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Degrees in Homeland Security

Concentrations and degrees in Homeland Security are a new concept within academia. Since 9/11, the federal government has heavily invested in helping community colleges, four-year institutions, and postgraduate schools create Homeland Security curriculum.

Homeland Security is now one of the hottest government careers, with thousands of jobs available in the:

• US Department of Homeland Security

• US Department of Defense

• US Department of State

• Local and state-level departments of emergency preparedness

As opposed to Criminal Justice degrees, which focus on traditional cause and effects of crime, Homeland Security focuses primarily on topics related to emergency preparedeness, counterterrorism, and international studies and policies. Other courses that are not traditionally affiliated with law enforcement, such as biotechnology and political science, are also incorporated.

In addition to traditional B.S. degrees in Homeland Security, many schools also offer certificate programs and even postgraduate degrees. Schools that don’t offer a major in Homeland Security may offer a minor or concentration in conjunction with another major, such as Political Science or Computer Science / Network Security.

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