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Overview
The Diana Davis Spencer Program in National Security allows students to earn a Master of National Security and Intelligence (NSI). This degree is designed for early career and mid-career professionals with a desire to prepare themselves for a career in national security, intelligence, and diplomacy. The degree strengthens a students’ ability to understand complex issues through rigorous coursework and exposure to real world experts. Well-published scholars and seasoned practitioners lead in-depth classroom discussions, collaborate on research, and mentor students in and out of the classroom.
The NSI program is a 42-credit-hour program with a final capstone project and a language requirement.
Language Requirement:
Many careers in the national security and intelligence fields require proficiency in languages. In turn, Bush School students must demonstrate intermediate or better proficiency in a foreign language by the end of the degree program. The Bush School DC provides online language programing and conversational learning services.
Capstone Project:
The capstone project takes place toward the end of the degree program. A group of three to five students will work together on a project for a client on an issue focused on national security or intelligence. The project will allow students to gain real-world professional experience, as well as build networking opportunities, while creating a final product that helps the client and can be shared with potential employers.
Curriculum:
The curriculum consists of six required courses:
- 605 – American Foreign Policy
- 606 – International Politics in Theory and Practice
- 608 – Global Economy
- 652 – Role of Intelligence in Security Affairs
- 689 – Research Methods
- 670 – Capstone
Students will also take:
- Eight electives from the Intelligence, National Security, and Regional Studies course offerings.
Spring 2024 Courses
INTA 689 – Private Sector Intelligence
Professors Holden Triplett and Michelle Taylor
The ‘Private Sector Intelligence’ course will consider the application of the intelligence discipline in the corporate world. Topics will include the management of insider risk, threats from foreign actors, and competitive intelligence programs. Privacy, ethics and civil liberty concerns will also be addressed.
INTA 650- National Security Law
Professor Mark Zaid
‘National Security Law,’ a law course for non-lawyers, will discuss the foundations of U.S. international and national security law. It will address specific topics, such as counterterrorism, cyber warfare, detention, constitutional rights, and the safeguarding of national defense information.
INTA 689 – Strategic Intelligence
Professor Andrew Makridis
‘Strategic Intelligence’ will consider real-world intelligence issues, including past intelligence community support to U.S. national security ‘successes’ and ‘failures’. Historic strengths and weaknesses of U.S. foreign policy, national security, and intelligence activities will also be examined.
INTA 712 – Non-Technical Introduction to Cyber Policy
Professor Jason Brown
‘Non-technical Cyber Policy’ will review policy, law and global frameworks related to cyberspace. U.S. cyber and cyber-enabled information operation capabilities will be examined, as well as the cyber activities of state and non-state adversaries. The intent is for students to become informed consumers of cyber-policy.
INTA 689 – Energy, Climate and National Security
Professor Ken Vincent
Energy, Climate and National Security’ will introduce students to the role of energy in international politics and consider security issues related to climate change, resource scarcity and energy transition. The intersection of energy security, the economy and national security will also be considered.
INTA 605 – American Foreign Policy
Professor Edward Lemon
An examination of American foreign policy from 1945 to the present; focus on decisions made by American elected and appointed officials at critical moments of the Cold War and after; theory provides a framework, but the focus is on practical matters that confronted decision-makers.
INTA 622 – Chinese Strategic Thought
Professor Mattis
Intensive reading and research course in Chinese strategic thought from the Warring State period (403-221 BC) to 21st century China with two goals: to provide an introductory understanding of the nature of strategic thinking throughout Chinese history and to provide the conceptual tools to put Chinese strategic thought in a comparative perspective.
INTA 680 – Political Violence & Terrorism
Professor Sara A. Daly
Focuses on terrorism as special case of political violence and on non-state actors as a specific category of players toward which the international system must adapt; develops underlying concepts of terrorism and core response strategies to terrorism; develops both national and international responses to terrorism, emphasizing need for complementary policy approaches.
INTA 716 – Latin American – Democracy and Development
Professor Michael Kelly
Explanation of the underlying causes and consequences of populism, industrialization, authoritarianism, democratization, neoliberalism, popular representation in Latin American countries.
INTA 689 – Research Methods
Professor Carr
INTA 606 – International Politics in Theory & Practice
Professor Kateryna Shynkaruk
The effects of international politics on the competing forces of global integration and disintegration are investigated and policy implications are considered, drawing upon theories of interstate politics.
INTA 672 – East Asia Security
Professor Gyu Sang Shim
Examination of international military, diplomatic and political dynamics in the Asia Pacific region; focus on contemporary security relations; examines a wide range of security challenges facing the region; familiarization with the strategic preferences of key actors in the major areas of potential conflict.
INTA 608 – Global Economy
Professor Gyu Sang Shim
Examines three fundamental pillars of the global economy: international trade, international finance and foreign direct investment (FDI); appreciation for the complexities of the international environment from both theoretical and policy perspectives.
PSAA 655 – Domestic Intelligence Operations
Professor Dan Debree
Familiarization with the important trends in European politics and security; investigation of the rise of nationalism and extremist groups in the European Union; the newest immigration trends, their impact on the EU member states and on the EU as a whole; terrorism and other forms of political violence in the European Union and the strategies developed to counter them; relationships between extremist groups in Europe and the U.S.
INTA 670 – Capstone
Professor Gary Ross
Capstone team exercise in subject related to international affairs.
INTA 689 – African Politics and Regional Affairs
Professor Jerry Laurienti
INTA 607 – Eurasian Security
Professor Edward Lemon
Examination of shifting power politics in Eurasia; study of Eurasian security; analysis of Russia and China as global powers; evaluation of Russia and China on policymaking in Eurasia.
INTA 652 – Role of Intelligence in Security Affairs
Professor Gary Ross
The Role of Intelligence in Security Affairs. (3-0). Credit 3. A survey of U.S. Intelligence operations, techniques, objectives and resources, with particular emphasis on how intelligence has contributed and continues to contribute to U.S. national security.
INTA 689 – European Security
Professor Kateryna Shynkaruk
INTA 698 – Advanced Analytic Tradecraft
Professor Sara A. Daly
Preparation for performing analysis in the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) utilizing advance analytics, including Diagnostic, Contrarian and Imaginative Structured Analytic Techniques (SAT).
Admissions
Visit our Admissions page for information and resources on applying to The Bush School DC.
For Admissions questions, please contact The Bush School DC, Assistant Director of Admissions, Tory Haynes, at tory.haynes@tamu.edu
Qualifications
Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree by the start of their first semester. No professional experience required.
Cost
The Bush School DC is committed to supporting graduate students as they pursue careers in public service. The Bush School DC offers an affordable fixed rate tuition:
- Cost: $1,300 per credit hour (3-credit-hour course = $3,900)