This minor is designed for students who are interested in careers in homeland security or other intelligence-related fields. This minor focuses on developing the skills of intelligence analysis, including research, writing, briefing, and analytical tradecraft. Students explore ethical issues in the field and new developments in the analysis of intelligence information.
The curriculum fosters a broad knowledge of content in several disciplines valued by employers in homeland security and intelligence-related fields. The minor offers students sufficient flexibility to pursue their primary interests while also preparing themselves for careers in intelligence analysis.
Students who are American citizens may apply for an internship in intelligence analysis at the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other agencies. Credits earned for an internship are in addition to those required for the minor and do not contribute toward completion of the minor. Students who intend to apply for the internship should begin the application process no later than September of their sophomore year, since the security clearance process can take a year or more. Students may wish to participate in the Clearance Ready Program offered through Career Services. Information can be found at https://careers.gmu.edu/students/find-job-or-internship/clearance-ready-program. Students in this minor are strongly encouraged to pursue advanced training in Arabic, Chinese, or Russian.
Policies
Twelve credits of coursework must be unique to the minor and students must complete all coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.00. This minor is multidisciplinary in nature and requires coursework from at least two different academic departments. It must be approved by the advisor before graduation. A maximum of 6 credits of CRIM 485 Study Abroad can be applied to the minor.
For policies governing all minors, see AP.5.3.4 Minors.
(formerly NTLA)
Minor Requirements
Total credits: 18
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Students should plan their course of study with a criminology, law and society advisor assigned by the program.
Core Courses in the Minor
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CRIM 310 | Introduction to the Intelligence Community | 3 |
| CRIM 312 | Intelligence Analysis Techniques | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Electives in the Minor
The electives must consist of courses from at least two different departments (two different subject prefixes).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four electives from the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Mason Core) | ||
| Political Anthropology (Mason Core) | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Communication Theory | ||
| Foundations of Intercultural Communication (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core) | ||
| Social Dynamics of Terrorism, Security, and Justice | ||
| Introduction to Homeland Security | ||
| Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing | ||
| Counterintelligence | ||
| Applied Criminal Psychology | ||
| Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society | ||
or GOVT 460 | Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society | |
| Law Enforcement and Homeland Security | ||
| Theory and Politics of Terrorism | ||
| Introduction to Cyber Security Engineering | ||
| Political Geography (Mason Core) | ||
| Cartographic Design | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Geovisualization | ||
| Satellite Image Analysis | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Islam and Politics | ||
| American Security Policy | ||
| International Security | ||
| Law and Ethics of War | ||
| International Law and Organization | ||
| Ethics and Leadership | ||
| Human Trafficking and Smuggling 1 | ||
| Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing | ||
| Logic and Critical Thinking | ||
| Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology (Mason Core) | ||
| The Psychology of Working in Groups and Teams | ||
| Social Movements and Political Protest | ||
| Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core) | ||
| Conflict, Violence, and Peace | ||
| Violence and Religion | ||
| Big Data, Technology, and Society | ||
| Analysis of Social Data | ||
| Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I | ||
| Introductory Statistics II | ||
Special topics courses may be approved if they are relevant to the field of intelligence studies 2 | ||
Other courses as approved by minor director | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
A maximum of 3 credits of INTS 417 can be applied to the minor.
- 2
Contact minor director for approval of specific sections of special topics courses.