Skip to main contentBack to Top

Intelligence and Security Studies

With a master’s in Intelligence and Security Studies, you’ll be prepared for a career addressing security challenges in areas like intelligence analysis and strategic security policy.

Graduates can use the degree for advancement in the military, law enforcement and academia.

By choosing to earn your Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies at Augusta University’s Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, you’ll be joining a fully-online program that exposes students to both theoretical and practical content in intelligence, strategic cybersecurity and security studies.

Intelligence and Security Studies is for you if you consider yourself

Analytical and Strategic
Innovative and Cutting-edge

 

A Calling

like no

other.

Want to learn more about the Intelligence and Security Studies program at Augusta University?

Request Info

What You'll Study

Coursework

Students in Augusta University’s Master of Arts with a major in Intelligence and Security Studies program will complete 36 credit hours, including a capstone or thesis.

The program is 100% online and designed to be completed in two years.

Curriculum | Admissions Criteria | Tuition and Fees | Application Deadlines

Graduate student standing outside smiling

EXPLORE. EXCEL. EXPAND.

Graduate School Advantage

Augusta University's graduate programs are among the best in the nation – and the world – and our graduate students are our most valuable assets. To ensure that our students earn more than a degree, the Graduate School offers a range of opportunities so they can develop the leadership, communication and personal skills needed for a rewarding life and academic, research or professional career.

See what the Graduate School has to offer »

About the Graduate School

Experience-based Education

Outside the Classroom

The Georgia Cyber Information Warfare Internship program is a collaboration between the Georgia Cyber Center and the Intelligence and Security Studies program that provides opportunities for qualifying students to collaborate on research for the U.S. military, the Department of Defense and state law enforcement.

The nearby Georgia Cyber Center includes incubator/accelerator space for entrepreneurial cyber security companies, research labs, a 340-seat auditorium for public and private events and one of the nation’s few state-owned cyber ranges.

The city of Augusta is home to several high-profile cyber organizations, providing excellent networking and professional development opportunities.

 

Fully Online

The program’s online nature allows working professionals to advance their career goals while remaining employed.

 

Focused Education

Built around three central themes — intelligence, strategic cybersecurity and security studies — students build a solid foundation of knowledge and experience applicable to a wide variety of environments.

 

Publication Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to enhance their resumes by publishing scholarly articles and research.

 

Military Friendly

A partnership with the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence allows service members to complete their degrees online.

Your Future

Career Options

The Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies prepares students for careers within military intelligence, industry security and academia. Potential careers include:

Corporate Security Analyst

Assess risks and vulnerabilities for businesses, develop security measures, and investigate potential threats.

Average Salary: $72,000 - $115,000.

Security Specialist

Manage physical security systems, conduct risk assessments, and develop security protocols.

Average Salary: $58,500 - $98,830.

Defense Analyst

Assess military capabilities, analyze potential adversaries, and support strategic planning.

Average Salary: $82,500 - $124,000.

Profiles

Student Stories

This program encourages you to see the world without its filters and trains you to look at its problems directly and unflinchingly.

Jaiden Mallika Le Pax

 

There is no other program exactly like this in the country. National and global politics, as well as United States national security, have always been of great interest to me, so this program was a natural fit.

Monty Philpot Brock

 

Admissions Criteria at a Glance

GPA: Overall GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale at the Baccalaureate level calculated on all undergraduate work OR an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the graduate level calculated on all graduate work attempted.

Degree Requirement: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university.

Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Unofficial transcripts from US colleges and universities can be used in the admissions review process in lieu of official transcripts for this program.

Standardized Test Requirements: None are required for this program.

Letters of Recommendation: Recommendations from three individuals are required. Only recommendations submitted through the online application portal will be accepted.

Resume: Applicants must submit an updated resume or curriculum vitae. Resumes must be submitted within the application status portal after the application is submitted.

International Students: Please review the verification process for international transcripts and the english proficiency requirement.

Tuition & Fees Estimate

$2,752*

Estimated total
Full-time / In-State / Per Semester

$230

Tuition Per Hour

$615

Mandatory Fees

View Detailed Program Tuition  

*Tution & Fees listed here are for in-state students enrolling in the university for Fall 2024 semester.

Detailed Program Tuition Information

For more detailed admissions criteria, please visit the Graduate School's graduate admissions guide.

Application Deadlines

Spring '24 Application Deadline

  • November 15, 2023

Summer '24 Application Deadline

  • April 1, 2024

Fall '24 Application Deadline

  • July 1, 2024

Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.

All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. The program does not accept applications after the published application deadline, however the program will continue to accept application materials up to 2 weeks after the application deadline.

Student smiles and hold sketchbook in art lab

Learning Like No Other

Why Augusta?

Launched in 2018, the program’s enrollment has grown by more than 450 percent, with a quarter of the students having Department of Defense affiliations. Since the program is 100% online, you can pursue the degree whether you’re in the military or working full-time.

The capstone project connects you with experienced mentors that advance your understanding of strategic concepts and challenges.

Augusta University’s relationships with the Georgia Cyber Center, the U.S. Army Cyber Center for Excellence and other military and civilian enterprises built around intelligence and security provide excellent networking opportunities that can have a positive impact on your career choices.

Ukraine flag with the sun in the back ground

Year three: What fate awaits the fighting in Ukraine?

Craig Albert, PhD, said it appears victory does not seem likely for either side, and he expects it to form into a “frozen conflict.”

Professor speaks to students in a conference room

Augusta University and U.S. Cyber Center of Excellence come together for an Informational Warfare conference

Professors from Augusta University's Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies program and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence recently came together for a one-day conference.

Israel flag

What led up to the Hamas attack on Israel and what role did the U.S. play?

The conflict between Israel and Palestine dates back many years, but the recent escalation can be attributed to issues centering around Palestinian rights and access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has had some restrictions recently because of violence between the two sides.

Man poses for a photo under a mounted plane

MAISS degree provides pathway to Department of Defense job for AU alumnus

“One of the benefits of the MAISS program I found is that, due to Augusta being a military city, we had a lot of military folks in our courses. They would always go out of their way to explain stuff to us civilians, like what certain topics meant or real-world experiences of things we were talking about, and it definitely improved the course,” said Grayson LaHatte.

Creativity, Discovery, Engagement

The Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences forms the heart of the liberal arts mission of Augusta University. We foster critical thinking about complex questions of the human experience; cultivate skills in written, verbal, and creative expression; promote active citizenship and community engagement; and prepare graduates for diverse careers in quickly changing globalized environments.