Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis

The School of Public Policy offers professional programs that develop innovative leaders in the art of policy and governance, advance the frontiers of applied interdisciplinary knowledge, and promote local, national and global public good. Curriculum is designed to develop the skills and techniques used by professionals to implement policies, projects, and programs that resolve important societal problems.

Mentoring and advising are an essential part of the program. Students meet with faculty and the academic program director to ensure that educational goals and career learning and development goals are met. Students with specific academic questions may contact Michael Horlick, Office of Executive Programs, via email: mhorlick@umd.edu.

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Analysis equips students with essential competencies and skills needed in the delivery and support of major national security and intelligence analysis.

• The 12-credit, 4-course curriculum aims to build a deep understanding of key concepts related to intelligence analysis; including security challenges in the international political system, mitigating challenges with analysis, and explore a wide range of moral and ethical debates related to intelligence work.
• Curriculum includes four core courses (12 credits) that build a proficiency in a uniform set of core competencies and skills necessary for intelligence analysis.
• Targets mid-career professionals from public agencies, multinational organizations and relevant private and civil society organizations and UMD graduate students.
• Can be completed in fifteen months of continuous part-time enrollment. See Designation of Full-time/Part-time Status.

Registration Overview

• See the sample plan of study, below. Students should use this as a guide to develop a plan with the academic program director.
• Actual course offerings are determined by the program and may vary semester to semester. Students should note if a course has a pre-requisite or co-requisite.
• Specific class meeting information (days and time) is posted on UMD’s interactive web service services, Testudo. Once on that site, select “Schedule of Classes,” then the term/year. Courses are listed by academic unit.
• The program uses specific section codes for registration which are listed on the sample plan of study. 

Sample Plan 

Courses

For a listing of program courses, see the Graduate School Catalog program requirements for Z021 and Z178. For course descriptions that includes pre-requisites or co-requisites, see PLCY.

Overall 

• Offered in person (major code Z021) or online (major code Z178). The curriculum is identical.
• Uses the semester academic calendar with classes held in the fall and spring semester (16 weeks each).
• Classes are held weekday evenings (e.g., after 5:00 p.m.) to accommodate the working professional’s schedule.
• Instruction provided by University of Maryland faculty and professionals in the field.

In-Person Learning 

• Classes meet in UMD College Park campus classrooms, offering a focused, distraction-free learning environment.
• Instructors present dynamic and interactive seminar-style instruction.
• Students enrolled in a program that features in-person instruction are required to submit the University’s Immunization Record Form prior to the first day of their first semester/term. See Health Requirements.

Online Learning

• Using advanced audio and video technology, UMD’s online learning environment delivers dynamic and interactive content.
• Featuring convenience and flexibility, online instruction permits asynchronous or synchronous participation.
• Lectures are video archived. Students who are unable to attend in real time can review the session through asynchronous participation.

Upon successful completion, graduates will have mastered the following competencies:

• Identify complex security challenges in the international political system, understand the role of intelligence work in mitigating those challenges, and apply a suite of tools and strategies to address them.
• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the history of and processes involved in all aspects of intelligence work.
• Critique, assess, and meaningfully engage with a wide range of moral and ethical debates related to intelligence work.
• Communicate and apply a new area of expertise- or demonstrate a deepened and expanded areal of existing expertise- that is relevant to their work in the intelligence community.