National Security Intelligence Analysis (M.S.)

National Security Intelligence Analysis (M.S.)
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  Online Program

Our 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
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Analyze Global Threats

Our Master of National Security Intelligence Analysis will prepare you to join the workforce of intelligence professionals. Your education will position you to be central to addressing modern threats. The program curriculum includes contemporary case studies and experiential learning that helps students to develop strong analytical skills to become outstanding intelligence professionals.

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U.S. Department Homeland Security Logo
National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

UNH is the first institution in New Hampshire to be designated a National Center of Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Learn more

Student Spotlights & Program News

Patrick Embury, left, and fellow UNH students on a study abroad trip in Northern Ireland in summer 2022. Embury studied abroad in the UK for 3 weeks, where he combined his interest in security studies and history with travel.

Pursuing a Future in Intelligence

Pursuing a Future in Intelligence

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Sarah Siegel, unh student

Developing a Strategy for Success

Developing a Strategy for Success

Sarah Siegel shares experience in UNH's national security and intelligence analysis master's program

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national security intelligence stock image

Advancing National Intelligence

Advancing National Intelligence

UNH launches online master’s in National Security Intelligence Analysis

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Read more National Security Intelligence Analysis stories here

Curriculum & Requirements

Program offered online.

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 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. 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.

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

Required Courses
NSIA 810National Security Policy and the Intelligence Community3
NSIA 820Intelligence Analysis3
NSIA 830National Security Research Design and Methods3
NSIA 840National Security Qualitative Research Design and Analysis3
NSIA 850Intelligence Analysis Case Studies3
NSIA 860Survey Design and Analysis3
NSIA 870National Security Quantitative Research Design and Analysis I3
NSIA 880Analytical Writing and Briefing Seminar3
NSIA 890National Security Quantitative Research Design and Analysis II3
NSIA 898Master's Capstone3
Total Credits30

This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.

Accelerated Master’s students in the NSIA program take two courses as undergraduates:

  1. NSIA 810 National Security Policy and the Intelligence Community
  2. NSIA 820 Intelligence Analysis

General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.

Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.

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.

Apply now

Deadlines

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

  • Fall: July 15
  • Spring: December 15
  • Summer: N/A
  • Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Online

New England Regional: CT MA RI VT

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

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 or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

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

If admitted, you must then 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 grad.school@unh.edu. 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

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.

National Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence

IC CAE Logos

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has designated the University of New Hampshire as a national Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE), with a funding award of $2.5 million over 10 years. UNH NICCAE will use the grant funds to develop intelligence-related curricula, workshops, simulations, conferences, and seminars at UNH as well as its partner institutions. Learn More

Explore Program Details

Tuition & Fees:

The University of New Hampshire’s online graduate tuition and fees information is available on the UNH Business Services Website. Program costs and technology fees are subject to change.

Course Fees: Specific courses may have additional course fees. Visit the course schedule for more information. 

ADDITIONAL TUITION & FEES INFORMATION

Financial Aid:

Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans are a form of federal financial aid available to Graduate Students.

To apply, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

National Security Intelligence Analysis Degree Requirements

NSIA 810 National Security Policy and the Intelligence Community

This course provides students an introduction to United States national security policy and the role of the intelligence community. Current and historical case studies will highlight the functions and limits of intelligence activities in support of decision makers policy making and implementation. In this course we survey political, institutional, and cultural challenges confronting analysts as they strive to provide intelligence products relevant to strategic and tactical policy goals.
 

NSIA 820 Intelligence Analysis

In this class we define intelligence and focus on analysis. We identify intelligence organizations relationships with policymakers and the types of intelligence products they produce. Students will learn to identify and create intelligence requirements and the related variables and collection targets. We will explore analytical approaches and develop critical thinking skills. In this class we will define data, the causes of intelligence failures, and identify creativity in intelligence analysis.
 

NSIA 830 National Security Research Design and Methods

In this class students explore the differences between academic research and intelligence analysis. We will explore research design and how to select a research approach based on intelligence requirements. You will learn about the ethical conduct of social science research. Building on the framework of intelligence requirements you will learn how to define a research problem and develop related research questions, hypothesis, and design research using appropriate methods.
 

NSIA 840 National Security Qualitative Research Design and Analysis

Qualitative research refers to meanings, concepts, definitions, characteristics, metaphors, symbols, and descriptions of phenomena for study in the natural world. In this class we make linkages to existing research theories and intelligence methodologies. We introduce case study research and design issues.
 

NSIA 850 Intelligence Analysis Case Studies

The evolution of intelligence analysis is examined in this class using case studies to highlight analytical approaches. Institutional and personal perspectives of the role of intelligence analysis and analysts are explored. We will define and discuss the politicization of intelligence. Both strategic and warning intelligence case studies are provided to students to read and interpret.
 

NSIA 860 Survey Design and Analysis

In this course students will learn about surveys research. Questions such as “What is a survey?” and “Why conduct surveys?” will be posed and answered. Students will learn about ethical issues in survey design and methods. Additional topics include survey error, sampling, nonresponse issues, survey data collection strategies, and survey question design and errors.
 

NSIA 870 National Security Quantitative Research Design and Analysis I

Quantitative Design and Analysis I introduces students to data and data analysis. The course provides an overview of statistical learning. Students will learn approaches for stating and refining research questions. We will employ the epicycles of analysis approach to conduct exploratory data analysis. Students will learn how to describe data and use appropriate counting techniques. Basic data visualization will be employed using R.

 

NSIA 880 Analytical Writing and Briefing Seminar

Students in this course will investigate the cognitive science behind writing and intelligence analysis. Topics include heuristics and chunking, speaking and writing, writing schemes, creativity, analytical writing, organization, presentation, collaboration, editing, case studies, presenting technical information, and decision-maker feedback. Case studies on the psychology of political behavior are presented.


NSIA 890 National Security Quantitative Research Design and Analysis II

In this course students will develop a data science tool kit they may use to investigate research questions. The methodological approaches students will be exposed to include linear regression, classification, resampling methods, linear model selection, tree-based methods, unsupervised learning, and network analysis. Ethical approaches to the use of data science are reviewed in this class.

 

NSIA 898 Master’s Capstone

The capstone provides the opportunity to demonstrate the students’ mastery of program materials, areas of specialization, and professional goals, in a single intelligence product. In cooperation with a core faculty advisor, each student team designs, researches, and implements a project that is comprehensive and demonstrates their competency to perform as an analyst.