Intel & Security Studies (INSS)

INSS 1250:   Intro. to Intelligence Studies  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Students will receive a broad overview of intelligence gathering and analysis as practiced by agencies of the United States government, to include its purpose, history and potential benefits. The organizational makeup of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC); the laws, guidelines and ethics pertaining to intelligence collection; and employment/internship possibilities in the IC will also be presented. Finally, students will be given an introduction to analytical procedures and writing/briefing for policymakers.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 1350:   Intro to Global and Ntnl. Sec.  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course provides a broad overview of national security institutions, institutional players, decision-making processes, policies, ethics, and laws. It examines the U.S. National Security Strategy as well as perennial and emerging threats to global security.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3010:   Survey of U.S. Ntnl. Sec. Plcy  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course surveys the key issues and ideas associated with U.S. national security policy from the Cold War to the present. The course is designed to enhance students’ capacity to evaluate competing theories and arguments surrounding debates about U.S. national security policy and prepares students to develop their own policy analysis research, writing, and briefing skills.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3210:   Intelligence Collections  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course provides an introduction to collection disciplines (INTs), collections management, and adversarial efforts at denial and deception. Intelligence collection concerns both the technical and nontechnical means of collecting information for intelligence analysts, national security operations, and national security policymakers. It examines the process of how raw information is identified for collection, managing a plan to collect that information, and how the information is disseminated to back-end users.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3511:   Advanced Analytics I  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course introduces analytic methods and techniques used for effective decision making. Students will gain practical skills in writing and briefing for national security policymakers. Emphasis is placed on working through case studies and developing critical thinking, writing, and briefing skills.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
(INSS 1250 or INSS 1350) and 24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3512:   Advanced Analytics II  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
A follow-up course to ISS 351. Students learn about the challenges inherent in analytics and methodoloogies used to overcome biases and present findings in a meaningful way. The course is designed to acquaint students with methods to maximize analytical rigor and provide policymakers with the intelligence necessary for them to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and ambiguity. Emphasis is placed on working through case studies and developing writing and briefing skills.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
(INSS 1250 and INSS 3511) and 24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3600:   Overview of Csec and Plcy  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course provides an overview of cybersecurity with a focus on its relationship to broad national and global security issues. The course examines cybersecurity institutions, strategy, policies, and laws. The course also explores the concepts of cyber espionage, cyberattack, and cyberwarfare.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3970:   Study USA in Intel and Sec St.  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Study USA for intelligence and security studies. May be repeated for credit.  
3 - 6 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3980:   Stdy Abroad in Intel & Sec St.  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Study abroad for intelligence and security studies. May be repeated for credit.  
3 - 6 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 3990:   Independent Study  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Research project of extensive reading or engagement in field research under the direction of a full-time intelligence and security studies faculty member. May be repeated for credit.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 4710:   War and National Security  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course surveys the key issues and ideas associated with using the military instrument of national power. It introduces students to the canon of military theory, focusing on topics such as the nature of war, the levels of war, the range of military operations, military strategy, and operational art as they relate to achieving national security objectives. It examines how nations use traditional forms of warfare but also examines alternative forms such as guerilla warfare, insurgency, counterinsurgency, and terrorism.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 4800:   Nat'l Sec. Issues of c21  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Introduction to global security threats and how they might evolve in the future. Examination of historical, sociological, cultural, technological, and scientific principles underpinning threats and challenges to U.S. national security.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 4900:   Internship in Int. & Sec. St  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Internship to facilitate the integration of curriculum content through supervised experiences with an approved intelligence community, national security organization, other government, or private sector agency.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Internship  
Course Fees:
$20.00
  
INSS 4996A:   Int. & Sec. St.-Capstone  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Project of original, supervised research in an area of interest to the intelligence community.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 4999A:   Spec. Topics in Intel & Sec.  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
Study of topics related to current issues in the field of intelligence and security studies. May be repeated once for credit. ISS minors only; permission of instructor required.  
3 credits  
Prerequisites
24 Earned Credits.  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6010:   The Nat'l Sec Structure & Proc  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course introduces students to the essential elements of the U.S. national security framework, including its structure, key stakeholders, and the process of crafting national security strategy. It provides an in-depth overview of the U.S. national security system, emphasizing strategic planning, decision-making, and interagency collaboration.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6090:   Creative Organizational Leader  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course is designed to cultivate leadership skills, focusing on innovation, adaptability, and change management within the dynamic, high-stakes field of national security. Students will explore key aspects of strategic leadership, including organizational dynamics, ethical decision-making, team-building, and effective communication.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6100:   National Security Strategy  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores the theory and practice of grand strategy, the comprehensive alignment of national power to achieve long-term objectives in complex and competitive environments. Students will examine both historical and contemporary approaches to U.S. national security strategy, including how leaders have defined interests, assessed threats, and employed tools of statecraft to achieve national objectives.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6110:   Russia and Global Security  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course provides an understanding of Russia’s evolving role in international security and its impact on global and regional stability. Students will explore the historical legacies, strategic culture, and policy choices that shape Russia’s behavior in the contemporary world.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6120:   European Security  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the complex and evolving security landscape of Europe in the 21st century. Students will explore the interplay between NATO, the European Union, and national defense policies as the continent adjusts to evolving geopolitical realities.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6130:   Middle Eastern & African Sec  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the complex security challenges shaping the Middle East and Africa, two of the world’s most turbulent regions. Students will explore the intersection of political, social, and economic dynamics that drive state fragility, political violence, and conflict, while also analyzing the influence of great power competition and rivalries in these regions.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6140:   China and Global Security  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores China’s ascent as a global power, with a focus on its military advancements, regional strategies in the Indo-Pacific, and global ambitions. Students will examine the strategic rivalry between the U.S. and China, analyzing key areas of competition.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6300:   Intelligence and Global Secur  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the fundamental and evolving role of intelligence in shaping national and international security. It provides a framework to evaluate and assess the impact that leadership, institutional culture, and interagency dynamics have on intelligence performance.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6310:   Intelligence in the 21st Cen  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores how evolving global trends are transforming the priorities and practices of the intelligence community. Students will develop analytical tools to evaluate current intelligence practices, anticipate emerging trends, and assess their implications for national and global security.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6320:   Intelligence and Technology  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores the transformative effects of emerging technologies on intelligence collection, analysis, and operations. Students will examine innovative tools and methods used in data gathering, threat evaluation, and strategic planning, while critically assessing how innovation enhances intelligence capabilities and raises ethical challenges.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6330:   Law Enforcement Intelligence  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the role of intelligence in law enforcement and public safety, with emphasis on its evolution, purpose, and legal foundations. The course equips students with skills to develop informed, policy-oriented solutions that balance security needs with civil liberties and community trust.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6340:   Counterintelligence  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the strategies, methods, and challenges involved in counterintelligence — protecting national security against espionage, insider threats, and foreign intelligence operations. Students will develop analytical tools to evaluate current counterintelligence practices, anticipate emerging threats, and assess their implications for organizational and national security.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6500:   War, Conflict, & Global Securi  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the causes and consequences of conflict in the international system, including interstate wars, civil wars, and asymmetrical threats. It provides a strategic framework for understanding how the military instrument of power supports the national security strategy and policy planning.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6510:   Emer Tech & the Future of War  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores the impact of emerging technologies and innovations on warfare, assessing their strategic opportunities and ethical challenges, with a focus on implications for military operations, defense policy, and global security.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6520:   Terror, Insur & Global Securit  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the strategic and operational dynamics of terrorist organizations and insurgent movements within the framework of global security. Students will explore, assess, and formulate security strategies to mitigate and counter the threats posed by terrorism and insurgency.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6530:   Econ, Envir & Health Sec  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course broadens the concept of national security to include transnational challenges such as economic crises, pandemics, food insecurity, and resource scarcity, with emphasis on long-term planning, resilience, and intra- and interstate collaboration in security policy and decision-making.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6540:   Climate Security  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the strategic implications of climate-related risks for national and global security, with emphasis on long-term planning, resilience, and the integration of environmental considerations into security policy and decision-making.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6700:   Overview of Cyber Policy  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course explores the evolving field of national cyber policy and its role in shaping security, governance, and international relations in the digital age. Students will examine how governments develop strategies to address cyber threats, protect critical infrastructure, and balance competing priorities such as privacy, economic growth, and national defense.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture  
INSS 6710:   Cyber Threats and Trends  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the evolving landscape of cyber threats and the key actors shaping today’s digital security environment. Students will explore current and emerging cyber risks while analyzing the tactics, techniques, and motivations of various malicious cyber actors.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6720:   Developing a Cyber Strategy  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the principles, frameworks, and practices involved in designing national-level cyber defense strategies and risk mitigation plans. Students will explore how nations develop and implement cybersecurity policies to protect critical infrastructure, safeguard national interests, and counter evolving cyber threats from state and non-state actors.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6730:   Cyber & the Mil Eleme of Power  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
This course examines the role of cyberspace operations within the military element of national power, focusing on how cyber capabilities shape modern conflict, deterrence, and defense strategy. Students will explore the integration of cyber tools into military operations, the challenges of defending critical infrastructure, and the strategic implications of offensive and defensive cyber operations.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6740:   Cyber Law and National Sec  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
New course offering to meet the degree requirements for the M.A. in Global Security Leadership. ​​The proposed degree program is a fully online, interdisciplinary program designed to equip students for leadership roles in national security, intelligence, homeland protection, and private sector organizations.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar  
INSS 6900:   Capstone Policy Proposal  
Center Intel and Security Stdy  
The global security leadership capstone serves as the culminating experience for the degree program, challenging students to integrate learning across the program. In this course, students will identify a real-world security issue to investigate, gather and evaluate research evidence, develop a project proposal, and complete a capstone paper.  
3 credits  
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Seminar