How do governments find out what their rivals are planning? Why do some threats, and opportunities to cooperate, get missed? The Security and Intelligence Studies program teaches you to answer questions like these.
Open to every student
The minor is open to all undergraduates, in any major and any college. Computer science, criminal justice, business, languages, engineering, data science, psychology and other majors all bring skills that security work needs. It takes 18 credit hours. Political science majors can instead choose the 9-credit-hour concentration.
What you will learn
You will learn to work the way analysts do: weigh conflicting evidence, spot and correct biases in your thinking, estimate what is likely to happen next, and write and brief clearly under time pressure. Both programs are built on three core courses: Security and Intelligence in a Democratic Society, Critical Thinking Skills for Intelligence, and Analytic Writing and Briefing. See the curriculum for course descriptions.
Where it can take you
Students with this training go into intelligence agencies, federal law enforcement, the military, diplomacy and international organizations. Many of the same skills are in demand in the private sector: corporate security, cyber threat analysis, political risk, and fraud and financial crimes investigation. The program also prepares you for graduate study in national security, diplomacy and foreign policy, and intelligence analysis.
A nationally recognized program
The program is a legacy Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence, supported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Meet the faculty and staff.
Get started
Ready to apply? Complete this short form. Questions? Contact James Walsh at jwalsh@charlotte.edu.