Governor Rick Scott once said, From my standpoint, I want to work with homeland security, just to make sure that U.S. citizens' vote is not diluted. If you would like to pursue higher education to protect your country, then a doctorate homeland security is suitable for you. The Department of Homeland Security was established in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001. Its purpose is to protect the US and its citizens from attacksboth domestic and foreign. The employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are responsible for securing the country's airports, borders, waterways and seaports. Its job is not only restricted to the prevention and control of attacks engineered by humans, but also from natural disasters.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the doctorate in homeland security are quite similar to those of any other doctoral program. However, the specifics may vary from institution to institution. Students must have a bachelor's and master's degree from an accredited institution to be considered. Their degrees must be in criminal justice, public administration, public health, health services, public policy or a closely related subject matter. Some institutes may also require you to present letters of recommendation from previous employers or instructors as well as a minimum cumulative GPA requirement. Most careers in homeland security have a maximum age limit for job applicants, typically 27 years. However, students above the age limit choose to enter the teaching profession as postsecondary instructor or trainers in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Curriculum of a Doctorate of Homeland Security
You may choose to pursue a specialization in a field related to homeland security, the most common specializations are:
-
Public health
-
Geospatial intelligence
-
Information security and forensics
-
Agricultural biosecurity and food defense
-
Homeland security base program
The students of a PhD in Homeland Security study a number of core and elective subjects, and are required to present an original dissertation or research to receive their degree. The courses students are required to take are:
-
Intelligence gathering
-
Emergency management
-
Leadership
-
Public policy
-
Constitutional law
-
Terrorism
-
Research design
-
Statistics
-
Crisis planning and operations management
-
Qualitative research methods
The elective courses may be taken under various disciplines such as economics, law or social sciences courses. Students may choose to study the coursework online as well. However, aspects such as internships, residencies, and the dissertation may need to be done in person.
Careers in Homeland Security
A PhD in Homeland Security will enable graduates to work in virtually every field of homeland security. The program is an intensive research-based one that will encompass the relevant knowledge areas that an agent will need to have an insight in regarding human acts of terrorism and natural catastrophes. There are many departments and divisions in the country that offer employment opportunities for homeland security graduates. These include:
-
Customs and Border Protection
-
Citizenship and Immigration Service
-
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
-
Transportation Security Administration
-
U.S. Secret Service
-
U.S. Coast Guard
-
Office of the Inspector General
-
Federal Emergency Management Agency
-
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
If you've chosen to help keep our country safe from foreign and domestic threats then you'll require knowledge as well as training. While each job comes with its own set of rewards and risks, this career is one that will allow you to provide benefits to people both locally and nationally.