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Guide to Master's Degree

How to Get a Master's Degree in Intelligence Studies

Intelligence analysts use information to detect and deter threats to homeland security, track criminals, or simply manage an organization's information assets. As an intelligence professional, you may shield the nation from terrorist attacks, protect U.S. strategic interests abroad, investigate crimes, or apply information to shape domestic and international policy.

Technological advances in intelligence equipment and methods have raised the educational bar for intelligence analysts. A master's degree in intelligence studies is quickly becoming the industry standard. The one- to two-year program blends intelligence theory and hands-on training in intelligence analysis. Many programs are designed for working professionals, with the option to earn a master's degree online.

WorldWideLearn.com takes you through the important first steps leading to your degree. Use this guide to learn about the master's program, find the right school, and prepare for admission.

Guide to Master's Degrees in Intelligence Studies

Intelligence studies arose in the late-20th century as a means of accessing and coordinating information for strategic purposes. The discipline draws on criminal justice, political science, and information technology to manage and interpret critical information. National security, law enforcement, and businesses rely on intelligence analysis to plan effectively and implement policy.

As an emerging field, intelligence studies often resides under the auspices of another discipline. Look for intelligence studies degrees in foreign affairs, international relations, political science, strategic studies, homeland security, and criminal justice departments. To learn more about intelligence studies and related disciplines, see WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Homeland Security.

Professional and Academic Master's Degrees

Intelligence studies exists at the intersection of academic research and applied practice. Master's degrees in intelligence studies reflect this dual identity, emphasizing different aspects of the discipline.

Master of Science or Master of Arts: These traditional academic degrees emphasize the theory and scholarly research underlying intelligence analysis. Generally, the MS culminates in an independent research project and the MA in a written master's thesis.

Professional Master in Intelligence Studies: The professional master's degree focuses on the advanced practice of intelligence analysis, from technology-driven collection methods to applications. Programs focus on the synergy between classroom learning and hands-on training, incorporating internships, clinics, and applied work projects. Intended for career-minded adults, professional programs often feature flexible scheduling and the option to earn a master's degree online.

To learn more about master's degrees and the differences among programs, see WorldWideLearn.com's The Master's Degree Explained and Master's Degrees Online.

Specializations

A graduate intelligence studies degree offers you the opportunity to pursue specialized coursework or research in a topic of your choice. Key fields in intelligence studies include:

Alternatively, you may choose to specialize in a generally applicable intelligence techniques. Key methods of intelligence gathering and analysis include:

Most intelligence studies emphasize a specific application area, reflecting the program's departmental or institutional affiliations. A military school may feature different specialization opportunities than an academic political science department or a Master of Science in business. Your choice of program determines the scope of your specialization options.

Career Paths in Intelligence

A master's degree in intelligence studies typically leads to a career as an intelligence analyst in your chosen field (criminal justice, foreign or domestic policy, military, or business applications). Employers include government agencies, private government contractors, consulting firms, political campaigns, and police departments. Military and strategic analysts, for example, can find jobs at the CIA, the Department of Homeland Security, and strategic consultants Booz Allen Hamilton. Business intelligence analysts are in demand at most large enterprises.

Some job titles for intelligence experts include:

Advances in intelligence technology are driving opportunity for experts skilled in mining and leveraging information. According to the Department of Labor, some of the best opportunities for information analysts exist in technical consulting roles.

Plan for a Master's Degree in Intelligence Studies

Once you have a sense of the academic resources available today, you're ready to start the application process. The following steps can take you from here to the graduate classroom.

Step One: Find the Right Graduate Intelligence Studies Program

The secret to success in graduate school is finding a program aligned with your interests and career goals.

1. List Accredited Programs
Begin your quest for the right degree by surveying all available programs in intelligence studies and related disciplines. WorldWideLearn.com directs you to campus and online master's degrees in intelligence studies, homeland security, or criminal justice. The Center for Homeland Defense and Security publishes an online list of colleges and universities offering homeland security programs, some of which offer degrees or concentrations in intelligence studies.

Accreditation status is the key criterion at the outset of your program search. A baseline measurement of educational quality, accreditation also impacts the value of your degree on the job market and your eligibility for financial aid. All WorldWideLearn.com education partners are accredited by a recognized accreditation authority. Check with the U.S. Department of Education Web site for approved regional and national accreditation agencies.

2. Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?
Advances in education technology have broadened the graduate program formats available today: It's now possible to earn a master's degree online or on campus. Choose the program that best suits your life circumstances, career goals, and learning style:

Some master's degree programs in intelligence studies seek the best of both worlds by combining online coursework with temporary campus residencies and hands-on internships with local employers.

3. Explore Academic Programs
The crux of your program research challenges you to match your interests with each program's unique resources. WorldWideLearn.com features an interactive search tool to streamline the research process: Simply input your program criteria and the system generates a list of matching schools. Add your contact information to speak directly with a school representative.

Evaluate the following resources to find the perfect fit:

Most of this information is accessible via the school's Web site. You can find detailed information about degree requirements, course descriptions, campus facilities, and faculty areas of interest. For an inside perspective on the academic environment and value of the degree, set up informational interviews with faculty, alumni, and current graduate students.

4. Evaluate Program Quality

The final pass through your list allows you to evaluate program quality and selectivity. Key factors at this stage of your review include:

Your final list should include five or six programs that fit your academic background and offer you the best value for your educational investment.

Step Two: Apply to Graduate Intelligence Studies Programs

The next stage of the application process--preparing your grad school applications--is the most straightforward and the most logistically complicated. Follow these steps to gain admission to your top intelligence studies programs.

1. Complete Master's Degree Prerequisites
Most graduate intelligence studies programs require:

Meet these requirements using WorldWideLearn.com's Education Resources Guide. You can find links to online prerequisite courses, test preparation courses and materials, and study tips for digital education.

2. Prepare Application Materials
In most cases, your application begins online. Fill out an information form and submit the following documents to support your admission:

Most of these materials arrive from external sources, so be sure to set the ball in motion early to ensure that each part of the application arrives before the deadline.

3. Finance Your Master's Degree in Intelligence Studies
Your graduate education may prove to be the best investment you ever make, but in the meantime you must pay the tuition bills. Many students manage their finances by keeping their job while they earn a master's degree online. Other options for student financial aid include:

To secure your share of graduate school funding, fill out a university financial aid application and/or the FAFSA. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, represents all federal financial aid programs, from Pell Grants to Stafford Loans. For more information, consult with a financial aid counselor or visit the WorldWideLearn.com resource page on graduate education funding.

Step Three: Network, Network, Network

With the details ironed out, you're free to turn your attention to what really matters: Discussing ideas with colleagues who share your interest in intelligence analysis. Build your academic network now by:

1. Joining Professional Associations. Major organizations include The Center for Intelligence Studies, Intelligence Studies Section (ISS) of the International Studies Association, and, for criminal justice specialists, International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts.

2. Attending Networking Events and Conferences. Look for opportunities to meet your peers and future mentors at lectures, networking events, and conferences. The associations listed above all sponsor major conferences, as do many universities and federal agencies.

3. Reading Journals. Get up to speed and stay current in your field by reading intelligence journals. Major publications include Studies in Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Journal, American Intelligence Journal, International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and Intelligence and National Security.

Invent yourself as an academic now, and you can hit the ground running once your graduate school classes begin. Networking helps you develop a support system and specialty area, easing the transition into academic life.

A master's degree in intelligence studies brings you up to speed on the specialized techniques and technologies driving information analytics. At the same time, you gain connections and a powerful credential to advance your professional standing in the field. Set yourself up for a career-focused academic journey today, and you can emerge a leader in strategic intelligence tomorrow.

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