Best institutions to study Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations
A program focusing on the study of terrorism as a global and national threat and the methods for analyzing and countering it.
14 U.S. institutions graduated 178 Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 43.0304, a specialization of Homeland Security (CIP 43.03), and leads most directly to the First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives occupation (BLS SOC 33-1012).
About Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations programs
A program focusing on the study of terrorism as a global and national threat and the methods for analyzing and countering it. Includes instruction in psychology, cultural studies, terrorist history and organization, terrorist capabilities, terrorist finance and international money-laundering, threat assessment, intelligence operations, incident command systems, border security, emergency response, joint operations, surveillance and communications systems, cyberterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorist operations, and applications to specific terrorist organizations and threats.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations program, part of the Homeland Security field, is designed for individuals interested in understanding and addressing the complexities of terrorism as a global and national threat. This program equips students with the analytical skills and knowledge necessary to counteract terrorist activities and enhance public safety.
Students in this program will gain insights into various aspects of terrorism, including psychological factors, terrorist organization structures, threat assessment, and emergency response strategies. Coursework also covers intelligence operations, cyberterrorism, and the handling of weapons of mass destruction.
Credentials awarded
What Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree67 graduates / yr · 1 institution38%
- Master's degree39 graduates / yr · 4 institutions22%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate35 graduates / yr · 6 institutions20%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 4 institutions17%
- Bachelor's degree4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.2%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.1%
Graduates over time
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 54 |
| 2013 | 65 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2015 | 162 |
| 2016 | 169 |
| 2017 | 159 |
| 2018 | 156 |
| 2019 | 198 |
| 2020 | 173 |
| 2021 | 213 |
| 2022 | 198 |
| 2023 | 186 |
| 2024 | 181 |
| 2025 | 178 |
Top 14 institutions for Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Public University System Charles Town, WVPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 67 | 57% | $10,199 | $62,340 |
| 2 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 23 | 56% | — | — |
| 3 | Park University Parkville, MOPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 4 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CAPublicMaster's | 15 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Nichols College Dudley, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 63% | $29,718 | — |
| 6 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 10 | — | — | — |
| 7 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 8 | National American University - Rapid City Rapid City, SDPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 0% | $22,086 | — |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 34% | — | — |
| 10 | Husson University Bangor, MEPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearPost-degree cert. | 5 | 59% | $18,839 | $46,281 |
| 11 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 63% | $32,614 | — |
| 12 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 67% | — | $43,002 |
| 13 | Capitol Technology University Laurel, MDPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | 43% | $27,179 | — |
| 14 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 68% | — | $90,956 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Homeland Security field (CIP 43.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 12 states
Where Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations graduates come from. Each state links to all Homeland Security programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 1 | 67 | American Public University System67 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 23 | Park University17 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 23 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice23 / yr |
| California | 1 | 15 | Naval Postgraduate School15 / yr |
| New Jersey | 2 | 14 | Thomas Edison State University10 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 13 | Nichols College13 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 6 | National American University - Rapid City6 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus5 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 5 | Husson University5 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 4 | University of New Haven4 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 2 | Capitol Technology University2 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | George Mason University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 33-1012, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations program can pursue careers in law enforcement, emergency management, and education. With an annual job opening rate of 10,900 and a median wage of $105,980, the field is expected to grow by 2.9%, making it a promising career choice for those with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 43.0304
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectivesprimary SOC 33-1012 | $106,040 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~10,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1111 | $76,590 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Emergency Management Directors SOC 11-9161 | $93,330 | +3.0% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | Bachelor's degree |
SOC 55-1017 | — | — | — | — |
SOC 55-3018 | — | — | — | — |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
- Prepare work schedules and assign duties to subordinates.
- Direct collection, preparation, and handling of evidence and personal property of prisoners.
- Investigate and resolve personnel problems within organization and charges of misconduct against staff.
- Explain police operations to subordinates to assist them in performing their job duties.
- Maintain logs, prepare reports, and direct the preparation, handling, and maintenance of departmental records.
Tools and technology used
Other Homeland Security specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Homeland Security (CIP 43.03).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Possible careers include First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives, Emergency Management Directors, and Postsecondary Teachers.
How many colleges offer this program?+
There are 14 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations program.
What is the CIP code for Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations?+
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations is CIP 43.0304 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Homeland Security (CIP 43.03). NCES defines it as: A program focusing on the study of terrorism as a global and national threat and the methods for analyzing and countering it. Includes instruction in psychology, cultural studies, terrorist history and organization, terrorist capabilities, terrorist finance and international money-laundering, threat assessment, intelligence operations, incident command systems, border security, emergency response, joint operations, surveillance and communications systems, cyberterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, counterterrorist operations, and applications to specific terrorist organizations and threats.
How many institutions offer Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations programs?+
14 U.S. institutions reported Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 178 credentials in the year. That is 2.7% of all Homeland Security graduates.
How much do Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives occupation, which Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operations most directly leads to, pays a median of $106,040 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Homeland Security field report median earnings of $62,340 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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