Masters degree in intelligence and security studies online

National Security Intelligence Analysis (M.S.)

Our UNH Online Master of Science in National Security Intelligence Analysis prepares students to be leaders who think critically and creatively about threats. Our curriculum provides a deep conceptual understanding of national and international security issues, strategies, and policies.

Credit Hours: 30   |    Program Length: 12 months  |   Tuition Cost

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Why get a master’s in national security intelligence analysis?

The United States faces internal and external challenges to national security. Professional analysts with an advanced understanding of threats and intelligence processes are needed in the government, private, and not-for-profit sectors both in the United States and internationally.

Why choose UNH’s master of NSIA program?

Our Master of National Security Intelligence Analysis will prepare you to join the workforce of intelligence professionals. Your education will position you to play a central role in addressing modern threats. If you wish to advance or make a change in your career, our program curriculum including contemporary case studies and experiential learning will help you develop strong analysis skills to help you become an outstanding intelligence professional.

Potential careers

• All-source analyst
• Crime analyst
• Foreign service officer
• Intelligence analyst
• Leadership analyst
• Military analyst
• Multi-discipline analyst
• Political analyst
• Program manager
• Research analyst
• Resource analyst
• Science, technology, and weapons analyst
• Special agent
• Targeting analyst

Curriculum & Requirements

Are you interested in using data to provide timely and objective assessment to decision-makers? Does your curiosity drive you to analyze national security threats and understand their underlying causes – or their solutions? Have you wondered about what approach is best to analyze a challenging security issue? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the University of New Hampshire's National Security Intelligence Analysis MS program may be right for you. Government, private-sector, and not-for-profit employers require analysts who have subject-matter knowledge, critical thinking, qualitative, and quantitative (data science) skills that they can apply to domestic and international security problems.

The UNH Master of Science degree in National Security Intelligence Analysis provides the skills necessary to succeed in the government, corporate environment, or not-for-profit sector. The UNH Master of Science degree in National Security Intelligence Analysis (NSIA) is a fully online, 30-credit program designed to be completed in one calendar year or longer if part time. NSIA classes will provide you with relevant content and context to become an analyst. Our first academic goal for students is a deep conceptual understanding of the intelligence process, current national security issues, strategies, and policies of the United States and foreign countries. We broadly employ case studies and experiential learning in the curriculum. Our second and third academic goals are critical thinking and methodological training. We give you the tools to analyze threats and understand their underlying issues from the qualitative and quantitative perspectives.

The Master of Science degree in National Security Intelligence Analysis is offered online with two entry points each academic year. Students may choose to enter in August or January each year. Students must complete 30 credits, comprising 10 classes. Full-time students are able to complete the degree in 12 months by taking 2 classes in each of the 5 terms per calendar year. Part-time students may complete the program in 24 months, taking a minimum of one class per term. For diligent undergraduate students, this program is also available as an Accelerated Master's program.

Students must complete ten courses (30 credits) to graduate. All courses are offered online.

There are six primary NSIA academic goals. Students who complete the NSIA program will demonstrate:

• A deep conceptual understanding of the United States and foreign countries’ national security issues, strategies, and policy.
• An advanced understanding of national security intelligence as a phenomenon and the activities of intelligence organizations in the United States and foreign countries.
• Competency in designing and conducting original qualitative and quantitative research.
• The ability to ethically collect, clean, organize, and store data safely and responsibly according to institutional, legal, and professional standards.
• An optimal level of analytical excellence, including critical thinking, both qualitative and quantitative methods, and the mitigation of inherent and induced uncertainty.
• Superior writing, editing, presentation, and organizational skills.

The NSIA program is designed to be interdisciplinary and applied. We designed our program for students who seek a rich understanding of critical thinking and academic empirical research grounded in the social sciences and humanities. There are four organizational education objectives for the NSIA program, as follows:

• Graduates will become leaders in government, the private sector, and not-for-profit sector, addressing the most challenging problems of our times.
• Graduates will produce evidence-based analysis, creating and disseminating new knowledge to support decision-makers.
• Graduates will be motivated to serve in government and civil society.
• Graduates will be lifelong learners, pursuing opportunities to increase their understanding of the world.

Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: June 1
• Spring: December 15
• Summer: N/A
• Special: N/A

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload an official copy of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to . Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1. Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
2. Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.

NSIA graduates are expected to become leaders in government, the private sector, and not-for-profit sector, addressing the most challenging problems of our times. Why do you wish to become a student in the NSIA program? What motivates you to serve in government or civil society. What are your immediate and long-term career goals? What is your specific research or professional interest in the NSIA program? 

Additional Department Requirements

A writing sample is required for this program. Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates your analytical ability on a national security topic. The writing sample should be no more than 1200 words.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.

GRE Optional

The GRE scores are optional, if you wish to provide scores please email the scores directly to the department once you have submitted your application online.

International Applicants

Some academic departments recommend that international applicants, living outside of the United States, and planning on pursuing a research based degree, submit our extended inquiry form before submitting a full application. The extended inquiry form will be reviewed by the academic faculty and a department representative will reach out if your background and qualifications are a good fit for the program. 

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.