National Security and Intelligence - Undergraduate Program

Collect, Correlate and Analyze Intelligence Data
Faculty formerly of the CIA and JAG
The Director is the WV Professor of the Year recipient

Overview

The biggest demand at the federal level is in the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, as well as the traditional opportunities at the Central Intelligence and National Security Agencies.

Fairmont State’s National Security & Intelligence program is designed to provide students with the tools they need to pursue those career goals as research and/or intelligence analysts.

The program is a concentration in the Social Sciences.  It is also offered as a minor.

National Security & Intelligence courses come from several disciplines including Criminal Justice, History, and Political Science.  Students also take part in computer lab and field work.

Career Opportunities

There is great demand for intelligence professionals at the federal and state levels.  There is also a growing demand for research analysts in private industry as companies are faced with the challenges and opportunities of globalization.  Here are some routes National Security and Intelligence graduates can take:

  • WV Division of Homeland Security
  • US Army Officer Program
  • Lawyer
  • Defense Contractor Intelligence Specialist

 Graduates will be prepared to seek jobs like:

  • Intelligence Community (CIA DIA, NSA, etc.)
  • National Security (DoS, DoD, DHS, DoJ, FBI, etc.)
  • Military Intelligence
  • WV Division of Homeland Security
  • National Security, Defense, Intelligence Contractors
  • Lawyer

Model Schedule

Additional Resources

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Fairmont State University National Security and Intelligence Program to educate the next generation of leaders in the national security and/or intelligence communities. The NSI Program’s mission is to create knowledge, inspire intellectual curiosity, share wisdom, and inspire action to seek a more just and better world. The NSI major produces graduates who are skilled in utilizing a variety of sources of data and analytic techniques to lead the collaborative development of high-quality written and oral analytic national security and/or intelligence products that inform decision-makers, thereby fostering an appreciation for the dignity of service and commitment to serving a cause greater than oneself.

Goals

  • The National Security and Intelligence Program strives to meet the needs of our national, state and local community by preparing all majors for immediate entry into government positions or related fields, as well as graduate programs.
  • The National Security and Intelligence Program strives to recruit highly qualified students to begin in each start term (fall and spring).
  • The National Security and Intelligence Program strives to retain current students and to foster timely graduation by all of our majors.

Outcomes

Students who complete the Bachelor of Arts degree in National Security and Intelligence will be able to:

  • Program Outcome 1
    • Identify the agencies and departments of the US intelligence community and their commensurate roles as well as their interaction with Congress and the Executive Branch and describe key event trends that impacted the relationships’ evolution.
  • Program Outcome 2
    • Identify the role of US intelligence agencies in assessing and countering threats to US/global security and recognize the major intelligence events in history and describe the “lessons learned” derived from intelligence (including covert action) successes and failures.
  • Program Outcome 3
    • Identify the types, strengths, and weaknesses of intelligence collection methods and differentiate data, information and intelligence.
  • Program Outcome 4
    • Identify the ethical challenges encountered in intelligence operations.