Online Homeland Security Degree Concentration Criminal Justice BS in Counterterrorism

A homeland security degree offers preparation for a specialized career in criminal justice. Foundational courses include general education courses in math, writing, humanities and social sciences. Strong oral and written communication skills are also emphasized.

Major coursework includes courses on the history of homeland security and terrorism in the U.S., security management, intelligence and counterintelligence. Combined, these courses provide the broad skills needed for a range of positions in criminal justice, as well as specific knowledge applicable to the field of homeland security.

With Southern New Hampshire University’s homeland security degree online, you'll learn how to:

• Differentiate between homeland security and counterterrorism
• Examine the roles and responsibilities of maintaining safety for all citizens
• Study the history of espionage and learn methods of gathering and analyzing intelligence
• Apply security management techniques and methods to maintain public safety

Yes – a homeland security or counterterrorism degree could lead to careers like:

• Intelligence analyst: Examine patterns throughout multiple pieces of data and information. You may use that information to prevent attacks and assess threats to your organization, an individual or the American public. You might work for a private business or for the government at the local, state or federal level.
• Border patrol officer: Monitor and protect the nation’s borders. You may work to ensure that illegal drugs and goods do not come into the country. You could also be involved in enforcing immigration efforts.
• Secret service agent: This law enforcement role offers a great deal of variety in terms of assignment. You may investigate counterfeiting crimes, protect persons of interest to the federal government – such as political officials – or you could even be involved in developing new security systems and tools.
• Federal air marshal: This is a unique law enforcement position where you might find yourself on board an aircraft or working in an airport to keep private citizens safe in the skies. You could also investigate crimes and provide other law enforcement duties.

These are just a few of the exciting and important opportunities potentially available if you earn a homeland security degree. Each career is grounded in the principles of safety, security and the well-being of people.

Most people looking to get into the homeland security field pursue a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, which usually takes between 3 and 4 years to complete.

At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), you have the option to specialize your criminal justice skills with a homeland security and counterterrorism concentration online. Even better? If you qualify, you could receive up to 12 credits toward your degree if you've already completed basic police, corrections or parole and probation academy training. Plus, if you've taken college classes elsewhere, you could transfer up to 90 credits to SNHU – saving you even more time and money.

"I did transfer in a few credits, and I received credits for my active-duty U.S. Army experience," said Vince Farrell '21. "I was able to complete my associate degree in roughly 1 year and my bachelor's degree in 2 years. The process was much quicker than I anticipated and couldn’t have been smoother."

SNHU's professional team of admission and academic advisors aims to get you the maximum amount of transfer credit, so you can complete your degree as quickly as possible. And our fully online format allows you even more room to customize your education. Work the night shift? Not a problem. No set class times means you can complete your work day or night. You’ll generally receive feedback from your instructors within 24 hours, too.

"Working full time and volunteering within my community made online coursework my only viable option," said Farrell. "The fact that SNHU uses such an easily navigable program made a world of difference – I was able to identify my assignments, had full access to the online Shapiro Library (which is a phenomenal resource) and could effectively complete my assignments."

These jobs tend to be very stable, because the people who do them are fulfilling a calling – not just clocking hours. That said, there's a lot of opportunity to advance throughout your career, often while earning a steady salary with excellent benefits.

Responsibilities within homeland security roles can vary greatly, because how much you earn is dependent on your role, title and experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, federally employed police and detectives earned a median annual salary of $75,570 in May 2023.¹

At Southern New Hampshire University, you have the added benefit of learning from professionals in the field. Our instructors are all criminal justice professionals, which can be beneficial for networking opportunities.

All aspects of law enforcement are part of the criminal justice system, including the court system and law enforcement officers. However, homeland security is a relatively new area under the criminal justice umbrella.

While studying criminal justice helps prepare you for a career in all facets of the law and public safety, the field of homeland security is a subset of national security and focuses specifically on the U.S.

A background in criminal justice can prepare you for the legal, communication, criminal and technical aspects of the field. Adding a focus in homeland security means specializing in terrorism and counterterrorism, intelligence and all aspects of national security.

While there's no hard and fast rule, having a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field could very helpful in your pursuit of a counterterrorism career. International affairs, national security studies or a concentration in homeland security are all areas that can also help prepare you for roles in this specialized area of law enforcement.

Additionally, practical experience is important, since many working in this field have military or national security backgrounds. Southern New Hampshire University's counterterrorism degree offers an optional internship that could provide the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience.

There are many career paths you can take with a degree in counterterrorism. Because any counterterrorism or homeland security concentration is grounded in criminal justice, you have many options available to you, such as:

• Counterterrorism analyst: Investigate the leadership and motivations of possible terrorist groups. Your work may include report writing and analysis, so strong communication and critical-thinking skills are key.
• Emergency management director: Prepare procedures and devise plans for law enforcement and public officials to use in response to natural disasters and other emergencies. Strong negotiation, communication and analytical skills are helpful in this role.
• Intelligence analyst: Look for patterns and information from a variety of sources. You may use that information to assess threats and prevent attacks. This role involves strong analytical skills, as well as strong written and communication skills.

You may also be interested in a government career with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation or Central Intelligence Agency.

Whichever agency or organization you choose, you're building a career rich in problem-solving skills, collaboration and threat assessment.