Overview | Qualifications | Courses | Resources
2021-22 Calendar
The Master of National Security and Intelligence (NSI) is designed for early-career professionals with a desire to prepare themselves for an emerging career in the Intelligence Community. The degree is offered in residence at the Bush School DC, with the option of taking up to 6 credit hours online.
Overview
The NSI program is a 42-credit-hour program with a final capstone project and a language requirement.
Language Requirement:
Many careers in national security and intelligence require languages. Bush School students are expected to acquire intermediate or better proficiency in a foreign language by the end of the degree program. Students do not receive credit for the language courses.
Capstone Project:
The capstone project takes place toward the end of the degree program. A group of three to five students work together on a project for a client. The project will allow students to gain real-world professional experience, including 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:
- American Foreign Policy (3 credit hours)
- Theory and Practice of International Politics (3 credit hours)
- Global Economy (3 credit hours)
- Role of Intelligence in Security Affairs (3 credit hours)
- Methods of Political Analysis (3 credit hours)
- Capstone Project
Students will also take:
- four track electives from Intelligence, National Security, and Area Studies and
- four additional electives
For information on application procedures, please contact our Admissions Office at 202-773-0022 or BushSchoolDC@tamu.edu.
Qualifications
Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree by the start of their first semester. No experience in national security or intelligence is required.
Courses
The following is a tentative schedule for classes in fall 2022. Students will register for classes through the Texas A&M “Howdy” portal. Registration for the spring semester begins in early November of the preceding year; registration for the fall semester (and summer semesters) begins in early April.
All classes meet in Bush School DC location – 1620 L Street, NW. Classes meet one day per week in the 6:15 PM to 8:55 PM time slot.
Monday
Day: Monday | Instructor: Lemon | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Examines historical and contemporary defense intelligence capabilities as part of the military decision-making environment and how multiple capabilities and organizations work in this sphere. In depth study of individual services’ intelligence capabilities, proficiencies and unique contributions.
Day: Monday | Instructor: Gentile | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Exposure to historical and contemporary defense intelligence capabilities as a part of the military decision making environment; examination of how multiple capabilities and organizations work together to inform leader; examination of the five major intelligence disciplines; exposure to a variety of scenarios involving an all source approach to intelligence; examination of the individual services’ intelligence capabilities, proficiencies and unique contributions to the Intelligence Community (IC).
Day: Monday | Instructor: Ross | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: 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.
Tuesday
Day: Tuesday | Instructor: Liu | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Provide an overview of Chinese Foreign Policy since 1949, understand the major external and domestic determinants of Chinese foreign policy, the results of domestic politics and/or international pressures, the role of ideology in Chinese foreign policy, economic interests affecting Chinese foreign policy, and what drives China’s involvement in international affairs.
Day: Tuesday | Instructor: Pino | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: An in-depth look at the causes and consequences of the Arab Spring, the impact on specific countries, and the role of regional and outside actors in the various conflicts, which the Arab uprisings have spawned. The course examines the evolution of US policy toward the Arab uprisings and the role that US intelligence plays in informing US policymakers in a time of great uncertainty.
Day: Tuesday | Instructor: Peterlin | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Focuses primarily on the process by which the President and the executive branch determine (and execute) the diplomatic priorities of the nation, and will address the role of Congress and the Courts as they relate to those dynamics.
Wednesday
Day: Wednesday | Instructor: Liu | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: 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.
Day: Wednesday | Instructor: Weber | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: 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.
Day: Wednesday | Instructor: Lemon | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Examines Russia’s policies in Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Middle East, South Asia and East Asia and the reactions of states in these regions to Russian policies. Critical evaluation of Russia as a global power through its policies in these areas.
Day: Wednesday | Instructor: Ross | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: In-depth understanding of the arcane and often misunderstood world of counterintelligence.
Thursday
Day: Thursday | Instructor: Weber | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: 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.
Day: Thursday | Instructor: King | Room: TBD
Syllabus: Fall 2021 | Summer 2021 | Spring 2021
Course Description: Perform analysis in the U.S. Intelligence Community; hone writing, briefing and analytical skills; focus on fundamentals of critical thinking, the psychology of analysis and intelligence process.
Total for first semester: 9 credits
Academic Resources
Career Services:
Students will have access to dedicated one-on-one career counseling with our Director of Enrollment Management, Career and Student Services. Our goal at the Bush School DC is to help students find their chosen career path, whether that is advancing in their current position or pursuing new endeavors.
Writing Resources:
The Bush School DC provides writing services to help students with academic and professional writing. Appointments can be in person or online.
Bush School DC Library:
The Bush School DC provides an in-house librarian to help students with any research needs. In addition to our collection of library resources, students have access to Texas A&M’s vast digital and library collections.
Internships:
Internships are strongly recommended for students who do not have any experience in the Intelligence Community. Our Career Services staff will help students find an internship that best fits their needs. Credit is available for internships.
2021-22 Academic Calendar
The following changes to the Texas A&M University’s 2021-22 Academic Calendar will apply to Bush School DC. They are occasioned by different holidays in the District of Columbia that will require the closing of the teaching site.
Fall 2021 Academic Calendar
- August 30—First day of classes
- September 6—Labor Day-No classes
- October 11—Columbus Day-No classes
- November 11—Veterans’ Day-No classes
- November 25-26—Thanksgiving Break
- November 30—Last Tuesday classes
- December 7—Last Monday classes
- December 8—Last Wednesday classes
- December 9—Last Thursday classes
- December 9, 13, 15—Final exams
Spring 2022 Academic Calendar
- January 18—First day of classes
- February 21—Presidents Day-No classes
- March 14-18—Spring Break
- April 26—Last Tuesday classes
- April 27—Last Wednesday classes
- April 28—Last Thursday classes
- May 2—Last Monday classes
- May 3-5—Final exams
Summer 2022 Academic Calendar
- May 31—First day of classes
- July 4-8—Summer Break
- July 25—Last day of classes
- July 26-29—Final exams
