The graduate program is an interdisciplinary, but specialized program, reaching out to practice, over theory. It analyzes and addresses current and emerging security and Intelligence challenges and opportunities. The program prepares students, for a professional orientation in the Intelligence specialization and even more so in information analysis framework. The program’s curriculum standards comply with the National Qualifications Framework of the UAE Level 9, Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) international accreditation standards, and International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) education standards. The program is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Prospective students are provided with specialized knowledge spectrum in elements of Intelligence and information analysis regionally and globally. Students are keen in joining a framework of education that goes hand in hand with the security resilience policy of the UAE vision 2030, to meet the national and international educational standards; to offer knowledge capacity building and continuity through the world of security and global affairs. The Master program, is designed for early and mid-career professionals; academically qualified graduates with B.A. or other higher degrees in the following fields but not limited to: International Relations, Political Science, International Studies, Security and Strategic Studies, Law, Humanities, Crisis Management, Criminology or a closely related or inter-related fields such as Communication, and Business, with specialization to security, strategy and international affairs, among others. To apply for the Master’s program, students should meet all requirements of admission. All degrees should be in compliance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, graduates applying should reflect recognized and accredited Universities by the UAE. International Degrees, should be attested first before applying.
| Course Category | Total Number of Courses | Total Number of Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 7 | 21 |
| Electives | 3 | 9 |
| Thesis | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 12 Courses | 36 Credit Hours |
| Course Name | Credit Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence and Security | 3 | This course examines the history, principles, concepts, functions and methods used in collecting intelligence information. The main emphasis in this course is placed on the collection, analysis, interpretation and the use of intelligence. This course also recognizes and explores the evolving intersection between intelligence and national as well as global security. |
| Issues in Intelligence | 3 | This course will examine the recent developments and changes in intelligence systems and assesses the different ways in which persistent and emerging issues in the field are discussed and implemented in achieving policy objectives of the Nation-States. This course also recognizes and explores the evolving intersection between intelligence and national security |
| Intelligence Analysis | 3 | This course examines the intelligence gathering process of both foreign and domestic states, with an emphasis upon analytic procedures for protection and prevention against terrorism, terrorist groups, transnational crime, organized crime, and other threats to personal and public safety. In this regard, the course will review the strengths and weaknesses of traditional and non-traditional methods of intelligence gathering. |
| Security, Strategic Works and Intelligence | 3 | This course is a foundational course for the program. It establishes parameters of the discipline of security and intelligence. The course will present the main issues related to national and international security with conventional and unconventional threats to security and intelligence. It will explore the central and critical significance of intelligence and counterintelligence among others. The course will distinguish emerging trends of security threats such as environmental security, cyber warfare, food security, energy security and human and drug trafficking and economic security issues. |
| Contemporary Conflicts and Security Challenges | 3 | This course examines origins of conflict, wars and contemporary threats to national and international security and intelligence. Classical forms of threats to security are explained, described an analyzed. Topics among others, include causes of war and conflict, the value of security, between nations and contemporary threats to national and international security from the Cold War onwards. The course uses historical lessons learned, to explore and analyze issues of contemporary national, international security. Root causes, elements and cases of symmetrical and asymmetrical threats of security will be explored, explained and analyzed. |
| Research Methods in Intelligence and Security Studies | 3 | This course provides students with research method skills in addressing security and intelligence issues. Students focus is on methodological and structural procedures for conducting qualitative and quantitative research on security and intelligence studies. Students will become well versed in research planning, data collection, e data analysis methods and how these methods relate to the larger field of social science research. The course incorporates advanced analytical techniques used by intelligence analysts. It prepares students for intermediate and advanced security and intelligence studies by engaging in critical thinking and analytical writing. |
| Homeland Security | 3 | The course examines and analyses homeland security in the framework of security and intelligence. It defines, assesses and evaluates past, current and prospective methods for securitizing the homeland for the future. Cooperation between security services in protection of homeland security. It explores policy necessity, orientation, administration, coordination, strategic management organization skills but also intelligence data collection, analysis and processing in the framework of the program of security and intelligence. |
| Course Name | Credit Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis 1 | 3 | Students in this course will work with their thesis supervisor to develop a thesis proposal and begin their distinctive, applied research project. It is meant to stimulate students in acquiring and in-depth knowledge and insight in a specific subject of interest to the students which should contribute to the discipline areas of security studies and information analysis. The primary goal is for the student to practice the mechanisms of transitioning from concept to active inquiry. Depending on the nature of the subject, the student will develop a study questions, conduct a literature review, develop a methodological approach, and begin preliminary research. Students are expected to apply qualitative, quantitative, and comparative research approaches to the chosen subject. |
| Thesis 2 | 3 | In this course, students will continue developing their thesis project, revising techniques (if required), addressing challenges, analyzing findings, and eventually articulating the complete experience. Students will build on work from the previous semester and put all of the pieces together to complete the final thesis project, following the required research process and procedures. Students will be required to provide a verbal defense as part of the assessment and fulfilment of the course. |
| Course Name | Credit Hours | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence and Strategic Intelligence: The Role of Internal Security Organizations | 3 | The course examines and analyzes the similarities and differences between intelligence and strategic intelligence. In this regard concepts and theories will be explained and analyzed such as the content of intelligence and the threats revealed by intelligence information. The most important aspects will be the assessment, evaluation, interpretation and extrapolation of the information gathered from different sources. In particular, the course focuses on strategic Intelligence will be related to the concept of tactical intelligence. |
| The Information Revolution and Cyber Warfare | 3 | This course brings the Information Revolution and Cyber-Warfare experiences into focus as they relate to issues of Security, Strategy, and Intelligence. It examines, analyzes and assesses the creation of cyber-space, 21st Century Information Revolution and the threat of Cyber-Warfare in the framework of security and intelligence. |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | 3 | The course examines, analyzes, conceptualizes, develops and reflects on the fundamental principles and policies of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) as it relates to the fields of Security and Intelligence. The course focuses on specialized cases; assessment and evaluation of GCC critical security infrastructures; and examines measures and policies in the field of security and intelligence through utilization of an interdisciplinary approach to subjects of regional, national and international concern to the importance of CIP to the citizen and for national resilience. |
| Irregular Warfare: Strategy and Operational Responses | 3 | A course designed for the students in the area of security and intelligence examine irregular warfare and to grasp the challenges of employment of an operational response to counter insurgency and terrorism. |
| Dynamics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism | 3 | This course examines the dynamics of terrorism and counter-terrorism in the specialization of security and intelligence. The course looks at the historical and strategic development of terrorism to current and future methods of countering extremism and terrorist groups. |
| Environmental Security | 3 | This course examines the importance of Environmental security in the GCC and the relation it holds to the field of intelligence. Demographic changes, climate change and scarcity of resources among others, are examined as elements of security and safety importance. This course is multidisciplinary. It examines and analyzes environmental factors to security and intelligence. |
| Current Issues in Security and Intelligence | 3 | This course provides students with the principles of current issues of security and intelligence that occur within Nation-States. It examines various facets of security and intelligence. This course also equips the students with critical assessment skills as applied to contemporary issues in security, and how they are formulated and executed as policy. It also provides a panoramic view of Nation-States interactions. The course assess the important variables that play a part in contemporary global security and intelligence. |
| Leadership and Security, Strategy and Intelligence | 3 | This course explores, analyzes, and examines elements of leadership in security strategy and intelligence. The course evaluates and reflects on strategic leadership and strategic management. It concentrates on options and choices but also opportunities. How are decisions taken considering that some security and intelligence decisions about international affairs, need to be meet the national interests and continue to balance alliances. |
| Counterintelligence | 3 | This course examines is focused on offensive and defensive counterintelligence techniques, advanced counterintelligence agent handling, surveillance, security and investigation suitable for countering state-level actors. The course draws particular focus to regional and international law, ethical standards, security and policy. During this course, students will develop a comprehensive knowledge of CI. Students will study and analyze counterintelligence, focusing on CI operations and foreign intelligence services, including the development of CI, perspectives on counterintelligence throughout history, and assessments of successes and failures of CI. Students will learn and discuss multi-discipline CI support to intelligence operations, to denial and deception operations, and to covert operations. |
| Semester | Course | Cr. Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Intelligence and Security | 3 |
| Semester 1 | Issues in Intelligence | 3 |
| Semester 1 | Intelligence Analysis | 3 |
| Semester 1 | Electives | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Security, Strategic Works and Intelligence | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Contemporary Conflicts and Security Challenges | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Research Methods in Intelligence and Security Studies | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Electives | 3 |
| Semester | Course | Cr. Hrs |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 3 | Thesis 1 | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Homeland Security | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Semester 4 | Thesis 2 | 3 |
For graduate degree completion, graduate students must satisfy the following requirements:
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