Certificate in Intelligence Studies

Certificate in Intelligence Studies

The Certificate in Intelligence Studies (CIS) program offers non-degree-seeking students the opportunity to engage in in-depth, graduate-level study of intelligence topics. CIS courses are held at the ICC-B NIU Main Campus and select instructional locations.

Availability of certificate programs varies each year and is subject to enrollment, space limitations, faculty availability, and other NIU commitments. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Students enrolled in an NIU graduate degree program may take CIS courses as electives but are not eligible to earn the graduate certificate. CIS students who do not complete a certificate and later enroll in an NIU graduate program may transfer up to six credits toward their NIU master’s degree.

Please see the latest NIU course catalog for current CIS offerings and application deadlines.

Apply Now For The CIS Program

Course Concentrations and Locations

NIU offers the following CSI Topics and course descriptions can be found for each certificate in the NIU catalog: 
 

  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—China
    • Offered at NIU Main Campus at ICC-B and INDOPACOM.  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Latin America 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Russia, Europe, and Eurasia 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Counterintelligence 
    • Offered at ICC-B and NIU’s Quantico Academic Center (QAC)
  • The IC Strategic Leaders Program 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Homeland Intelligence for Transnational Issues  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Strategic Intelligence in Special Operations  
    • Offered at ICC-B and NIU’s Southern Academic Center (SAC)
       
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Counterproliferation 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Cyber Intelligence 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Data Science in Intelligence 
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Emerging Technologies and Geostrategic Resources
    • Offered at ICC-B  
  • The Certificate in Intelligence Studies—Information and Influence Intelligence 
    • Offered at ICC-B 
  •  

Certificate Program Topics

China
Latin America
Russia Europe And Eurasia
Counterintelligence
IC Strategic Leaders Program
Homeland Intelligence for Transnational Issues
Cyber Intelligence
Counterproliferation
Strategic Intelligence in Special Operations
Data Science in Intelligence
Information and Influence Intelligence
Emerging Technologies and Geostrategic Resources
China
Latin America
Counterintelligence
IC Strategic Leaders Program
Russia Europe And Eurasia
Homeland Intelligence for Transnational Issues
Cyber Intelligence
Counterproliferation
Data Science in Intelligence
Information and Influence Intelligence
Strategic Intelligence in Special Operations
Emerging Technologies and Geostrategic Resources
  • Possess a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution.  
  • Please note:  Students may apply to no more than two classes in the MSSI/MSTI program as a continuing education student. We encourage you to apply to the degree program before completing your second CE/Certificate course. 

Complete application packets must be sent to NIU Admissions by the deadlines listed in the NIU Course Catalog. Note that late applications will not be accepted.

Completed applications should be submitted electronically to  NIU_Admissions@niu.odni.gov or  NIU_Admit@coe.ic.gov (JWICS). 

  • To protect PII, please send applications from a .gov or .mil account.  
  • If electronic submission is not possible, applicants can submit their documents by mail. Please note that mail can take several weeks to arrive, so please plan accordingly. 

An official transcript is required with your application package for any certificate offering in the CIS program. 

  • Official transcripts are original documents issued by the institution and sent to NIU Admissions electronically via a secure third-party transcript delivery service (i.e. Parchment) or by hard copy mail in a sealed envelope, which should not be opened by anyone except the NIU Admissions. An official transcript is a legal document and includes distinguishing marks, such as the Registrar’s signature, the college seal, and the date it was issued. 

For mail sent through the United States Postal Service, the following address must be used: 

National Intelligence University 
Office of Admissions 
Roberdeau Hall 
Washington, D.C. 20511 

For mail sent by FedEx or UPS, the following address must be used:  

National Intelligence University 
Office of Admissions 
Roberdeau Hall, ICC-B Gate 5 
1000 Colonial Farm Road 
McLean, VA 22101 

To apply for the IC Strategic Leaders Program in the Intelligence Community certificate program, you must: 1. **Obtain a nomination** from your parent organization (See sample). 2. **Submit a Statement of Purpose**, which is a 500-word, unclassified essay (typed and double-spaced). In this essay, please explain: * Your motivation for pursuing the program * Your professional goals and objectives * Relevant achievements in your education or career that demonstrate your capabilities to undertake this certificate  3. To protect PII, please send applications from a .gov or .mil account. 4. A Professional resume or curriculum vitae (1-2 pages) An Official Transcript For questions about the IC Strategic Leaders Program admissions requirements, contact the Director of Leadership certificate program Lane Ryan at Donald.L.Ryan@odni.gov or 301.243.2360. **Additional Application Guidance:** * You may only apply for **one certificate program per academic year**. Please choose the program that best aligns with your goals and submit your application accordingly.  Sample Nomination Letter Dear NIU Admissions Committee,  Ms. Jane Whitten would be a great addition to NIU’s IC Strategic Leaders Program cohort. I understand that the course meets for four weeks (Monday-Friday) during the academic year and support her traveling to the NIU Intelligence Community Center-Bethesda (ICC-B) campus to attend class. Sincerely, Terri Duren Director, ONI Office of Research

NIU PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY (NIU) STUDENT DATA The Privacy Act of Public Law 93-579 requires Federal Agencies which collect personal information from individuals to inform each individual of the following: 1. Authority: 44USC3101 and 3102 Establishment of Program Management. 2. Principal Purpose: To record information solicited from and furnished by individuals nominated to attend courses of instruction of the NIU. 3. Routine Use: Used in preparation of tentative and final class rosters for official University use, biographic data on students, statistical studies, attendance verification, historical records, alumni surveys, academic/fitness reports, and other official correspondence. 4. Disclosure and Effects: Disclosure of information by the applicant is voluntary. However, non-disclosure may result in errors in reporting course completion, incomplete statistical comparisons, non-receipt of security clearance, errors in historical files, incomplete student academic/fitness reports, and non-receipt of official correspondence. 

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