| Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence Core Courses |
|
Required Core Courses (21 credits)
MSI 601 Globalization: The Context for Intelligence
(3:3:0) Globalization’s threads are woven into every aspect of human existence—leading to a differently constituted definition of self and social morality. This course examines globalization as a phenomenon that intensifies the interaction among people, ideas, economies, governments, and nations. Beyond its beneficial effects, globalization also contributes to political alienation, radical ideologies, and religion fused with ethnic conflict. It facilitates transnational networks of terrorists giving our opponents access to technology and weapons that threaten our national security. Intelligence collection and analysis must account for an interconnected world—drawing connections between disparate realities of the human condition to establish an integrated and global perspective as the context for intelligence.
MSI 603 Social Analysis and the Spectrum of Conflict
(3:3:0) The increasing velocity of globalization places strain on the political, social, religious and cultural identity claims of individual groups, which translates into challenges of the legitimacy and coherence of state and international structures. This places social and cultural analysis at the center of understanding the nature and propensities for conflict which can take the form of terrorism, insurgency, counterinsurgency and conventional war. Conflict is subjective and contextual—one act can be seen as aggressive or defensive, depending on its meaning and intent. This course develops and applies a comprehensive conceptual framework for the analysis of state and non-state actors to assess the underlying propensities and potential for external and internal conflict
MSI 605 Operational Capabilities
(3:3:0) This course develops and applies a comprehensive strategy-centric conceptual framework for analyzing and forecasting the operational capabilities of state and non-state actors. It begins by analyzing the historical and current circumstances of the actor together with how they develop and implement strategy, doctrine and tactics. This intellectual center is then used to understand how the forces are raised, equipped, and deployed within the context of a set of missions defined by strategy. This is accomplished through consideration of such variables as command, control, communications and intelligence; defense economics, which may embrace the global economy; geography (terrain, political, ethnic); personnel; weapons and systems, individual and unit training; and medical support. (Prerequisites or Co-requisites: MSI 601, MSI 603)
MSI 607 Argumentation, Logic and Reasoning
(3:3:0) This is a course in argument and reasoning for intelligence analysis—focusing on recognizing the structure of an argument as the basis for sound and logical analysis. Students will learn to be self-directed, self-disciplined, and self-assessed thinkers. Topics covered are based on accepted competencies in critical thinking. Conclusions (assessments, estimates) offered by analysts must reflect a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, interpreting and communicating information in order to advance the understanding of an event or situation, and be based on a rigorous analytical process for applying human judgment to reach defensible conclusions (analysis and synthesis).
MSI 609 The Compound Eye: Intelligence Collection
(3:3:0) Collection includes a dynamic and integrated set of activities to acquire intelligence information needed to satisfy national intelligence requirements, and is performed through five primary means: Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Measurements and Signatures Intelligence (MASINT), and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT). Collection must continuously produce the right data and information for successful and aggressive all-source analysis. This course analyzes the collection disciplines of HUMINT, MASINT, SIGINT, GEOINT and OSINT to determine their structure and technology, capabilities and limitations in the context of interacting with and providing evidence for analysts. Case studies drawn from classified intelligence literature provide the substantive backdrop for the analysis of capabilities and limitations of each collection discipline.
MSI 611 Intelligence and National Security Policy
(3:3:0) Emerging trends manifested in the threats and opportunities of globalization have altered collective notions of national interest and national security policy. Our country’s success in meeting the ever-increasing asymmetric and transnational challenges will depend on how well we transform, reorient, and coordinate the National Intelligence Community to support the requirements of our national security policy. This course examines national security policy formulation, the factors that influence and constrain policy choices, and the role of intelligence in this process. The changing nature of intelligence vis-à-vis policy formulation, with illustrations from the global war on terror and the Iraq war, will serve as examples of the relationship between intelligence and policy. Students will analyze and evaluate the future political, cultural, and institutional challenges facing the National Intelligence Community as it supports national security policy.
MSI 613 Science and Technology *
d comprehension of the concepts, principles, and applications of scientific and technical capabilities relevant to intelligence planning and execution. It focuses on the Intelligence Community’s ability to exploit science and technology advances for generating more effective intelligence products and assess the technical capabilities of our state and non-state adversaries, and the implementation of effective threat indicators and countermeasures. Students will analyze national security problems, identify challenges and opportunities for S&T and examine how S&T can enable and enhance human capability. The course examines science, technology and their relationship to one another, the development and acquisition of key technologies, elements of scientific & technical systems, IC S&T organizations, and how “benign” technologies can become a threat.
MSI 615 Deconstructing Strategy *
(3:3:0) Defense transformation recognizes that the US faces both conventional and nontraditional conflict. It recognizes that “success” in conflict may be measured by a political, social, or economic outcome rather than by defeating an opposing military force. Strategy for national security includes finding the proper application of theory and blending of national power into strategy that is both effective and adaptable in overcoming challenges to our national objectives from state and non-state actors, and transnational threats. This course analyzes the strategic context in which US intelligence must operate in the global environment.
*Students may choose either MSI 613 or MSI 615 |
| |
|
|
Strategic Intelligence
MSSI
MSSI Core Courses 