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Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

The Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies provides instruction in the multidisciplinary field of intelligence studies.  The program is designed for students who are currently employed or wish to pursue positions as military, civilian, or corporate intelligence specialists. The program's core courses impart substantive knowledge and analytic skills required by all professionals in the intelligence community.  Students may also pursue concentrated study in several functional areas or intelligence sub-fields.  Student learning is greatly enhanced by the diversity of program professors with strong professional and academic backgrounds in intelligence studies, many who currently work in the US National Intelligence Community.  

Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of intelligence studies, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

  • Describe the evolution, structures, functions, capabilities, and activities of the US national intelligence community.
  • Detail the structures, functions, capabilities, and contributions of national intelligence consumers to include the national command authority, executive departments, Congress, military services, joint/unified commands, and law enforcement agencies.
  • Specify the intelligence cycle, including intelligence planning, data collection, data exploitation, analysis, production, and dissemination phases.
  • Differentiate among the fundamental capabilities and limitations and means of tasking human, geographic/imagery, signals, measurement and technical and open intelligence data sources.
  • Detail the current permissions and restrictions on US national intelligence community activities as prescribed by federal law, executive and agency directives, and the intelligence oversight system.
  • Conduct basic research and compose professional and academic analyses on issues critical to intelligence consumers.
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)

English Composition - 6 semester hours

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours

Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour labs

Mathematics - 3 semester hours

History - 6 semester hours

Humanities - 3 semester hours

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing


Political Science - 3 semester hours

Core Requirements (24 semester hours)
Major Courses (24 semester hours)

A student enrolled in Intelligence Studies must take eight (8) major courses. A student enrolled in General Program option must take all eight (8) major courses from the “General Program Course” list below. A student enrolled in a concentration must take four (4) of their major courses from his/her concentration area and four  (4) courses from the “General Program Course” list below, not including those from their concentration.

General Program Courses

Concentration in Criminal Intelligence
Concentration in Intelligence Analysis
Concentration in Intelligence Collection
Concentration in Intelligence Operations
Concentration in Terrorism Studies
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
Electives (33 semester hours)

Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester credits


 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

AMU is a member institution of the American Public University System (APUS), which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.
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