This course provides an understanding of the role intelligence plays in U.S. foreign policy and examines the various intelligence disciplines with attention to the strengths and weaknesses of each. The course also explores the history of American intelligence, causes of intelligence failures, and the need for adequate oversight.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Intelligence is a ‘service profession’, even as Jesus came “to serve, rather than be served” (Matt 20:28; Phil 2:7; 1 Peter 4:10). God’s calling is the Archimedean point to our lives, is key to professional endurance and integrity, and directs us toward the passion for which we were placed on the earth (Is 49:1; Jer 1:5; 29:11).
An introduction to the differing values of the major religions of the world and how their associated ideological topography shape national thinking about conflict, political structures, aspirations, and traditions.
Distinctive Christian Elements
A Christian worldview leads to methodological objectivity in the search for reality and future insights to assist leaders in making decisions – which is an example of servant leadership (Matt 20:28; Phil 2:7; 1 Peter 4:10).
An introduction to the differing values of the major religions of the world and how their associated ideological topography shape national thinking about conflict, political structures, aspirations, and traditions.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Mankind’s fallen nature evidences itself in organizations, processes, technology applications, and in personal relationships (Gen 3:8-10; Rom 3:23) and must be included in understanding history, current events, and analysis of U.S. intelligence.
This course presents an overview of the principles of US constitutional democracy and the intersection of those principles with domestic and international national security issues. Particular emphasis is placed on domestic intelligence activities and how those relate to the civil liberties of private citizens.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Governments are by far the greatest practitioners and consumers of intelligence. So, in teaching the discipline of intelligence, we examine government practice, questioning whether its objectives and actions (i) are required or permitted by practice or law (Rom 13; I Peter 2:13-17), (ii) are moral by Biblical standards, (iii) are effective in achieving the stated objective and, (iv) if not, explore more innovative and Biblically moral ways to most effectively achieve the objective (1Chron 12:32; Rom 12:1-3).
Introduces students to a classical understanding of geography and cartography and its impact on operations and national security. Provides students a deep understanding of the history behind geography that is often lacking in today's technology-centric environment.
Distinctive Christian Elements
God is the creator of everything (Gen 1:1); God embedded meaningful design in creation (Gen 1:1-26); God’s general calling upon mankind is to “fill and subdue the earth” (Gen 1:28), and do so as good stewards in community (Gen 2:17-17).
Students will learn the history and fundamentals of American counterintelligence activities. Attention is given to significant successes and failures of counterintelligence, to policy, practice, and organization, and to future counterintelligence challenges and needs.
Distinctive Christian Elements
The counterintelligence world is one of ambiguity, suspicion, deception, clandestine operations, and related stratagems, which contains its share moral and ethical dilemmas. We teach counterintelligence in a manner that emphasizes among other biblical principles, those in Romans 12 and 13. Christians can have great influence by creating wiser, more effective and innovative ways to achieve mission objectives without crossing moral or ethical lines.
Students will develop a better understanding of the nature of terrorism, the variety of terrorist motivations, and government counterterrorism strategies. This course examines various forms of political violence--assassination, ethnic conflict, and guerrilla war, but with emphasis on terrorism. It explores “terror in the name of God” from Christian, Islamic, and Judaic points of view. Christian Just War principles are examined as they apply to fighting terrorism.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Terrorism and counterterrorism are not theology-free zones. This course equips students for work in the national security sphere using Scripture, Spirit-directed reason, and the application of long-standing Christian ethical frameworks (such as the just war tradition). This includes the need for a clear understanding of how the Fall, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and the church impacts social phenomenon including domestic and international terrorism.
Terrorism and counterterrorism will be studied including various forms of political violence--assassination, ethnic conflict, and guerrilla war, but with emphasis on terrorism. Terror in the name of God from a Christian, Islamic, and Judaic point of view will be explored. The Christian Just War principles will be examined as they apply to fighting terrorism. The purpose of the course is to help students develop a better understanding of the nature of terrorism, the variety of terrorist motivations, and the means by which governments have attempted to deal with the problem.
Distinctive Christian Elements
The connectivity of the web combined with natural language translation technologies allows virtually anyone in the world to communicate with anyone and everyone else. This is comparable to the situation preceding the Tower of Babel, when unhindered communication led to arrogance and hubris, with people believing their technology had put them on par with God (Genesis 11:1-9). The ability of an individual to have an anonymous presence online, or for attackers to avoid attribution can provide encouragement to unethical, immoral, and illegal behavior (John 3:20).
This is an introduction to the rapidly emerging and critical role that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are already playing in intelligence and national security activities. It emphasizes the moral and ethical issues emerging from these developments along with Christian worldview perspectives on these issues. It surveys AI techniques and their application in predictive analytics, categorization and anomaly detection, computer vision, and natural language processing.
Distinctive Christian Elements
The designs in God’s creation are marvelous. We glorify him when we study and emulate his designs (Psalm 111:2). Human will never come close to understanding or replicating all of God’s creative abilities (Isaiah, 55:8-9; Job 40-42). There is something unique about humans (the image of God, Genesis 1:26, 2:7). Technology can honor God (Exodus 31:1-5). However, we must guard against worshiping it (Isaiah 44:12-20). We have moral responsibility for the things we make, to God first (2 Cor. 5:10) but also towards each other (Prov. 24:10-12). God has revealed the final outcome for the human race – and it does not include being replaced by “sentient machines” (Rev. 21).
This course surveys technologies that are radically changing the nature of economics, national security, and politics in the 21st Century. Students begin with learning the grammar of advanced technologies (e.g., information technologies, biotechnology, nano-technology, and energy technologies) and the assessments of futurists and ethicists on the implications of these developments for mankind. Special attention is given to applying the works of western civilization’s most influential thinkers to emerging ethical aspects of these technologies and reflecting in written assignments upon the forecasted implications of advanced technologies on our national security, our American way of life, and on mankind.
Distinctive Christian Elements
The Genesis 1 mandate to subdue the Earth legitimizes the development of technology on a broad front. The fallen nature of mankind means application of technology will always have a dual-edge nature (Gen 3:8-10; Rom 3:23). Evaluating the ethics of technology must address the broad implications on mankind (body, mind, and spirit), on creation (ecological and environmental), & security (Romans 13:1-7).
Provides students a review of the history, dynamics, current issues and outlook for policy making in the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). This includes the unique role of the U.S. IC in national policy-making at the National Security Council level, as well as within the IC and its member agencies.
Distinctive Christian Elements
There is a battle between good and evil, yet God is sovereign and in full control. Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him (Psalm 115:3). Governments are established to rule and God calls believers to support them (Rom.13:1). As God-fearing people, we should act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8). We should individually, and in serving governmental leaders, seek wisdom in making decisions (James 1:5).
This course is a follow up to the introductory course in analysis (INT313). It introduces students to more advanced methods of analysis and provides a semester length project in analysis, including use of Analyst Toolkit for targeting and social network link analysis. Major Topics include: cultural, financial, cyber and link analysis, in addition to key principles of editing professional writing.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Mankind’s fallen nature brings collective and powerful forms of evil that requires a legitimate government to provide security for the innocent (Romans 13:1-7). Intelligence analysts and targeters provide critical information to enable the government to target and execute justice and wrath on those who practice evil. Intelligence analysis and targeting are thinking disciplines that require the kind of wisdom and understanding that begins with humility in the fear of the Lord. (Job 28:20-28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 16:2). Christian intelligence analysts and targeters uniquely serve the Lord in national security (Rom. 14:7-8) by living as witnesses to Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8) who discover and target mankind’s evil with an ethic and wisdom based on His Word.
Introduces students to the history and geography of the Middle East, through field trips, on site lectures, and interactions with regional, academic and government experts that highlight how it has historically shaped the region’s cultural and political landscape, and will likely continue to do so in the future. Areas of emphasis include Israel, Jordan, other regions in the Middle East, and current politico-military implications of the region’s geography and history.
Distinctive Christian Elements
Understanding the Middle East involves a necessary comprehension of the narratives and traditions of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. An in-person exposure to the dynamics of these people groups living in the Middle East provides an invaluable lesson in cross-cultural communications and the opportunity for a personal spiritual pilgrimage in the land where Jesus walked.
These credits consist of projects in the fields of security studies and strategic intelligence that integrate skills learned in the traditional classroom setting into vocational tasks. Students collect, analyze, and report on data under the supervision of a faculty member or outside mentor/practitioner.
These individualized projects seek to integrate the skills learned in the traditional classroom setting into vocational tasks. This project includes probability and statistics in data science; data exploration and visualization; data ingestion, cleansing, and transformation; and the opportunity for certification in one or more big data tools (additional fee required for Microsoft certifications).
These credits consist of off-campus projects, internships, and/or employment in the various fields of government and public policy. Seeking to integrate academic skills into “real world” tasks and settings, past internships have included:
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