Intelligence Analysis

Course Descriptions

Intelligence Policy and National Security (Credits: 3): The course examines the principal roles of intelligence in national policy formulation, in the provision of strategic and tactical warning, in providing support for military operations, and in covert action.  Emphasis is placed on the problems inherent in conducting intelligence in a democracy and on the considerations associated with providing high quality intelligence analysis.

Critical Thinking for Analysts (Credits: 3):  This is a course in critical thinking and analytic methodologies. The ability to think critically, analyze effectively, and solve difficult problems are crucial skills in the intelligence arena. Additionally, rapid changes in technology, information sourcing, and information availability, coupled with fundamental changes in the Intelligence Community and its customers’ expectations have had a significant impact on the intelligence process and the way in which analysis is conducted and disseminated.

Problems of Global Security (Credits: 3):  This course examines the changing international security environment and the challenges it poses for US policymakers, the Intelligence Community and military commanders. The course is designed to encourage critical and creative thinking on problems of global security and the role of intelligence in addressing them. The course has three segments: 1) the theoretical and historical context of current global security issues; 2) specific global security problems; and 3) student presentations on policy options and prospects.

Intelligence and Policy:  Executive, Congressional and Public Dimensions (Credits: 3): This course will provide the student with an understanding of the relationships between intelligence and the policy making process.  The course will focus on the American context, with unique executive branch, congressional, and public expectations for intelligence.  It will compare the American context with that of other countries, especially other industrial democracies.

Course Schedule

• PLCY 699R - Critical Thinking for Analysts, Tuesday evenings, 6PM - 9PM, May 30, 2017 - August 22, 2017. Location - Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Classroom: TBD

• PLCY 698C - Intelligence Policy and National Security. Tuesday evenings, 6PM - 9PM, September 12, 2017 - December 12, 2017. Location - Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Classroom: TBD. (Please note: Parts of this course will be offered asynchronously on-line).

• PLCY 789G - Moral Foundations of Intelligence. TBD.

• PLCY 724 - Problems of Global Security. TBD.

Course Format

All Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis program courses are offered using a hybrid model.  Several meetings will be offered asynchronously – with students viewing lectures, books, webpages, videos,  and completing assignments independently.

How to Apply

To participate in this program, all students must apply and be accepted to the University of Maryland graduate school as Intelligence Analysis Graduate Certificate program students. To apply, please do the following:

• Complete a University of Maryland Graduate School application (https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=umdgrad) and pay a $75 application fee.  For program code, please select Z021 – Intelligence Analysis.
• Submit all official sealed collegiate transcripts. You may upload unoffical copies on the application and submit offical copies upon acceptance
• Upon completing your application, please contact the School of Public Policy Student Affairs office at 301.405.6331 or policy-applications@umd.edu. By alerting the School to your application, the Student Affairs office in the School can track your application through the admissions office and provide you with timely feedback on the status of your package.
• The Graduate School requires each applicant to submit official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution AND meet one of the following admissions criteria:
• have achieved a cumulative 3.0 (on a 4 point scale) average for work done at the undergraduate level; OR
• have earned a master’s, doctoral, or a post-baccalaureate professional degree (M.D., J.D., D.V.M., etc.) from a regionally accredited institution; OR
• have attained a score that places the applicant in the upper 50th percentile of an appropriate national standardized aptitude examination such as the GRE, GMAT, or Miller Analogies Test ;  OR
• provide a letter of support from the Graduate Director of the degree program in which the applicant plans to take a course.

The deadline for Fall 2017 admission is August 31, 2017. 

Graduate Degree Possibilities

Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis coursework can count towards graduate degree coursework at the University of Maryland College Park.  When changing programs within the University of Maryland College Park a student may request inclusion of credits earned at UMCP.  When moving from non-degree to degree-seeking status, however, students may not include more than 12 credits. In this program, a student must apply and be admitted into a degree program prior to taking their fifth program course.

The certificate coursework in this program can count directly towards the Executive Master of Public Management offered by the School of Public Policy.  Upon completing the certificate program, a student would have to take six additional EMPM courses, to earn their Master of Public Management degree.  More program information can be found at the following link: http://publicpolicy.umd.edu/graduate/executive-programs

For more details on these degree opportunities, please contact our Student Affairs office at 301.405. 6331 or policy-applications@umd.edu.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for this program is $4,500 per course (or $18,000 for the program). All required texts and program materials are included in this price.  Students are billed each semester based upon how many courses that they are registered for.  For those being sponsored by their employers, please contact the program at 301.405.9715 or goodhart@umd.eduto be connected with our 3rd Party billing office to ensure that appropriate billing information is in our system for you.  A limited number of partial fellowships are also available.  Please contact the program for more information.