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National Security and Intelligence Operations
Global security issues have made clear the pressing demand for effective intelligence collection and analysis. From domestic and international terrorism to election interference and cyber weaponry, the United States faces a constant barrage of threats.
There is a growing need to defend against bad actors targeting both the public and private sectors. These threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated as they expand in breadth.
Government officials apply strategic intelligence to proactively monitor covert action and protect national security interests. Intelligence operations help inform foreign policy decisions, combat illicit drug trade, and bolster homeland security.
Advance Your Knowledge of the Different Types of Intelligence
Strategic Intelligence: Provides the IC with insight into the goals of foreign countries. This information guides foreign policy, national strategy decision-making, and international relations.
Defense Intelligence: Supports U.S. military strategy by providing details about foreign countries’ military capabilities, operational planning, and force deployments.
Operational Intelligence: Information surrounding the military operations and capabilities of adversaries. Operational intel analysts also monitor current events that are of interest to the U.S. government.
Tactical Intelligence: Provides intelligence support to military commanders to help inform their decisions about operational planning and execution.
Counterintelligence: Information regarding foreign adversaries and suspected acts of espionage that may threaten our nation’s security. Counterintelligence operations are conducted both within and outside of the United States.
Applying Intelligence Analysis
Coursework introduces students to analytical tools and techniques for identifying and evaluating threats. Intel analysis enables organizations and government agencies to defend against a host of bad actors and protect sensitive data.
Military Intelligence
This intelligence function supports the United States’ assessment of other countries’ military capabilities to better understand their plans, intentions, and capabilities. These assessments alert U.S. leaders to impending crises and help them make decisions about key issues, such as foreign policy and force deployments.
Law Enforcement Intelligence
Law enforcement intelligence includes insights into criminality and criminal threats. This discipline supports the criminal justice system by providing insight into security risks and trends in crime.
Corporate Intelligence
This intelligence function aids in operational planning as well as risk assessment and mitigation in business settings. Corporate intelligence professionals help companies identify and critically analyze opportunities and threats to their business interests.
This intelligence studies degree program provides students with a substantial foundation in security and intelligence principles. Coursework incorporates hands-on, practical training to familiarize learners with appropriate research methods for analyzing intel.
Students also learn to write clearly and concisely as they discuss how to produce intelligence reports. Additionally, learners sharpen their critical-thinking skills by engaging in discussions about how intel analysts make sense of the world around them. Upon completion of the program, intelligence studies graduates are well-versed in data acquisition and analysis techniques the IC employs.
Intelligence Studies Degree Concentrations
This bachelor’s degree program in intelligence studies allows students to choose from 12 concentration tracks, including:
Counterintelligence
Learn how the Intelligence Community safeguards U.S. national security interests through offensive and defensive strategies. Counterintelligence courses introduce students to threat profiling procedures, as well as espionage and counterespionage techniques. Students discuss how counterintelligence practices have advanced throughout history as they gain experience with select research methods and tools.
Learners satisfy all 15 required credit hours with counterintelligence courses of their choosing.
Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) defines geospatial intelligence as, “the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth.”
Students who select this concentration track gain foundational knowledge of GEOINT tools and techniques. Assignments also incorporate research methodology the IC employs to equip learners with practical skills.
Learners satisfy all 15 required credit hours with geospatial intelligence courses of their choosing.
Intelligence Operations
Explore the function of intel within the military and discuss various strategies for gathering and analyzing data. Coursework focuses on the connection between the IC and non-war military operations, including peacekeeping, low-intensity conflicts, and humanitarian relief efforts.
Learners satisfy all 15 required credit hours with intelligence operations courses of their choosing.
Additional concentrations available in this degree program include:
- Intelligence Collection
- Criminal Intelligence
- Intelligence Analysis
- Terrorism Studies
- Middle East Area Studies
- Cyber
- Asian Area Studies
- Latin America Area Studies
- General (Students create their own concentration by selecting 15 credit hours from other concentration courses.)
Intelligence Studies Faculty Bring Their Professional Experience to the Online Classroom
This degree program features faculty members who hail from a variety of security and intelligence roles in the public and private sectors. They have held titles as:
- Intelligence chiefs
- Consultants
- Counterintelligence agents
- Analysts
- Imagery intelligence chiefs
Expand Your Network
Learning from faculty who have held successful careers in security and intelligence provides you with real-world perspective—and networking opportunities. Through this program in intelligence studies, online students meet instructors and classmates from around the country who share their unique interests.
As a military-friendly institution, AMU is also home to a diverse online community that includes servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses. A significant number of our students in our bachelor’s-level intelligence studies degree program have a military affiliation.
Who is the U.S. Intelligence Community?
The U.S. Intelligence Community is comprised of 18 organizations. Some of the primary functions of IC members include strategically collecting, analyzing, and safeguarding intel to protect national interests. Intelligence Community members will work independently or collaborate with one another, depending on the situation at hand.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI): The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as a key advisor to the president, National Security Council, and Homeland Security Council on intelligence issues related to federal/domestic security
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): provides national security intelligence to top U.S. policymakers
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA): supports military operations by gathering, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence
National Security Agency (NSA): protects information systems, including computer networks, to aid the U.S. and its allies
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA): provides geospatial intelligence to the military, policymakers, and first responders to protect homeland security
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): uses advanced technology, including space-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems, to gather real-time strategic intelligence and detect threats
Military service organizations to include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force: coordinate military intelligence to aid in national security efforts, including policymaking, military strategies, and domain operations to include ground, maritime, air, and space
Department of Energy’s Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (OICI): applies scientific and technical expertise to combat threats to the Department of Energy and national security
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A): provides tactical intelligence analysis and strategic intelligence to state, local, tribal, and territorial and private-sector partners to ensure homeland security
U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence: conducts security and intelligence activities to support maritime operations and law enforcement
Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): leads multi-discipline intelligence collections and intelligence analysis to mitigate criminal behavior and national security threats
Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of National Security Intelligence (OSNI): produces law enforcement intelligence to support the current drug interdiction efforts and counter narcotics policies set forth by the criminal justice system
Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR): undertakes foreign intelligence gathering to advance U.S. diplomacy efforts
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA): delivers intelligence and analysis to protect U.S. economic security
NOTE: This degree program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any country, state, province or other jurisdiction. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional licensure.
Security and Intelligence Studies: Frequently Asked Questions
As an intelligence studies student, you may have the opportunity to learn from scholar-practitioners, as well. Several faculty members have previously held roles in public- and private-sector intelligence.