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Careers in homeland security exist at every level of government—local, state, and federal. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operates Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, Counterterrorism, and U.S. Immigration. Careers in any one of the sub-organizations within DHS are plentiful. Whether you are interested in federal law enforcement or emergency management, our homeland security studies will provide you with the education you need to compete in the job market.

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  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Careers in homeland security exist at every level of government—local, state, and federal. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operates twenty two different agencies including Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Transportation and Safety Administration, the  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and carries out counterterrorism activities.

Major Functions

The  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) divides its career fields into four major functions. These are Mission Support (i.e. the headquarters elements), Law Enforcement, Immigration and Travel Security, and Prevention and Response.

  • Mission Support Careers—involve medical, human resources, facilities, budget, procurement, science and technology, training, intelligence, planning and coordination, detection, civil rights, fraud detection, and more.
  • Law Enforcement Careers—offer positions in protection of the President, Vice President, their families, heads of state and other designated individuals; securing the nation’s borders; interagency law enforcement training; and enforcing economic, transportation and infrastructure security.
  • Immigration and Travel Security Careers—involve protecting the nation’s transportation systems and overseeing the lawful immigration process.
  • Prevention and Response Careers—protect the public, environment, and U.S. economic and security interests in any maritime region, as well as provides preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation to reduce loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards.

Although not required for all positions, obtaining a security clearance is important when trying to enter the field of homeland security. While not all positions require applicants to already have one in place, most do require that applicants be able to obtain a clearance. It is important to understand what is required to obtain a clearance, the limitations, and how one is obtained before beginning the job search. One key piece of information to keep in mind: never trust a company offering preapproval for a clearance, no matter how small the fee they are charging.

Clearance Basics

  • There are three basic clearance classifications: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Within each clearance level there are different levels of clearance.
  • Security clearances can be issued by many U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Energy (DoE), the Department of Justice (FBI and CIA both fall under the DoJ umbrella).
  • To acquire a clearance, individuals must be sponsored by an employer and in a position for which a clearance is required.
  • Individuals who are naturalized U.S. citizens may acquire a clearance in the same way that a natural-born U.S. citizen might.
  • Although non-U.S. citizens are prohibited from obtaining a clearance, they may be granted Limited Access Authorization (LAA) in circumstances where they possess critical skills or qualifications.

The Homeland Security field offers various types of opportunities, for which O*Net, a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, has position descriptions. Related job titles include Emergency Management Directors, Security Managers, Regulatory Affairs Managers, Loss Prevention Managers, Compliance Managers, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, and Investment Fund Managers.

Sample occupations found within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided by Bureau of Labor and Statistics include, but are not limited to:

  • Citizenship and Immigration Services
    Asylum Officer
    Immigration Officer
  • Customs and Border Protection
    Border Patrol Agent
    Import Specialist
  • U.S. Coast Guard
    Contract Specialist
  • Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
    Law Enforcement Specialist (Instruction)
  • Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate
    Protective Security Advisor
    Intelligence Operations Specialist
    IT Specialist (Information Security)
    Security Specialist
    Telecommunications Specialist
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement
    Detention and Deportation Officer
    Police Officer
    Immigration Enforcement Agent
    Security Specialist
  • Office of the Inspector General
    Attorney
    Auditor
  • Secretarial Offices
    Human Resources Specialist
    Policy Analyst
  • U.S. Secret Service
    Criminal Investigator
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency
    Federal Coordinating Officer
    Program Specialist
  • Transportation and Security Administration
    Criminal Investigator
    Intelligence Operations Specialist
    Program and Management Analyst
    Transportation Security Screener
  • Science and Technology Directorate
    Biological Scientist
    Chemist
    Computer Scientist
    Engineer
    Physicist

Breaking into a new field can be difficult, and often ‘entry-level’ positions require some previous experience in the field. The best way to gain experience is through an internship. There are several different forms of an internship, such as a fellowship, volunteer, co-op, and the federal government's pathways program.

The job board within CareerLink has an extensive list of internships. Browse through the internships organized by interest, location, or organization. Students with open elective credit in many programs can participate in an internship course for elective credit. To learn more about this option, log-in to CareerLink and search Internship in the resources section.

Additional information about how internships can assist students in obtaining security clearances, as well as jobs can be found on the clearance jobs website.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering in a homeland security-related position is a great way to gain experience. Examples of organizations that provide volunteer opportunities include the following organizations. Also see individual state agency websites for possible volunteer or other experiential opportunities as well as the student volunteer page on USAJobs.gov.

Examples of internships offered by DHS, and constituent agencies include:

There are several government agencies and organizations that seek candidates with a foundation in counter terrorism, along with advanced degrees, experience, and other qualifications. The list below provides examples of such places.

Policy Institutes

A Homeland Security ‘think tank’, also known as a policy institute, is an organization whose primary responsibility is to conduct research and engage in advocacy in various public policy areas.  Several examples of these organizations, whose focuses are related to Homeland Security, are listed below.

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Veterans

If you are a veteran or have experience with a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, contact a  Homeland Security Selective Placement Coordinator. You may be specially qualified for Department of Homeland Security positions, and they may also have additional resources available for you.

Professional organizations provide job seekers with an excellent opportunity to network with fellow practitioners in their field of study, and can assist in staying-up-to date on the new technology, tools, and best practices in the homeland security field. Below are a few professional organizations you may be interested in within the homeland security field.