Preparing Future Leaders Through the Homeland Security Program
***
Homeland security plays a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's people, infrastructure, and resources from a wide range of threats and challenges. From political violence and terrorism to natural disasters and climate change, today’s homeland security enterprise is complex, dynamic, and relevant to most realms of human existence.
At UNH Manchester, the homeland security program enables students to develop the analytical, decision making, technical and strategic skills to create and sustain more resilient organizations and communities.
“The HLS major is so diverse and allows students to really refine skills in a variety of subjects, ranging from emergency disaster management to intelligence and terrorism studies,” says Autumn Bedell ‘22 ‘26G. “As someone who knew this field excited me, it brought me ease knowing I could really use the four years to find my niche within the broad field.”
Autumn majored in homeland security with minors in terrorism, global studies, and community leadership. She credits the program for building her confidence as a leader and leading her to pursue a master’s in national security intelligence analysis at UNH Manchester.
Students like Autumn earn a competitive advantage through their degree combination and real-world learning in both the classroom and the field through internship and capstone experiences. Homeland security majors have access to internships at many high-profile organizations in the area, including American Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Local and state law enforcement agencies.
Through the HLS program, Autumn interned at Shared Hope International, a nonprofit organization aiming to prevent sex trafficking. She was also able to combine her interests in security studies and history through a summer study abroad course to Belfast, Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, York and London.
“Through my experiences, I have learned not to regret helping to make a positive change, even if it seems daunting,” she says.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth for homeland security related professions, with expected growth being higher than 30 percent for cybersecurity and information security careers. By offering a comprehensive education and real-world experiences, UNH Manchester is preparing the next generation of leaders who will safeguard the nation's security.
“All of the classes I took in the Homeland Security program have helped to prepare me,” says Autumn. “Not only was I able to gain a great foundation in topics like Intelligence Studies, Cybersecurity, and Emergency Management; but I was also able to gain professional skills that have helped me get to where I am today.”