Program Codes:
MSINTEL
Master of Science
Availability: online, campus
Introduction
The Master of Science in Applied Intelligence, part of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, is a 34- or 36-credit program designed to provide a theoretical and practical framework for the study of intelligence and its application in a wide variety of contexts. This is accomplished through a rigorous curriculum whose basic core exposes students to the fundamental and advanced concepts related to intelligence and analytic techniques through a set of elective courses that allows students to pursue study in areas of law enforcement, national security and competitive intelligence.
Please note that we encourage those who are just completing their undergraduate studies and/or do not possess professional work experience to apply to the resident MS in Applied Intelligence degree program at Mercyhurst’s Erie campus. However, recent graduates will be considered for the online program, depending on their circumstances.
The department shall conduct an annual review of the academic progress of all students enrolled in the program. Students whose GPA falls below a 3.0 or who might otherwise exhibit behavior that is not conducive to ensuring employment in this field will be placed on probation or dismissed from the program, depending on the outcome of the review. In addition, students who earn a grade below a B in any course must repeat the course.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Applied Intelligence program at Mercyhurst University is to produce graduates – through a variety of delivery modalities – who are skilled in the use of a variety of sources of data and analytic techniques to lead the collaborative development of high quality written and oral intelligence analysis products that, in service toward a just world, inform decision-makers, thereby fostering an appreciation for the dignity of work and commitment to serving others.
Upon completion of the requirements for the master of science degree in Applied Intelligence, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following competencies:
Master’s Degree Program Application Requirements
The master’s degree in Applied Intelligence is open only to persons who have completed their undergraduate degree. It is not necessary for that degree to be in an intelligence-related discipline.
This course will enable students to understand the crime intelligence function in a variety of organization types, including traditional law enforcement agencies on all levels, the private sector, international organizations and non-government entities that apply overt and covert collection, as well as advanced intelligence analytical techniques to address and counter issues of a criminal nature through production of threat assessments and target profiles.
Students completing a thesis take 3 electives
Students completing a research-based project take 4 electives
Short Title : Advanced Analytical Tech
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 520
Course Description : This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore techniques emerging from the intelligence community and physical and social sciences and apply those techniques to intelligence problems Focusing on a variety of techniques from a variety of disciplines, this course will expose an advanced student to new and potentially useful methods for conducting intelligence analysis.
Short Title : Grand Strategy/Plan&Intel
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 535
Course Description : This course examines the theory and practice of good strategy and how intelligence informs the process of forming and executing it. Beginning with a historical view of grand strategy from post-Napoleonic War period (1815-1914), the course then covers Interwar and Cold War grand strategy, post-Cold War grand strategy and American grand strategy today in the age of terror. The course concludes with workshops on strategy formulation and a real-life simulation of a crisis event in which students are expected to discern, formulate, and implement an American grand strategy of their own.
Short Title : Mkt Research&Primary Intel
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 548
Course Description : This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and fundamentals of market research and primary intelligence. The course includes the study of both the qualitative methods used in contemporary market research along with the tools and techniques used in the colLecturetion, analysis, and measurement of data. The course is organized from a management perspective using an applied, problem analysis format. A real-life research project will be used to reinforce the theoretical concepts presented during the semester.
Short Title : Intel Support To Targeting
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 590
Course Description : This course will introduce students to Intelligence Support to Targeting. Students will learn the basics of the Joint Targeting Cycle and examine the intricacies of how intelligence can drive operation. An understanding of the historical context that formed the basis for the current United States targeting process will be presented to students as well as various technical aspects of trade.
Short Title : Social Media Analysis
Active Term : Fall / All
Course Code : INTL 612
Course Description : This course introduces students to the colLecturetion and analysis techniques used in the analysis of social media. Students will be exposed to critical theory with regards to social media including basic techniques in colLecturetion and analysis. Open source computer software programs are used to enhance individual analytical products. A threaded discussion of the psycho-socio aspects of intelligence analysis of social media is integrated into course material.
Short Title : Nonproliferation Analysis
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 620
Course Description : Students in this course will examine the many aspects of nonproliferation. Topics will include basic physics, the nuclear fuelcycle, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Additional Protocol, safeguards (including an overview of verification techniques and the use of open-source information), export control, proliferation incentives (and disincentives), nonproliferation trends, and nuclear terrorism. Two case studies will explore black market and nonproliferation.
Short Title : Intell & Business Strategy
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 625
Course Description : This course examines the interconnections between competitive intelligence and business strategy. The course provides a detailed overview of the business strategy field, highlighting influential thinkers, key concepts, and core analytical frameworks. It describes the evolution of competitive intelligence and strategy in response to current management trends, such as the drive for innovation and the rise of big data. Throughout the course, students have the opportunity to apply both competitive intelligence methods and strategy frameworks to multidisciplinary case studies drawn from a variety of industries and countries.
Short Title : Financial Intel:Aml & Ctf
Active Term : Spring / All
Course Code : INTL 626
Course Description :
Globally, banks and other finance institutions have been required to put in place specific arrangements to prevent and detect money laundering and criminal activity that underlies it. This course examines how criminal, terrorist, and organized illegal groups finance their operations. It emphasizes monitoring, detecting, reporting and prevention of money laundering (ML), terrorism financing (TF), and financial crimes. It explores the foundations of AML/CTF, US and international laws and regulation, conducting and supporting investigation processes, and compliance, sanctions and regulatory developments.
Short Title : Sem: National Security
Active Term : Spring / Odd
Course Code : INTL 627
Course Description : This course provides an introduction to national security decision-making in the U.S. with a special emphasis on the role of intelligence in formulating policy. It provides an historical overview of national security politics and strategy since WWII and a description of major institutions and processes involved in national security policymaking. In addition, it provides a survey of significant national security problems and their changing nature in the 21st century.
Short Title : Studies In Terrorism
Active Term : Spring / Even
Course Code : INTL 633
Course Description : This course will focus on terrorism and counterterrorism policy, with an emphasis during the class discussion on the role that the intelligence analyst plays in the process. In the first half of the course, we will explore the definitions, history, justifications, and explanations for terrorist activity, focusing on al Qaeda in particular. In the second half of the course, we will examine the policy tools avaiLable to the U.S. national security decision makers to address the terrorist threat and evaluate how well those policy tools were used from 1992 through 2001. We will then focus on 9/11 and its aftermath, evaluating the Bush administration?s war on terror, and assess different recommendations for countering terrorism today and in the future.
Short Title : Social Network Analysis
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 638
Course Description : Underpinned by the principles of network theory, sociology, and computational social science, the purpose of this course is to expose students to an array of tools, applications, and techniques across the spectrum of network analytics. At a very high level, students will come to understand the basic theories governing network behavior in addition to learning about how to identify and/or construct relevant data sets from open sources, how to combine network analysis with other analytic techniques such as geospatial modelling and simple statistics, and how to apply network analysis to a variety of intelligence problems. The course will culminate with a final project of the student?s choosing using network analysis and other analytic techniques to address an intelligence question in the national security, law enforcement, or competitive intelligence domain.
Short Title : Intel The Military&Warfare
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 640
Course Description : This course explores the role of intelligence in the conduct and prosecution of armed conflict. The course traces evolution of modern military organizations and the use of intelligence in the success or failure of these organizations. Current intelligence practices and methods employed by the U.S. military are also discussed.
Short Title : Counterintel Policy&Prac
Active Term : Spring / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 646
Course Description : This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the historical context that formed the basis for national security legislation. Students will examine the development of the country?s current counterintelligence bureaucracy and strategy and its role in the fulfillment of national security policy. This course will examine the intersection of Department of Justice policy, the media, and the prosecution of media leak cases. Students will also be exposed to the conduct and practice of counterintelligence and espionage investigations, with a focus on insider threats.
Course Code : INTL 650
Course Description :
This course focuses on special topics related to intelligence disciplines. Facultywith special research interests or experience will deal with topics like deception,warning, intelligence, architecture, operational security, and diplomatic history.
Short Title : Applied Intell Intern
Active Term : Randomly / Randomly
Course Code : INTL 675
Course Description :
A period of employment (minimum of 200 hours) as an intelligence analyst with a government or international agency or corporation during which certain experience objectives must be met.
The goal of this course is to provide students (in a peer group setting) with practical guidance as they construct their research proposal. This course focuses on the identification and formulation of research problems, the development of methodological designs, data colLecturetion, and analytic procedures to address those problems.
This capstone course experience is designed to demonstrate a scholarly study of a problem or issue related to applied intelligence and offers conclusions using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Research products may range from theoretical studies to applied projects.
The thesis requires students to conduct purposeful research, review the literature, write a detailed analysis, offer new insights, and present and defend conclusions.In this course, the student will write the final two chapters and defend their thesis.
Note: Students who elect the thesis option take three intelligence electives, in addition to the Intelligence Thesis Seminar (INTL 679) and Thesis in Applied Intelligence (INTL 680) courses. Students who elect to take the research-based project, take four intelligence electives, in addition to the Research-based Project (INTL 676). The Research-based Project is only available to working professionals in the online degree program. Students who do not complete INTL 676 or INTL 680 within the semester in which they register can, for a fee, subsequently register for INTL 671 THESIS/PROJECT EXTENSION until they complete the thesis or research-based project.