Since the events of September 11, 2001, interest in Homeland Security has greatly increased. The Homeland Security Profession offers professional opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers relating to the protection and security of our population.

A career in Homeland Security offers a challanging and ever-changing career path. As the challenges America faces are as varied as the forces of Nature or the evil of man-made tragedies, so are the career choices in Homeland Security.

The field is broad and covers emergency management specialists, who work in the hazard mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery efforts in our society; or, the intelligence analysts whose job is to interpret data in order to protect or solve threats to the homeland. There are also those who work to secure our infrastructure and information technology from outside threats. And also, there are the men and women of our emergency services, law inforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services, who are our everyday frontline defenders of America's security.

Homeland Security professionals are found in federal, state, and local positions, as well as working in the non-profit and private sector. Their expertise and knowledge is needed in preparing and responding to the inevitable calamities and disasters which we face. The level of education is from the most basic to the most advanced, with salary commensurate with education and experience. For example, a US Border Patrol agent can expect to make an entry level salary of $25,000 to $31,000, while an emergency management specialist's median salary was $45.670 in 2004. Many upper level positions with the US Department of Homeland Security pay in excess of $100,000.

The need for trained Homeland Security specialists will grow as the threats to our way of life, our security, are ever present, whether it is the rising waters of a raging flood, the destruction of a tornado, or the devastation of a terrorist attack. It is the intent of Northeastern State University to prepare is graduates in the homeland Security option to be prepared to handle the challenges they may face.