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Intelligence Certificate Programs
Entry Level Certificate in Intelligence Analysis
Program Description
This Entry Level Certificate is designed to give the professional in the intelligence analysis field or the student who is considering getting in the field, a more comprehensive understanding of how to employ sound critical thinking when examining and assessing the validity of various arguments and the value of diverse sources of information. Students will learn various techniques for analyzing raw intelligence, evaluating source credibility, distinguishing “signal” from “noise”, and testing hypotheses. Finally, students will learn to apply principles of sound research and evaluation to a wide spectrum of source materials, to identify and describe their strengths and weaknesses, and to interpret the material obtained from them properly, while keeping potentially large amounts of information organized and accessible.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this certificate, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a systematic approach to critical thinking and explain its concepts and governing rules with regard to the context in which thinking occurs.
- Distinguish between good and bad arguments.
- Distinguish the differences, and similarities, between intelligence writing and writing in other intellectual professions.
- Describe the various audiences for which intelligence professionals write and orally present, and the special demands and requirements of each.
- Demonstrate a solid understanding of the intelligence analysis process in order to successfully apply it in various intelligence production projects.
- Demonstrate Open Source Intelligence methods via field exercises.
- Demonstrate fluency in navigating Open Source Intelligence resources.
- Discuss the value and importance of Open Source Intelligence as it relates to both Foreign National Intelligence and Domestic Intelligence.
Courses
ENG 390 Introduction to Critical Thinking & Logic
This course teaches the student to employ sound critical thinking, both in the general sense of the term and in narrower contexts related to this school’s programs of study. Students will learn to apply formal but non-quantitative logic, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning, and above all to appreciate the importance of maintaining an open mind when examining and assessing the validity of various arguments and the value of diverse sources of information.
ENG 330 Writing for Intelligence Professionals
Students completing this course will be able to demonstrate how to write with clarity, specificity, and brevity, all the while applying basic rules of grammar, spelling, and syntax. The course also explains basic secrecy protocols and how they differ between agencies. Students will develop and apply writing skills essential to accurate and comprehensive generation of reports.
INT 310 Introduction to Analysis
The process of taking raw data and obtaining from it intelligence that can be acted upon involves careful analysis and is an integral part of intelligence work. Students will learn various techniques for analyzing raw intelligence, evaluating source credibility, distinguishing “signal” from “noise,” and testing hypotheses.
INT 315 Open Source Research
This course provides an introduction to accessing and analyzing open sources. Open sources include all sources of information that are not subject to secret classification, including newspapers, websites, academic journals, scholarly and journalistic books, pamphlets, and broadcasts. Students will learn to apply principles of sound research and evaluation to a wide spectrum of source materials, to identify and describe their strengths and weaknesses, and to interpret the material obtained from them properly, while keeping potentially large amounts of information organized and accessible.
Entrance Requirements/Costs
| 1. Total Quarter Units= |
18 (4 courses) |
| 2. Total Program Tuition= |
$5,500.00 |
Qualified Entry Level Certificate Program applicants will have completed high school or its equivalent and be at least 18 years old.
The Enrollment Committee evaluates an applicant on multiple criteria upon the receipt of the following:
- Completed application
- Proof of high school graduation or equivalent
- Background check and/or Letter of Good Standing
Mid Level Certificate in Intelligence Analysis
Program Description
This Mid Level Certificate is designed for the professional who already has some experience in the intelligence analysis field or the student who has taken the entry level certificate to further learn about the Intelligence Cycle, how intelligence is prepared, and how it is used to inform decision and policy makers. This program will cover matters of intelligence ethics, privacy issues, and changes in the intelligence community in the post-9/11 environment. In this program the student will take the role of terrorist and pick a target for a future terrorist attack and then collect intelligence about that target. And finally, this course will distinguish counterterrorism (CT) from antiterrorism (AT)/Force Protection (FP) intelligence, strategic CT intelligence from tactical CT intelligence, and introduce analytical constructs for the field operator and reporter.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this certificate, students will be able to:
- Compare and contrast intelligence disciplines and illustrate the tradecraft used for each within intelligence operations.
- Describe and contract analytical products and their value to policy makers in public and private sectors.
- Recognize basic methodologies utilized in intelligence analysis, and cite examples of when each model, linking analysis or presentation style would e most appropriate in product development.
- Explain the basic psychology of Intelligence Analysts, and potential cognitive biases.
- Use elicitation techniques to gather information.
- Describe and use all-source intelligence analysis.
- Apply the analytical tools used most often in counterterrorism analysis.
- Build and manipulate a matrix to show connections and perform link analysis.
Courses
INT 595 Advanced Intelligence Operations
This course is designed to familiarize graduate students from diverse backgrounds with the principles, practices, and vernacular of intelligence operations in the U.S. government. Students will study the history and current make up of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). The course defines and distinguishes positive or foreign intelligence collection operations from paramilitary or covert operations and counterintelligence operations.
INT 596 Advanced Intelligence Practicum
This course is a graduate-level introduction to the intelligence community for students with little or no prior experience in intelligence. This course concerns the Directorate of Intelligence, in other words, that side of the intelligence community concerned with intelligence collection, vetting, analysis, etc. Students will learn the different kinds of intelligence (i.e., HUMINT, ELINT, SIGINT, etc.), their respective uses, and how they are managed. The student will also learn about the Intelligence Cycle, how intelligence is prepared, and how it is used to inform decision and policy makers. Finally, the course will cover matters of intelligence ethics, privacy issues, and changes in the intelligence community in the post-9/11 environment.
INT 550 Advanced Open Source intelligence
This course is an advanced open source intelligence research course. The student will demonstrate the ability to use advanced OSINT research methods, including but not limited to grey literature, elicitation, foreign language documents, and satellite imagery to develop and produce a research paper based on a current United States National Security issue.
INT 525 Counterterrorism Analysis
The task of counterterrorism is one that is particularly analysis-intensive. It requires its practitioners to employ a melded set of analytical tools and interoperable capabilities. This objective can be complicated by the fact that many counterterrorism operations might involve several entities, including both the Intelligence Community and unclassified counterterrorism efforts. This course will explore how to create a unified, integrated, and multi-disciplinary counterterrorism analysis program that makes the best use of all available resources.
Entrance Requirements/Costs
| 1. Total Quarter Units= |
18 (4 courses) |
| 2. Total Program Tuition= |
$6,900.00 |
Qualified Mid Level Certificate applicants will have successfully completed our Entry Level Certificate program or have a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
The Enrollment Committee evaluates an applicant for the Mid Level Certificate Programs on multiple criteria upon the receipt of the following:
- Completed application
- Completion of Entry Level Certificate Program or bachelor’s degree
- Background check and/or Letter of Good Standing
Senior Level Certificate in Intelligence Analysis
Program Description
This Senior Level Certificate is designed for the intelligence analyst professional who wants to better understand the finer points of advanced analysis, including how to present briefings geared to the context of the intelligence consumer. The student will learn to codify and unify relevant information into a comprehensive study that will present an accurate and up to date picture of the target region’s cultural, political, economic, social, military, geographic, climate, demographic, hydrographic, and historical data that will support strategic intelligence and tactical operations by the end user. Further, this program teaches the craft of analyzing leaders, how to review available biographical information in an effort to discern the leader’s personality traits and skills, and any available information on the leader’s professional record in dealing with a variety of issues. And finally, students will learn how to weigh a variety of factors influencing how a political situation is likely to develop.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this certificate, students will be able to:
- Apply the analytical tools used to penetrate deception and denial (D&D) operations.
- Analyze propaganda for intelligence content.
- Compare and contrast data to arrive at an accurate assessment of a geographical area’s capacity to affect an area team’s operational capability.
- Define the leadership factors.
- Describe the impact of the leadership factors, principles, and competencies on organizational behavior.
- Use open source intelligence in leadership analysis.
- Define remote profiling and describe its implementation through HUMINT operations.
- Describe the different points of view in political science: rational choice theory, behavioralism, and the new institutionalism.
- Recognize the different analytical paradigms in modern political science.
Courses
INT 511 Advanced Analytical Methods
Advanced forms of analysis require the analyst to adroitly handle information from a variety of sources and disciplines, weighing each according to its inherent strengths and weaknesses. Analysts must also know how to generate alternate scenarios for analytical and preparation purposes. Advanced analysis is the distillation of the intelligence product into information that can prepare leaders and policy makers for otherwise unexpected contingencies. This course teaches the finer points of advanced analysis, including how to present briefings gear to the context of the intelligence customer.
INT 584 Area Studies Analysis
This course pertains to the central concerns of the intelligence analyst, as well as any member of an area team that may be required to operate in a foreign country. Through the use of various research mediums, the analyst will codify and unify relevant information into a comprehensive study that will present an accurate and up-to date-picture of the target region’s cultural, political, economic, social, military, geographic, climate, demographic, hydrographic, and historical data that will support strategic, intelligence, and tactical operations by the end user.
INT 580 Leadership Analysis
Leadership analysis consists of examining leaders’ personal and professional lives to identify their ability to address the problems and challenges of the leadership position. Some leaders just manage their jobs, while others truly lead. This course teaches the craft of analyzing leaders; how to review available biographical information in an effort to discern the leader's personality traits and skills, and analyzing available information on the leader's professional record in dealing with a variety of issues.
INT 581 Political Analysis
This course covers the primary role and tools of the political analyst. Students will learn how to weigh a variety of factors influencing how a political situation is likely to develop. The class also covers how probabilities for various situations are reckoned, as well as how to handle low-probability, high-impact situations from an analytical standpoint.
Entrance Requirements/Costs
| 1. Total Quarter Units= |
18 (4 courses) |
| 2. Total Program Tuition= |
$6,900.00 |
Qualified Senior Level Certificate applicants will have successfully completed our Entry Level and Mid Level Certificate programs or have a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. If the applicant has not taken at least the Mid Level Certificate, they must demonstrate at least one year of related experience in a specific area of relevant study.
The Enrollment Committee evaluates an applicant for the Senior Level Certificate Programs on multiple criteria upon the receipt of the following:
- Completed application
- Completion of Mid Level Certificate Program or bachelor’s degree and one year of related work experience
- Background check and/or Letter of Good Standing
Each certificate is worth 18 quarter units and the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in each course.
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