The Master of Strategic Intelligence degree is designed for students who hold or intend to hold positions as military or civilian intelligence analysts. You'll study issues that challenge intelligence professionals: terrorism, espionage, national security, regional intel, the "war on drugs," and ethnic conflict. Learn how those issues fit into larger strategies

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, the Master of Strategic Intelligence also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of space studies, graduates in this degree program will be able to

Intelligence Analysis and Research

• Evaluate and compose research studies using various scientific qualitative research methods as they apply to particular intelligence theses or topics
• Compare, contrast, and compose intelligence community reports, assessments, and evaluations and assess the weight of their influence on decision/policy makers.
• Formulate an analysis using one or more of the major forecasting techniques for predictive intelligence analysis.

Intelligence Community and Operations

• Critically evaluate the US Intelligence Community including the roles of the member agencies and the type and intended use of intelligence produced.
• Evaluate the quality, contribution, and achievements of national and international intelligence resources to meet national crises at national, state, and local levels.
• Distinguish the political interactions between and within the executive, legislative and judicial branches concerning intelligence policy formulation and execution.
• Apply historical lessons to the challenges the intelligence community will face in the 21st century. 

Degree Program Requirements

Core Courses (9 semester hours)
RC502 / RC506 / INT 500 - Research Methods in Intelligence Studies / Research Methods in Security and Intelligence Studies
IN500 / INT 501 - Strategic Intelligence
IN520 / INT 502 - Analytic Methods

Major Courses (18 semester hours)
A student enrolled in Strategic Intelligence must take six major courses. 
A student enrolled in the general program must take six courses from the general program list . 
A student enrolled in a concentration must take four of their major courses from his/her concentration area below and two courses from the supplemental list.

General Program
For students who do not wish to seek a concentration.

Select six courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN527 / INT 605 - Intelligence and National Security
IN575 / INT 606 - Intelligence, Leadership, Management and Coordination
IN549 / INT 610 - Competitive Intelligence
IN517 / INT 620 - Threat Analysis
IN519 / INT 630 - Collection
IN509 / INT 640 - Counterintelligence
IN512 / INT 650 - Middle East Intelligence Issues
IN529 / INT 670 - Regional Threat Analysis
IN531 / INT 673 - Intelligence and Russian Military Strategy
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations
OC503 / NSS 601 - Security and Intelligence Data Analysis

Concentration in Competitive Intelligence
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Assess the application of intelligence studies processes and procedures to the commercial business environment.
• Develop an original analysis of a competitive intelligence issue utilizing current open source data and information.

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses
DM598 / DM625 / BUS 620 - Business Strategy / Strategic Management
IN549 / INT 610 - Competitive Intelligence
IN600 / INT 611 - Corporate Threat Definition & Vulnerability Analysis
IN605 / INT 612 – Business Intelligence
CR538 / SCM 538 - Industrial Espionage

Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Concentration in Intelligence Analysis
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the capabilities and limitations of advanced intelligence analytic methods and assess when to use each method.
• Develop an original analysis of an intelligence issue utilizing advanced threat analysis, indications and warning, or forecasting methods

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses.
IN600 / INT 611 - Corporate Threat Definition and Vulnerability Analysis
IN517 / INT 620 - Threat Analysis
IN523 / INT 621 - Indications and Warning
IN528 / INT 622 - Intelligence Profiling
IN529 / INT 670 - Regional Threat Analyses
OC503 / NSS 601 - Security and Intelligence Data Analysis

Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Concentration in Intelligence Collection
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this program the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the capabilities and limitations of all-source intelligence collection methods and assess when to use each.
• Develop a comprehensive all-source intelligence collection plan for a current world situation.

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses.
IN528 / INT 622 - Intelligence Profiling
IN519 / INT 630 - Collection (required in this concentration)
IN513 / INT 631 - Imagery Intelligence
IN521 / INT 632 - Terrain and Weather Intelligence
SP545 / SPS 504 - Remote Sensing Satellites

Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Concentration in Intelligence Operations
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the capabilities and limitations of intelligence operations methods and assess when to use each.
• Develop a comprehensive intelligence operations plan for a current world situation.

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses
IN509 / INT 640 - Counterintelligence
IN516 / INT 641 - Propaganda and Disinformation
IN508 / INT 642 - Deception in War
IN585 / INT 643 - Assassination: History, Theory, and Practice
IN504 / INT 644 - Information Warfare
IN505 / INT 645 - Intelligence and the War on Drugs 
IN535 / INT 646 - Intelligence in Low Intensity Operations
IN544 / INT 647 - Intelligence and Weapons of Mass Destruction
IN525 / INT 662 - Counterterrorism

Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Concentration in Middle Eastern Studies
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the political, economic, and social factors that affect state and non-state actor behavior in the Middle East.
• Produce an analysis of a selected Middle East state or the region as a whole, utilizing current open source data and information

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses
NS551 / INR 662 - Middle Eastern Culture
NS552 / INR 663 - Islam
NS553 / INR 661 - Politics and Security in the Persian Gulf
IN512 / INT 650 - Middle East Intelligence Issues
MS670 / MIL 692 - Arab-Israeli Conflict: Contemporary Politics/Diplomacy
 
Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 - Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 - Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 - History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 - Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Concentration in Terrorism Studies
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the political, economic, and social factors that affect terrorist behavior.
• Originate an analysis of a selected terrorism topic utilizing current open source data and information.

Concentration Requirements
Select four courses
IN517 / INT 620 - Threat Analysis
IN523 / INT 621 - Indications and Warning
IN528 / INT 622 - Intelligence Profiling
IN585 / INT 643 - Assassination: History, Theory, and Practice
LC514 / INT 660 - Roots of Terrorism
LC537 / INT 661 - Forecasting Terrorism 
IN525 / INT 662 - Counterterrorism
IN547 / INT 663 - Intelligence and Homeland Security

Select two supplemental courses
OC501 / INT 601 – Critical Analytical Thinking
IN542 / INT 603 – Ethical Challenges in the Intelligence Community
IN514 / INT 604 – History of the Central Intelligence Agency
IN690 / INT 690 – Independent Study in Intelligence
NS610 / NSS 612 - Interagency Operations

Graduate Electives
(9 semester hours) From other courses not taken to meet required, core, or major requirements.
End of Program Requirement - Taken once all other degree requirements have been met.
IN700 / INT 790 - Separate Comprehensive Examination
OR
IN701 / INT 791 - Master’s Capstone Seminar in Strategic Intelligence - The Master of Strategic Intelligence Master’s Capstone Seminar option includes a thesis, or a major research project or paper  in lieu of the final comprehensive examination, which has no credit hours.  Those who elect this option may reduce their electives by three semester hours to accommodate the seminar option credit. This option is desirable for those students who wish to apply their advanced research skills to a topic of interdisciplinary  interest or who would plan to continue their education at a higher level.  Students electing this option must use this as one of the graduate electives.

Total hours: 36 semester hours