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A graduate certificate in homeland security is a highly focused graduate-level program dedicated to building skills and knowledge in counterterrorism and defense.

If you're interested in homeland security and already have your bachelor's or master's degree, a certificate program might be a great next step. Whether your background is in criminal justice, IT, history or something else, a graduate certificate in homeland security can help you gain expertise that sets you apart.

Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ offers a 4-course homeland security certificate online. With 5 graduate term starts per year and some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation, you can finish the program quickly and affordably.

A degree in homeland security can take you places in your career. But what exactly do those jobs look like? Here's what your duties might look like in some of the different agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP): With over 300 ports of entry, CBP employees are tasked with enforcing regulations that involve trade, customs and immigration. Agents are responsible for the important task of keeping the country safe by detecting threats at the border.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Primarily, FEMA is in charge of coordinating responses to disasters – be it extreme weather phenomena or terrorist attacks – states are unable to handle on their own.
  
• Secret Service: The Secret Service is known for protecting the president. However, they're also in charge of detecting and thwarting threats against other government officials and their families, as well as other country representatives visiting the U.S.
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Whether it's by land, air or sea, the TSA is responsible for the safety of public transportation in the U.S. Some TSA jobs include screening officers, federal air marshals and experts in explosives and weapons.

While there are some exceptions, homeland security agents are generally required to be between the ages of 18 and 37.

It's important to note this maximum age requirement only applies to customs and border protection officer, firefighter or law enforcement officer positions as appointed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

If you are over 37 and want to work in homeland security, know that there are many other professional staff and support opportunities within DHS that do not have an age limit, including:

• Emergency management
• Government information
• Information technology
• Intelligence operations
• Transportation security

There are also numerous jobs in the private sector available to people interested in homeland security and counterterrorism.

Whether homeland security is a good career depends on what you value.

Many people in homeland security are employed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS's mission is to secure the nation from the many threats it faces. If this is a mission you believe in, working in homeland security might be a good fit for you.

Another advantage of working for DHS are the notoriously great benefits, including job security, vacation and holidays, health coverage and generous retirement benefits.

Some jobs in DHS can require a lot of traveling or even temporary relocation. And considering the stakes in counterterrorism and emergency response, many positions in homeland security are high pressure. If these are conditions you don't mind – or perhaps even thrive in – then working in homeland security could be the career for you.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal executive department responsible for the public security of people in our nation. Agencies under the DHS include:

• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
• Customs and Border Protection
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Transportation Security Administration
• United States Coast Guard
• United States Secret Service

Duties that fall under DHS include detecting and deterring terrorism, securing borders, strengthening cybersecurity, managing immigration and customs, and preventing and responding to disasters.

A bachelor's degree is often the minimum requirement for roles in homeland security. Depending on what you want to do in the homeland security space, your degree could be in any number of subjects.

From criminal justice and cybersecurity to data analytics and operations management, many backgrounds are needed in homeland security efforts. No matter your area of study or profession, getting a homeland security graduate certificate can help you hone your expertise in counterterrorism.

Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ's online Advanced Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Graduate Certificate can be finished in less than a year, giving you focused insights that can help you take your career in homeland security further.

If you want to become an intelligence analyst for an agency like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Secret Service or Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you'll need to start with earning your bachelor's degree.

Don't have your bachelor's? You'll want to study subjects like criminal justice, political science and homeland security. Already have your bachelor's – or even your master's? Consider enrolling in a graduate-level homeland security certificate program.

Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ offers the Advanced Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Graduate Certificate. This 4-course (12-credit) program is an affordable way to gain expertise in the realm of homeland security. And with 5 graduate term starts per year, you can easily earn your certificate in a year or less.

Note that intelligence analysts have access to highly classified information. To become an intelligence analyst for a government agency, you'll go through a rigorous selection process that includes a thorough background check.

If you're interested in a career in counterterrorism, there are plenty of degree options for you. Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ provides 3 counterterrorism and homeland security degrees online to help you achieve your goals.

Whether you have criminal justice experience or are looking to break into the field, the homeland security degree concentration is a great choice for anyone with an interest in counterterrorism.

Already have a bachelor's degree? No matter your academic subject background, earning your master's in criminal justice with a concentration in advanced counterterrorism could give you new insights to help you hone your expertise.

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Counterterrorism & Homeland Security is a great way to get master's-level knowledge without committing to a full graduate degree program. Even better? The graduate certificate stacks right into the master's program, meaning if you later decide you want to complete the full graduate degree, you'll be well on your way.