• Careers in Criminal Justice
• Consular Officer Career
• Diplomatic Security Agent

Foreign Service Officer (FSO) Career Information

Foreign Service Officers or FSOs work for the United States Department of State. There are five specific career areas that Foreign Service Officers function in, but the goals of all five areas are to advocate for America, promote peace and provide protection for Americans traveling and living around the world. For those interested in exploring the world and willing to be stationed anywhere, there are over 265 embassies, consulates and related locations around the world that Foreign Service Officers can be assigned to.

Applicants for Foreign Service Officer jobs will need to select one out of five different career tracks when applying for a foreign service officer position. Career tracks:

• Management Officers: In charge of the embassy they are stationed at.
• Consular Officers: Work to enhance border security and protect Americans who are traveling or living abroad.
• Economic Officers: Promote the U.S. in areas of trade and economics.
• Political Officers: Monitor the events or demonstrations occurring in a country and communicate what their affect is on the United States and its citizens.
• Public Diplomacy Officers: Promote diplomacy in the country they are stationed by sharing and discussing the United State's laws and values.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Management Officer and Consular Officer career tracks have the least competition. There have not been enough candidates to fill all vacant positions and most applicants that meet the requirements and pass the exam will be placed in the hiring registry. Political Officers and Public Diplomacy Officers career tracks are significantly more competitive.(1)

Becoming a Foreign Service Officer

To be eligible for a Foreign Service Officer job one must be a U.S. Citizen, at least 20 yrs of age and no older than 59 yrs of age when applying, and be willing to accept any assignment, anywhere in the world. There is no foreign language requirement, however being fluent in more than one language may help an applicant be more competitive for a position. There are no education requirements, however, a bachelor's degree can help an applicant be more competitive and a graduate degree can help even more. The majority of Foreign Service Officers do hold a bachelor's degree or higher. How salaries are determined also favors those Foreign Service Officers with higher education. The goal of this site is to help potential applicants find that degree that might give them that competitive edge when applying for a Foreign Service Officer position.(1)

A bachelor's in any subject is helpful. Bachelor's degrees that Foreign Service Officers hold include accounting, a foreign language major or minor, political science, business, economics, finance, psychology, history, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice and legal studies/pre-law. It would make sense to select a major that will prepare you for the specific career track you are interested in. Listed below are a number of degree programs offered by regionally and nationally accredited schools that can help prepare you for one of the Foreign Service Officer career tracks. Choose a program that fits your strengths, interests and career track goals to learn more.

Once the above eligibility requirements are met and an applicant feels they are the most competitive they can be for a position, they will need to submit an application and take the Foreign Service Officer Test, a Qualifications Evaluation Panel, an Oral Assessment, complete a security and medical clearance and then undergo a final review.

Foreign Service Officer Salary

According to the US State Department website, entry-level Foreign Service Officers with a bachelor's degree and no work experience start out at $42,576 and those with no degree and 6 years or less of work experience start out at the same salary. Foreign Service Officers with a master's degree or a law degree and no work experience start out at $47,625. This data is current as of May, 2009.(1)

Many Foreign Service Officers have long careers with the US State Department and others move on to other federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, INS and others. Education can only help you in your career. Contact the schools listed below to learn more about their programs and how they can help prepare you for a rewarding future.
(Sources: (1) - U.S. State Department website - FSO career)

Foreign Service Officer Related Education Programs

= Editor Recommended School

Short on Time? Click Here to request free information from The Nation's Top Criminal Justice Programs.

University of Phoenix Online: University of Phoenix will help thoroughly prepare you for careers in the field of criminal justice. University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the country and is dedicated to their students.

BS in Psychology
BS in Business/Administration
BS in Business/Accounting
BS in Business/Finance
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Organizational Security & Management
MS in Administration of Justice and Security
MBA

Walden University Online: Regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, which is one of six accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

B.S. in Communication - Organizational Communications
B.S. in Criminal Justice - CJ Management and Administration
B.S. in Criminal Justice - Computer Info Systems & Security
B.S. in Business Administration - Finance
B.S. in Communication - Public Relations
Master of Public Admin - Homeland Security and Policy Coordination
Master of Public Admin - Law and Public Policy
Master of Public Admin - Local Government Management
M.S. in Psychology - Terrorism and Security

Florida Tech University Online:

BA Accounting
BA in Criminal Justice
BA Business Admin Accounting
BA Business Admin Management

Capella University:

BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Public Safety - Emergency Management
BS in Business - Accounting
BS in Business - Business Administration
BS in Business - Finance
BS in Business - Management and Leadership
MS in Public Safety Leadership
PhD Programs - Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, and Public Safety Leadership

Request free information from Capella University to learn more.

Virginia College:

Business Administration - BS
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Business Administration
Master's in Criminal Justice
Master's in Cybersecurity

Request information to learn more about these as well as other Criminal Justice Programs at Virginia College.

Lincoln College Online:

B.S. in Criminal Justice and the Criminal Mind
B.S. in Business Management
B.S. in Information Management and Security

Ashford University:

BA/Organizational Management - Sociology
BA/Organizational Management - Liberal Studies
BA/Organizational Management - Management
BA/Organizational Management - Political Science
BA/Organizational Management - Psychology
BA/Psychology
BA/Social Science - Anthropology
BA/Social Science - Economics
BA in Social Science - Criminal Justice

American InterContinental University:

Bachelor's - International Business
Bachelor's - Accounting & Finance
Bachelor's - Organizational Psychology & Development
Bachelor's - Computer Forensics
BSCJ - Law Enforcement
BSCJ - Forensic Science
BSCJ - Special Populations

Request free information from AIU to learn more about these programs.

Kaplan University:

AAS in Criminal Justice
AASCJ - Corrections, Law Enforcement, Private Security
BS in Criminal Justice
BSCJ - Law Enforcement, Computer Crime, Corrections, Homeland Security...

Request information to learn more about these as well as other Criminal Justice Programs at Kaplan University.

Herzing University:

BS in Accounting
BS in Legal Studies
BS in Business Administration
BS in Technology Management - Computer Science
BS in Criminal Justice
BS in Criminal Justice - Homeland Security
BS in Homeland Security
MBA in Business Management

Request free information from Herzing University Online to learn more.

University of the Rockies: Online

Master of Arts in Psychology, Business Psychology Specialization
Master of Arts in Psychology, Evaluation, Research & Measurement Specialization
Master's in Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies
Doctor of Psychology - Criminology and Justice Studies

Back to Top