Bachelor of Science
Intelligence and Security Studies Degree
Build an impactful future in global security and intelligence analysis.
Intelligence and Security Studies Degree
Cutting-edge intelligence degree focused on building core research skills.
National security and intelligence professionals are in critical demand. The Bellevue University Bachelor of Science in Intelligence and Security Studies degree is helping to meet this need by preparing students for entry-level homeland security, government, military and civilian law enforcement careers. Here, you can enter a field that makes a real impact.
Online intelligence and security studies degree to fit any schedule.
The security and intelligence studies degree at Bellevue University is offered both online and on campus, so you can find the best way to reach your goals on with a timeline that works for you. Our intelligence and security faculty is committed to working with students on a person-to-person basis to accommodate their learning needs.
Critical skills to make an impact at home and around the world.
Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of key intelligence studies degree topics, and gain the critical thinking skills you’ll need for urgent problem solving in the field. You’ll cover coursework in:
- Philosophy
- Political science and history
- Psychology
- Science and technology
- Global affairs
- Comparative politics
Make your security and intelligence studies degree work for your impactful future.
Courses
What You’ll Learn
- Recognize the specifics and abstractions of national security/intelligence: theories, principles, methodology, structure, organizations, categories, trends, classifications and conventions.
- Evaluate the 21st-century global security environment, including various and diverse transnational threats and how they impact/interact not only with the international community but also with individual regions and states.
- Differentiate between broad-based, generalized, thematic specializations (International Relations) and highly defined, specific, area studies/cultural specializations (Comparative Politics).
- Compare and contrast conflict/peace theory with national security policy and consider practical intelligence applications.
- Clearly comprehend the evolution and transformation of the international threat environment.
- Apply critical thinking and interpretive/analytical problem-solving skills to threat assessment and potential threat resolution – you’ll learn the difference between policy and analysis and evaluate the efficacy of various policy proposals.
- Become proficient with the key concepts, functions, and operations of the national and international security infrastructure and agile with analyzing complex global interrelationships.
- Compare and contrast conflict/peace theory with national security policy and consider practical intelligence applications.
Intelligence and Security Studies Degree Courses
Current students please login to BRUIN and select “Academic Progress” for your curriculum requirements.
Requirements (36 credit hours)
(Click a course name below to view course details).
This course introduces students to national security as a concept, strategy, goal, and challenge. It examines the dangers and threats that exist domestically and internationally and analyzes how the United States attempts to deal with those challenges using strategies that range from diplomacy to military force.
This course introduces students to intelligence and counterintelligence as concepts, processes, and careers. It elaborates on historical and contemporary approaches to I/CI. The process of intelligence collection, analysis, research dissemination, consumption, and feedback is examined. Students are exposed to the diverse IC community and the responsibilities of its various members.
This course introduces and engages elements of theoretical and ethical analysis to empirical topics and subject matter. Some of the issues covered will include war, weapons of mass destruction, humanitarian intervention, globalization, and spying. This course explores the deeper underlying philosophical issues within national security.
This course introduces the subfield of geostrategy. It takes a holistic approach to the study of geopolitics and foreign policy when guided by geographical factors. It examines how geography can inform, constrain and affect political, economic, and military planning. Topics covered include how a country's resources, position, and physical factors can change and determine its geopolitical objectives and how geography is sometimes inextricable from strategy.
This course promotes the understanding of tactical and strategic thought at the introductory level. The course explores how theory and strategy help form policy by identifying the implications and shifts in long-term strategic patterns and trends. Security culture, use of force, international law, grand strategy, and just and unjust war will be major aspects of course study.
This course gives students an in-depth understanding of how science and technology impacts national security and intelligence. It examines how important hard science and technology is in developing areas of national security and intelligence. This includes analyzing cyber-security and cyber-warfare, the emerging relationship between the IC and IT, space reconnaissance, and high-tech espionage.
This course analyzes transnational crime and corruption issues within global politics. Focus is given to potential national and international responses to transnational threats. This course examines the increasing relevance of criminality and governmental corruption and how it becomes a major aspect of national security policy.
This course analyzes issues of leadership and statehood that run contrary to international norms and democratic standards. Students will investigate key case studies and examine how they offer challenges to the global community and international security. It acquaints students with problem areas and issues in world politics and gets them thinking of conflict-resolution strategies that are both short and long-term. How these strategies are employed within US foreign policy and their likely efficacy is also examined.
This course examines various fundamentalist movements around the globe and considers the revival of religious radicalism in the 21st century. Students evaluate how various ‘fundamentalisms’ impact domestic and global political processes. The process for morphing religious radicalism into political violence is examined. How various international factors can ameliorate/exacerbate extremism is examined.
International Relations Sub-specialization: Choose 2
This course examines how democratization projects around the world succeed or fail and the international dynamics that flow from that success/failure. International threats that emerge from the problems and flaws of implementation are investigated in depth. Case studies are used as teaching tools about international involvement and difficulties with that engagement. This upper-division course aims to make students competent in the long-term national security objectives of establishing peaceful, stable, and prosperous democracies and aware of the problems in accomplishing that goal.
This course investigates the various forms and differences of internal/domestic conflict. Students will be exposed to the global context of civil war and insurgency. Numerous case studies will be analyzed, exposing students to the nature and characteristics of revolution. Understanding the changes in our concepts of old/new wars and how that impacts international peacekeeping and global intervention will be highlighted. Students consider transnational issues that emerge within domestic conflicts and how democracy emerges as both a cause and effect within rebellion.
This course is not just a theoretical examination of the concepts of power, ideology, and legitimacy in international relations. It applies these concepts explicitly to global affairs and international security, so as to link scholarly theories with empirical real-world application. Its thematic coverage includes norms, law, and legality across civilizational and international contexts; war and the use of force in geopolitics; power, hegemony, and polarity in terms of global world orders; competing visions of legitimacy between the West and non-West; and sovereignty within the fight against terrorism. Particular attention is paid to how concepts influence countries and how governments end up interpreting and repositioning concepts while interacting with other state and non-state actors.
This course provides an overview of disinformation and misinformation in democratic and non-democratic contexts. Discussions will focus on domestic and foreign disinformation tactics and techniques to manipulate public discourse, threaten the national security infrastructure, and subvert democracy.
Comparative Politics Sub-specialization: Choose 1
The study of Eurasia (defined as Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) with an emphasis on understanding the different political cultures and security issues across the region. Topics covered include individual domestic concerns, international positions, national security/economic interests, and alliances/conflicts between countries within and beyond the region.
This course examines Latin America with an emphasis on understanding the different political and intelligence cultures and security issues across the region. Emphases will focus on individual domestic concerns, international positions, national security/economic interests, and alliances/conflicts between countries within and beyond the region. Particular attention is paid to non-state, transnational security threats, domestic corruption and the various political/social philosophies prominent across the entire region. This intensive course adds to the upper-level Comparative Politics section of the program and allows for the development of a specific regional specialization, which is advantageous to the overall program objectives and future career opportunities.
This course examines the Middle East with an emphasis on understanding the different political cultures and security issues across the region. Emphases will focus on individual domestic concerns, international positions, national security/economic interests, and alliances/conflicts between countries within and beyond the region. Particular attention is paid to non-state, transnational security threats and the interplay between secular and religious factions across the entire region.This intensive course adds to the upper-level Comparative Politics section of the program and allows for the development of a specific regional specialization, which is advantageous to the overall program objectives and future career opportunities.
Kirkpatrick Signature Series Requirements (9 credit hours)
(In addition to the Major Requirements, all Bellevue University students must complete the Kirkpatrick Signature Series)
This course focuses on the political and philosophical traditions of the American republic, especially as embedded in the ideals, values, traditions, founding documents, and institutions of the United States , and considers how these traditions relate to individual citizenship and global society. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
This course focuses on the creative tensions that exist between the forces of tradition and change as the country undergoes social, cultural, and political change. It considers the manner in which change can renew the vitality of a republic. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
This course examines civic engagement in relation to individual freedoms and responsibilities. It fosters engaged citizens, empowered to effect positive change. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours
Integrative General Education Credits
Major Requirements Credits
Elective Credits
= 127 Total Credits*
General Education Courses
Take general education courses that do more than fill a requirement. At Bellevue University, these courses build foundational skills that apply to any career—critical thinking, qualitative reasoning, and ethical leadership. And, you can take courses individually or in course clusters, which connect three courses around one theme, building skills as you go.
Elective Courses
Our broad selection of electives allows you to select courses related to your major or expand your perspective in other areas of interest.
University Accreditation
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).
Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important to students with financial aid, employers who provide tuition assistance, donors, and the federal government.
This program is considered a non-licensure degree/certificate program and is not intended for those seeking licensure or the practice of licensed profession. This program may be relevant to multiple occupations that do not require licensure and was not designed to meet educational requirements for any specific professional license or certification.
*Consult with an admissions counselor to determine your eligible credits, as well as to verify minimum graduation requirements for this degree. Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Bellevue University makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning, or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.
Get credit for what you’ve earned.
Accelerate your path to earning a degree.
Thanks to our generous credit transfer policy, you can avoid retaking the classes you’ve already completed, and chip away at the credit requirements you need to complete your degree.
- Already have an associate degree? You could accelerate your bachelor's degree completion. Transfer your full associate degree or even your A.A.S.*
- You may be able to get credit for your military experience and training.
Finish Faster
*Acceptance of transfer credits is always subject to official transfer credit evaluation by Bellevue University.
Move forward. Make your Security and Intelligence Studies degree a reality.
Format
Customize your learning and focus on your interests in the field.
Throughout your time at Bellevue University, the passionate faculty will be committed to delivering an innovative curriculum that fits your plan. Faculty integrates hands-on, applied learning with theory. The intelligence and security studies degree is designed to deliver a transformative learning experience that is flexible enough to accommodate your personal and work life.
100% Online learning that works for your life and your goals.
Our flexible online courses are designed to bring quality learning into a format that fits your schedule, without sacrificing meaningful faculty feedback and collaboration with peers across the country. Stay on track with the help of your Student Coach — with you from day one to graduation.
Tuition & Financial Aid
It’s more affordable than you think.
Earning a degree is an investment in yourself, and we want to help you make sure it’s a wise one with a generous credit transfer policy and competitive tuition rates.
2024 / 2025 Academic Year
$449 Online Cost Per Credit $250 Military Preferred Cost Per Credit
(Additional fees may apply to individual courses within your major requirements)
Only pay for the credits you need.
Talk to us about our generous credit transfer policy so you can make more of the credits you’ve already earned count toward your degree.
Get help with financial aid.
Our counselors will guide you to find a financial aid plan that works for you. Explore all the ways to help pay for your degree.
Military Preferred (Active Duty and Spouses Only)
Degree-seeking active-duty members of the U.S. Military, National Guard, Reserve, and Coast Guard, and their spouses, with proof of status, are eligible for a special tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for all undergraduate, certificate, and certificate of completion programs as they work towards their degree. Not able to be combined with other special rates, Guild or Campus@Work funding.
Admissions
Removing barriers to the education you deserve.
College is challenging, but getting in shouldn’t be. We have simplified our requirements for admission and we do not require entrance exam scores like the ACT or SAT—so you can get on track to achieving your goals. Here’s how it will go:
To be admitted to Bellevue University, provide proof of high school completion. We accept the following forms of documentation:
- Official high school transcript
- GED certificate
- Homeschool letter of completion
- Certificate demonstrating that the student has passed a state authorized examination recognized by the state in which it is awarded — equivalent to a high school diploma.
- Self-certification on application.
You’ll just need to complete the application and submit the following:
- Official high school transcripts or proof of high school completion
- If applicable, official transcripts from any college or university you previously attended
- A one-time $50 application fee
- Note:
- International students must provide a few extra documents. See international student bachelor admissions details.
- Students applying for a cohort-based major must possess an associate degree or 60 semester hours completed with a grade of "C-" or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning. If you do not meet this requirement, you can build your credits directly with Bellevue University.
Short on time? You can start the application and save your progress as you go. Start your application >
You'll just need to create an account and complete a pre-application to Bellevue University through Guild. Once you receive confirmation that your pre-application to Bellevue University has been approved, you'll need to complete the required steps to get fully accepted and registered. These include:
- Submitting transcripts from past institutions
- Completing the FAFSA, per your employer's benefit requirement
If you’re transferring from another institution of higher education, you must submit an official transcript from each accredited institution you previously attended. Here are a few details to note:
- A transcript can be emailed securely to [email protected] or by mail. It is required to be sent directly from the issuing institution to Bellevue University's Office of the Registrar to be considered an official document. Please check with previous institution for available sending options.
- Applicants who submit an official transcript which reflects a two-year degree from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution are not required to show proof of high school completion.
- Transcripts must be submitted even if credits were not earned at the previous institution or if transfer credit is not granted.
Ready to get started?
Reach out to admissions.
- Get your questions answered about the Intelligence and Security Studies Degree
- Understand your financial aid and scholarship options
- Map out a schedule that fits with your priorities
