Security training often includes many of the courses seen in other law enforcement degree programs. You'll take classes in weapons, crowd control, surveillance equipment, and report writing. You'll also enhance your physical and psychological fitness and sense of personal responsibility, as with other law enforcement programs.

The shortest degree program is the associate degree, which takes two years. However, security specialists who earn bachelor's or master's degrees generally enjoy greater career advancement. If you have completed an associate degree in law enforcement, you can often complete your bachelor's in two years. A master's degree takes two years to complete and requires a bachelor's as a prerequisite.

Security Jobs

Security professionals have many career options. Some act as bodyguards for wealthy or prominent people, including businesspeople and entertainers. Others protect the assets of casinos, stores, and other businesses with a lot of cash on site. Security guards also work for hospitals, schools, local governments, and for armored car services. Salaries for security professionals vary. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of security workers range from $20,000 to $45,000, with the higher end mostly reserved for those with more advanced degrees.