The Master of Arts in Intelligence Studies provides you with advanced-level understanding of strategic intelligence analysis, collection, and operations. Core courses in this graduate program impart substantive knowledge and analytic skills often required in professionals seeking leadership positions in the intelligence community. Additional concentration choices enable you to focus on a functional area or intelligence sub-field. This degree program is designed for students seeking advanced knowledge in the intelligence field, or for those who wish to build upon undergraduate knowledge as for potential entry into the field. This degree program is taught by highly credentialed and experienced instructors, many who hold key positions in government agencies or other intelligence organizations.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Examine the evolution, structures, functions, capabilities, and activities of the national intelligence community, both from the pre-and post-September 11, 2001, perspectives.
- Explain the structures, functions, capabilities, and contributions of national intelligence consumers to include the national command authority, executive departments, Congress, military services, joint/unified commands, and law enforcement agencies.
- Appraise the intelligence cycle, including intelligence planning, data collection, data exploitation, analysis, production, and dissemination phases.
- Investigate the fundamental capabilities, limitations, and means of tasking human, geographic/imagery, signals, measurement, and technical and open intelligence data sources.
- Assess and predict traditional and non-traditional threats to national and international security.
- Conduct advanced research and compose professional and academic analyses on issues critical to intelligence consumers.
- Evaluate the latest techniques and procedures for improving interagency cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 18 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 12 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 3 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
Degree Program Requirements
Core Requirements (18 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTL501 | Strategic Intelligence 1 | 3 |
| INTL502 | Collection | 3 |
| SSGS500 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| INTL507 | Intelligence Operations | 3 |
| INTL508 | Intelligence Analysis | 3 |
| INTL616 | Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
| 1 | Required as the first course in this program. |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a General Concentration, Concentration in Criminal Intelligence, Concentration in Cyber, Concentration in Homeland Security, Concentration in Intelligence Analysis, Concentration in Intelligence Collection, Concentration in Intelligence Management, Concentration in Intelligence Operations, or Concentration in Terrorism Studies.
General Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
This general concentration allows you to select from all the intelligence courses within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Interagency Operations | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Intelligence and Homeland Security | ||
| Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) | ||
| OSINT | ||
| Human Intelligence (HUMINT) | ||
| Advanced Geospatial Intelligence | ||
| Criminal Intelligence Analysis | ||
| Indications and Warnings | ||
| Intelligence Profiling | ||
| Cyber and the Intelligence Cycle | ||
| Transnational Crime and Narcotics | ||
| Cyber Intelligence | ||
| Case Studies in Foreign Cyber Threats | ||
| Counterterrorism | ||
| Terrorism: Assessing the Past to Forecast the Future | ||
| Deception, Propaganda and Disinformation | ||
| From Academics to the Profession: Publishing in the Social Sciences | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Criminal Intelligence (12 semester hours)
Examines the historical roots of organized crime and its current role within the American criminal justice system. Provides an overview on U.S. counter-drug efforts and basic information on illicit drugs, with a focus on world regions where drugs are typically manufactured and transported. Teaches counterintelligence principles and criminal intelligence analysis for predicting trends, weaknesses, capabilities, intentions, changes, and warnings needed to dismantle criminal organizations.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply intelligence processes and procedures in the criminal justice community.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Organized Crime | ||
| Drug Cartels and the Narcotics Threat | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Criminal Intelligence Analysis | ||
| Transnational Crime and Narcotics | ||
| Cyber Intelligence | ||
| Law, Ethics and Cybersecurity | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Cyber (12 semester hours)
Addresses the cyber discipline from a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics include current and historical structure, functions, and capabilities of private and governmental agencies comprising the cyber community; laws related to intellectual property, civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, and privacy; cybercrime investigation and prevention; and the ethical, economic, and societal issues that face today’s information-entrenched society.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the cyber discipline from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) | ||
| OSINT | ||
| Cyber Intelligence | ||
| Case Studies in Foreign Cyber Threats | ||
| Advanced Cybercrime Analysis | ||
| Cyber Ethics: Privacy and Intellectual Property | ||
| Cyber and the Intelligence Cycle | ||
| Law, Ethics and Cybersecurity | ||
| Cyber Policy and Practice in National Security | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Homeland Security (12 semester hours)
Traces intelligence and homeland security processes in defending the U.S., such as the efforts to prevent, prepare, and respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction. Looks at: terrorist groups from different political psychological perspectives; threats to U.S. borders, such as illegal immigration, narcotics smuggling, and money laundering; and risk management in loss prevention.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply intelligence processes and procedures in the defense of the United States.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Homeland Security and Defense | ||
| Security Risk Management | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism | ||
| Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups | ||
| Intelligence and Homeland Security | ||
| Political Psychology of Terror Groups | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Intelligence Analysis (12 semester hours)
Studies advanced intelligence analysis methods in composing professional and academic analyses on issues critical to intelligence community consumers. Topics include: an analysis of political leaders; an overview of transnational crime and narcotics and the effects on the political, social, and economic development of countries around the world; and the challenges and benefits of cyber intelligence operations.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply advanced intelligence analysis methods in composing professional and academic analyses on issues critical to intelligence community consumers.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Indications and Warnings | ||
| Intelligence Profiling | ||
| Transnational Crime and Narcotics | ||
| Cyber Intelligence | ||
| Terrorism: Assessing the Past to Forecast the Future | ||
| Deception, Propaganda and Disinformation | ||
| Political Psychology of Terror Groups | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Intelligence Collection (12 semester hours)
Studies advanced intelligence data-collection methods in supporting analyses on issues critical to intelligence community consumers. Analyzes the phases, processes, and challenges of cybercrime investigations, as well as U.S. and foreign aspects of counterintelligence and the technical, legal, and social issues relating to the search and seizure of digital evidence and computer forensics.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply advanced intelligence data collection methods in supporting analyses on issues critical to intelligence community consumers.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) | ||
| OSINT | ||
| Human Intelligence (HUMINT) | ||
| Advanced Geospatial Intelligence | ||
| Cyber and the Intelligence Cycle | ||
| Advanced Cybercrime Analysis | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Intelligence Management (12 semester hours)
Lays the groundwork to understanding management principles in the intelligence community environment. Topics include: ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings; strategic planning techniques used by industrial companies; the evolution and philosophical foundation of the human resource field; methods of managing an organization; and human behavior principles in individual, group, team, and organizational settings.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply management principles in the intelligence community environment.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Organizational Management | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Strategic Planning | ||
| Ethics in Leadership | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Intelligence Operations (12 semester hours)
Explores intelligence management skills required for leadership within the intelligence community. Examines covert action in the context of national security, including the political and executive aspects of the presidential powers involved. Addresses core elements of information operations, including the disciplines of electronic warfare (EW), computer network operations (CNO), psychological operations (PSYOP), and operations security (OPSEC).
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Employ intelligence management skills required by planning and management positions in the intelligence community.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Interagency Operations | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Intelligence Profiling | ||
| Cyber Intelligence | ||
| Deception, Propaganda and Disinformation | ||
| Covert Action and National Security | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Concentration in Terrorism Studies (12 semester hours)
Studies the causes and threats of domestic and international terrorism, including the threat of weapons of mass destruction as a unique phenomenon within the homeland security landscape. Also includes terrorist and extremist groups within the U.S., policies for combating terrorism and terrorist tactics worldwide, and various counterterrorism intelligence methodologies and analytic tools.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:
- Appraise the causes of and threats from U.S domestic and international terrorism.
Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism | ||
| Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups | ||
| Counterterrorism | ||
| Terrorism: Assessing the Past to Forecast the Future | ||
| The Non-State Soldier | ||
| Political Psychology of Terror Groups | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 12 | |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Intelligence Studies Capstone 1 | ||
| Master's Project Capstone Seminar 1 | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Taken once all other requirements have been met. |
Elective Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select any graduate courses not already taken to fulfill the requirements listed above. | 3 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |