Overview
Homeland security is a department in the US whose responsibility it is to protect and regulate the country from various internal and external threats. It came into existence in 2003 following the September 11 attacks. The primary activities of the department are to defend the borders and prevent the entry or exit of illegal persons, smuggled goods, narcotics or banned goods and weapons.
If you are interested in doing a service to your country by making it a safe and secure place to live, you can opt for homeland security training. This course trains you on the effective ways of strengthening the safety measures in society based on how the security officials have handled the national security threat in the past.
Many colleges offer homeland security training as a certification module. Certain colleges also provide a bachelor's or associate's degree program. The duration of the certification program in homeland security can last anywhere from a day to a month. The curriculum of the homeland security training includes introduction to criminal justice, homeland security, bio-terrorism, handling of hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, domestic terrorism, international terrorism, constitutional law, cyber-terrorism, emergency planning, and disaster preparedness.
Benefits
The Department of Homeland Security is comprised of 22 federal agencies and about 170,000 employees. In spite of that, there is a large demand for professionals in the security sector since safety is a major concern of every citizen. The work areas includes border patrol, security departments of government agencies, diplomatic organizations, international bodies, immigration and customs enforcement, secret service, and private sector. The job profiles are also vast and include police officials, firefighters, facilities management professionals, office managers, emergency medical technicians, hazardous material (hazmat) technicians, federal security personnel, and more. Last but not the least, the respect you gain while servicing the society is the most important aspect of this training.
Costs
The cost of pursuing the homeland security training depends on the length of the program and the college for which you have opted. A bachelor's degree in homeland security training may cost you $17,000 towards the tuition fee alone; for a master's degree, you can expect to shell out a tuition fee of $16,000.
Schools
There are many colleges in the United States of America that offer homeland security training. Some of them even offer online certification degrees. Rasmussen College, National University, and Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre are some of the colleges that offer a bachelor's, master's, and certification programs respectively in homeland security training.
Testing & Preparation
To pursue the homeland security training, you should have a completed high school certificate or the equivalent general educational development (GED). Many colleges expect a minimum score of 2.5 in the core subjects on a ranking scale of 5. Apart from this, you have to qualify at tests like American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If you are an international student, you have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
You must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid license to drive a vehicle, and pass a background check, physical fitness test, medical exam, and reading and writing exam.
Financial Aid
Students who pursue homeland security training from accredited schools, colleges, or universities are eligible for financial aid. Programs such as the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and Federal Pell Grant are government aids provided to students. Federal Stafford loans and Plus Loans are government loans offered to the students.
