U.S. National Security and Intelligence Studies
U.S. National Security and Intelligence Studies Certificate Program is designed to meet the nation's growing demand for varied range of professionals that can advance national security priorities and obligations. The certificate will help identify candidates, promote recruitment into the IC CAE program and develop qualified, competitive students ready to pursue careers in the Intelligence Community.
Program outlook
Through courses, hands-on workshops, simulations, research opportunities and events, students will gain real-world insight into how the Intelligence Community operates and what it takes to be part of it. Students will develop skills in areas like critical thinking, analytical writing and open-source intelligence. They’ll also learn how to spot and defend against cyber threats, explore different forms of intelligence like HUMINT, SIGINT, and GEOINT and build language skills in critical languages that are in high demand.
Required courses
POS 294 Introduction to U.S. Intelligence Community (3)
POS 347 Intelligence Process (3)
Study Abroad / Internship / or Capstone (3)
6 credit hours from your academic major that is related to national security, foreign languages, STEM, global politics, and cybersecurity among others. List of approved courses will be available in the Spring of 2026.
Pre-enrollment required course
POS 294: Introduction to the U.S. Intelligence Community
POS 294 provides a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. Intelligence Community, exploring its roles, missions, and structure. Students will gain a deep understanding of the intelligence process used by the U.S. Intelligence Community, which includes five key components: 1.) Planning and Direction; 2.) Collection; 3.) Processing; 4.) Analysis and Production; and 5.) Dissemination.
Through the course, students will explore how intelligence is gathered and used to support U.S. national security decisions. Emphasis will be placed on the policies, executive orders, and regulations that shape intelligence collection both domestically and abroad. Topics will also include intelligence oversight and the restrictions on the sharing and dissemination of information across federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as within the private sector. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a thorough understanding of the U.S. Intelligence Community's components, processes, and how intelligence supports national security decision-makers.