After the attacks that took place inn 9/11, there has been a growing need for qualified individuals to work with the Department of Homeland Security and to take on other roles that help to keep our country safe. If you want to play an integral part in reducing our country’s vulnerability to terrorism and in helping to minimize the damage that occurs from natural disasters, pursuing an online homeland security degree may be the right step for you.

If you want to help protect your country, check out these online colleges and universities where you can get a homeland security degree in as little as a few months!

Walden University
Tiffin University
University of Maryland University College Online
Ashford University Online
South University Online
Upper Iowa University Online
Everest University Online
Keiser University eCampus

Although most people know that the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for keeping our country protected, many are not aware of the departments over which the Department of Homeland Security is responsible. Some of these include Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Secret Service. Therefore, after earning your online homeland security degree, you might actually work within one of these departments rather than directly with the Department of Homeland Security.

As part of the U.S. Border Patrol, your job would be to help protect more than 8,000 miles worth of international water and land boundaries that our country has. As an Immigration inspector, on the other hand, your job would be to interview people who are trying to gain entry into the United States and its territories, while a Customs inspector enforces laws related to exports and imports. This involves inspecting aircraft, vehicles, trains and other vessels that enter or leave the country as well as inspecting the cargo, baggage and the articles being worn and carried by those who are leaving and entering the country.

After earning your online homeland security degree, you might also work toward becoming a Federal Air Marshal or a member of the U.S. Secret Services. As a Federal Air Marshal, your job is to prevent attacks on the United States that might take place on aircraft or against the passengers and crew on aircraft. Members of the Secret Service, on the other hand, are responsible for protecting the President, the Vice President and other public officials and their families. In addition, they may investigate forgery of Government bonds and checks as well as counterfeiting and fraudulent use of credit cards.

The amount of money you can expect to earn after completing your online homeland security degree depends upon your position as well as where you fall on the Federal Government’s payscale. If you were listed as a GS-10 employee in 2007, for example, your base salary would have been $48,159. If you were listed as a GS-13 employee, on the other hand, your base salary would have been $75,414. Federal employees who serve in law enforcement, however, also receive extra income in the form of law enforcement availability pay (LEAP), which is equivalent to 25% of your base pay.