Courses

Course examines the evolution of the U.S. Intelligence Community and how it is adapting to new international security challenges.  The course discusses the historical background of U.S. intelligence and how political ideology, domestic policies, technology, and the threat have shaped today’s U.S. Intelligence Community.  The course provides an overview of the roles, missions, and structure of the U.S. Intelligence Community and how the various components support national security decision makers.  The course also provides an overview of diplomacy and intelligence as tools of statecraft.  Course looks at foreign intelligence services, their targets, and operational successes and failures.   Finally, the course addresses emerging national security issues potentially shaping future U.S. intelligence operations.  On completion of the course, students will have an in-depth understanding of the U.S. Intelligence community, how it supports national security decision makers, and how it can influence policy development.

Course provides a comprehensive look at the roles, missions, and structure of the U.S. Intelligence Community.  Students will develop an understanding of the components of the intelligence process used by the U.S. Intelligence Community: (1) planning and direction, (2) collection, (3) processing, (4) analysis and production, and (5) dissemination. This course also addresses the various polices and executive orders shaping intelligence collection both domestically and abroad, such as, intelligence oversight  and restrictions on sharing and dissemination of information within and between local, state, and federal government agencies and the private sector.  On completion of the course, students will have an in-depth understanding of the roles of the various components of the U.S. Intelligence Community and the intelligence processes used to support national security decision makers.

Course develops advanced critical thinking, writing, oral communication skills by enhancing the student's ability to apply analytic tradecraft methods to intelligence products.  Course emphasizes in-class, hands-on exercises to enhance the student's ability to apply structured analytic techniques, critically assess bias and logical fallacies in information sources, critiquing analytical products, and applying sound analytical tradecraft  to individual and team writing exercises and oral presentations.  Course also emphasizes the team-oriented environment of the intelligence profession, specifically focusing on standards of practice found in US intelligence agencies. On completion of the course, students will have an understanding of the analytic processes and guidelines the U.S.  Intelligence Community uses to create intelligence products for national security decision makers. 

Course provides an overview and history of the counterintelligence discipline; the structure and operations of the U. S.  counterintelligence community including its legal foundation; and the privacy and civil liberties implications of counterintelligence operations.  Course discusses how counterintelligence has evolved from the Cold War-era, with its focus on counter espionage, to 21st Century challenges such as threats from non-state actors and to our cyber networks.  Course also addresses the emerging national security issues which will shape future U.S. counterintelligence operations.  On completion of the course, students will have an understanding of how the U.S. counterintelligence capabilities and programs work to detect and neutralize the impact of espionage against US interests.