Homeland security majors give individuals the chance to study many different elements of criminal justice, communication and disaster recovery, better equipping them to respond in times of national emergency. Since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a variety of programs have been developed at colleges across the country to help prepare students for a career in the field. It is a demanding subject, taking in topics such as acute stress management, the sociology of disasters and ideology, and conflict and terror. Students may also be required to learn a new language or complete an internship in the field. Terrorism is an obviously an important element of Homeland Security majors but there are many others, like natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other emergencies. The aim is to give graduates a broad base of knowledge, as well as a joined-up understanding of how different elements of Homeland Security respond in an crisis. Furthermore, employment in the field is not limited to DHS agencies, as in the modern world many private companies are also looking for expertise in disaster recovery and data protection.  |