep knowledge of real-world security risks—knowledge that graduates use to make people safer worldwide.

Policy Analyst

Policy analysts are a type of researcher who studies current and proposed public policies. Based on their research, they provide policymakers with comprehensive solutions to ongoing issues. Once their findings have been analyzed and reported, they draft policy proposals and collaborate with policymakers to implement them.

While policy analysts need a deep understanding of their specific sector of public policy and how it functions, they also need a thorough education in the field in which they’re developing policy. While someone analyzing health policies needs a health background, someone looking to help develop policies for foreign affairs, public safety, or homeland security will likely find it beneficial to have a background in security studies.

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in a related field to a candidate’s policy specialization, many employers prefer a candidate to have a postgraduate degree in public policy, political science, public administration, or international affairs, or another master’s degree related to their policy specialization.

Policy analysts are expected to be analytic problem-solvers, with strong written and oral communication skills. Policy analysts can hone their skills through education or by interning or volunteering in a policymaker’s office, where they can gain a background in public policy before starting their career.

According to Payscale, the median annual salary of a policy analyst was about $67,300 as of September 2025. Entry-level policy analysts can expect to make about $60,870, while more experienced policy analysts can expect to make over $110,000.

Foreign Affairs Analyst

A foreign affairs analyst is a type of public policy analyst who focuses on foreign affairs and international relations. They can be found working directly with government organizations, such as the U.S. Department of State (DOS), Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, to name a few. They also work with policy institutes , which conduct research to advocate for specific policies.

When working in government organizations, these researchers study specific fields to uncover information that helps policymakers develop policy regarding international relations. When working with a policy institute, the focus shifts to advocacy, with the foreign affairs analyst playing a vital role in delivering crucial information to stakeholders within the institute, who then use this knowledge to collaborate with policymakers on implementing policies that address the foreign affairs analyst’s findings.

For those looking to work directly with government bodies, foreign policy analysts need to have a degree in a field related to:

International relations
Political science
Economics
History
Sociology
Geography
Social or cultural anthropology
Law
Statistics
Humanities

Instead of a graduate degree, they can have four years of experience in one of the fields listed above or a combination of education and experience. They should focus on developing knowledge in foreign policy, international relations, and international security, while also honing skills in intelligence analysis, communication, and critical thinking. If a foreign affairs analyst wishes to work with a policy institute, the institute may have its own hiring criteria.

Foreign affairs analysts are considered a type of political scientist. Political scientists working in civic organizations earned a median annual salary of about $91,150 as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Intelligence Analyst

Intelligence analysts work for one of the 18 organizations in the U.S. Intelligence Community. Their job requires them to analyze collected information to identify threats and stop them from happening. Their day-to-day duties depend on the organization they work with and their specific role within it. For example, an intelligence analyst working for the FBI is expected to perform at least one of the following analytic functions:

Threat Analysis: Intelligence analysts must assess and communicate real-time assessments regarding specific threats.
Collection Management: Analysts must strive to improve data collection and dissemination to stakeholders.
Domain Analysis: Analysts consolidate data to better understand trends and patterns and identify gaps in our security.
Targeting Analysis: Intelligence analysts share collected information across teams that identify real-time threats.
Reporting: Analysts report raw intelligence through various methods to present data and patterns within that data to stakeholders.

Intelligence analysts need to be effective communicators and problem-solvers who can think quickly and objectively to address potentially immediate threats. They usually hold at least a bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, or security studies. While some intelligence analysts pursue degrees in data science or a related field, others focus more on the security aspect of intelligence, with a degree such as a bachelor’s in security studies.

According to Payscale, the median annual salary of an intelligence analyst is about $83,340 as of 2025. While early-career intelligence officers can expect to earn around $60,080, the figure can reach up to $115,000 later in their career.

Homeland Security Analyst

DHS includes the Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A) , where one will find homeland security analysts. Homeland security analysts work within DHS to ensure that the department has all the information it needs to keep the U.S. safe.

Beyond intelligence collection, homeland security analysts are expected to provide strategic analysis of any threats uncovered to ensure that policies are relevant and missions are successful. I&A’s core tenets are to:

Foster a cohesive, synchronized collection of intelligence with mission-critical information
Facilitates information exchanges with stakeholders
Produce strategic intelligence systems that drive intelligence-driven decision-making in DHS
Deliver access to intelligence infrastructure
Ensure that DHS data is available to mission-critical DHS bodies
Provide data on immigration and travel to the U.S. government
Invest in talent and leadership development

Through their efforts, they combat terrorism, organized crime, and other security threats that external groups pose. They must be deeply analytical and communicative, making intelligence more shareable, accessible, and evaluable. They typically need a bachelor’s degree in a field related to intelligence, homeland security, or security studies. DHS also requires aspiring homeland security analysts to obtain a specific level of security clearance, complete related exams, and undergo on-the-job training.

According to Payscale, DHS analysts earned a median annual salary of $78,840 as of September 2025. The top 10% of earners made up to $112,000.

Discover a Career in Public Policy With East Carolina University®

Public policy shapes how the world is run. From immediate communities to international organizations, public policy influences our lives on local, state, national, and international levels. Although public policy is relevant in many aspects of our daily lives, including healthcare, travel, and housing, security is not only shaped by public policy but also helps form public policy. Security studies graduates can use the skills they’ve developed to influence and enforce public policy.

With the Bachelor of Science in Security Studies from East Carolina University , students learn about the real-world complexities of security and how to implement these teachings in a security career. Through this knowledge, security studies graduates become powerful public policy analysts and influencers, helping policymakers create policies that better protect the American people.

Begin your public policy career with ECU Online.

Recommended Readings

Intelligence Analyst Career Overview

4 International Security Careers to Consider

Understanding the Role of a Foreign Service Officer

Sources:

EBSCO, Public policy

FBI, Intelligence Analysts

Indeed, How to Become a Policy Analyst (Plus Salary and Skills)

Office of the Director of National Intelligence, How the IC Works

Payscale, Average Intelligence Analyst Salary

Payscale, Average Policy Analyst Salary