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  • MAISS

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

The Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies (MAISS) prepares students and industry leaders to address the intelligence and security challenges in an interconnected world.

The coursework is focused on inter and intrastate conflict; terrorism and counter-terrorism; organization, capabilities and roles of the U.S. Intelligence Community; and national, regional, and global strategic security and cybersecurity threats. The program prepares students for careers in the areas of strategic security policy, intelligence analysis, and for advancement in military, law enforcement, and academia. 

The program seeks to expose military members, future decision makers and analysts, and students considering a PhD to the security challenges inherent in a rapidly changing world. Our program has a special emphasis on the causes and effects of interstate and intrastate conflict, the sources of terrorism, terrorism and counterterrorism strategies, and security issues that affect national, regional, and global security.

Our newest concentration focuses on Technical Intelligence Analysis and is offered through Augusta University Online. In this concentration, students learn specific data analytics and intelligence techniques in addition to policy, theory and strategy. 

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Form I-20 for F-1 student status or Form DS-2019 for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status cannot be issued by Augusta University for enrollment in this online program per U.S. immigration regulations. Questions? Please email International & Postdoctoral Services Office at ipso@augusta.edu

Check out the new PhD in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy. This program will offer students extensive core work with required credit hours in research methods, intelligence studies, strategic cybersecurity and traditional security studies. The aim of the program is to give students a broad-based understanding of security studies.

Did you know Pamplin’s national defense programs are now recognized by two prestigious organizations? Augusta University’s MAISS and PhD programs are now affiliated with the prestigious Sword and Shield Honor Society and the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE). These distinctions recognize our commitment to excellence in homeland security and intelligence education. These partnerships give students access to national networks, recognition, and leadership opportunities, reinforcing Augusta University’s role as a leader in national defense education.

Request InformationApply Now

 

 

Contact Us

Dr. Craig Albert- Program Director

 Summerville Campus

Allgood Hall

1120 15th St, AH-N309
Augusta, GA 30912

maiss@augusta.edu

706-737-1710

Our Programs

Master of Arts with a major in Intelligence and Security Studies

Master of Arts with a major in Intelligence and Security Studies

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a concentration in Technical Intelligence Analysis

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a concentration in Technical Intelligence Analysis

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a concentration in Social Influence

Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a concentration in Social Influence

BA to MA in Intelligence and Security Studies in 5 years!

BA to MA in Intelligence and Security Studies in 5 years!

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Studies to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts with a Major in History to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Communication to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a Concentration in Social Influence

Accelerated Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Communication to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a Concentration in Social Influence

Accelerated Bachelor of Science with a Major in Psychology to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a Concentration in Social Influence

Accelerated Bachelor of Science with a Major in Psychology to Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies with a Concentration in Social Influence

Intelligence Studies Certificate

Intelligence Studies Certificate

Epidemic Intelligence Certificate

Epidemic Intelligence Certificate

Social Influence Certificate

Social Influence Certificate
New Students

Recent Publications

Publication
​

Effects of differential contacts with the criminal legal system on mental health outcomes of adolescents and young adults: A fixed-effects model

Velez Oliveira, R. L. & Culatta, E., Jun 17 2026, In: PloS one.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

An advocacy coalition framework analysis of local government autonomy in Nigeria

Ikpebe, E., Boykin, E., Osei-Kojo, A. & Peters, B. U., Jun 2026, In: Policy Sciences. 59, 2, p. 417-437 21 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Political Ideology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Labor Markets: How Political Party Members Perceive AI’s Effects in OECD Countries

Hunter, L. Y., Jun 2026, In: Political Research Quarterly. 79, 2, p. 410-425 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Sex differences in the coherence of PCL5 and CAPS-5 assessments for post-traumatic stress disorder

Bakshi, B., Nalloor, R., McCall, W. V. & Vazdarjanova, A., Mar 2026, In: Psychiatry Research. 357, 116890.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Terrorism and U.S. and Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment in the Developing World

Lu, K., Biglaiser, G. & Hunter, L. Y., Feb 2026, In: Global Policy. 17, 1, p. 81-93 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Information Warfare and Influence Operations

Albert, C. D., 2026, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. Oxford University Press, (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

​

Evading Detection or Triggering False Alarms? A Character-Level Adversarial Attack on LLM Detection of Arabic Social Media Bots

Melhem, A., Aleroud, A. & Albert, C. D., 2026, The 59th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Proceedings. .

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

​

Disrupting the Nation as Self: Russia’s Attack on Ukrainian Ontological Security through Information Warfare

Celestino, O. & Albert, C. D., 2026, In: Journal of Information Warfare.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Not Going Back Public Opinion on Abortion in Post-Dobbs America

Elder, L., Greene, S. & Lizotte, M.-K., 2026, Temple University.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

Overcoming stigma: the role of responsiveness in transgender identity disclosure

Reif-Stice, C. E., Culatta, E., Venette, S., Smith-Frigerio, S., Ellefsen, A. & Butauski, M., 2026, In: Communication Quarterly. 74, 3, p. 264-287 24 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Preparing for Future Wars: Incongruent Beliefs on Autonomous Weapons

Godbolt, N., Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y. & Morris, J., 2026, In: Prism: The Journal of Complex Operations .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Rethinking Budgeting? An Analysis of Budget Theory and Reform for Modernizing Municipal Practice

Boykin, E., McCue, C. & Goldman, D., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Public Administration Review.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The United States, China, and Global AI Governance

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D. & Antilla, R., 2026, Handbook on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

​

The curious public administrator and positive public administration: two frameworks to guide policy design and practice

Hatcher, W., 2026, In: Policy Design and Practice. 9, 2, p. 244-251 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

​

AI, monitoring, and the public workplace

Boykin, E., Hatcher, W., Hunter, L., Meares, W. L. & Ginn, M. H., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Administrative Theory and Praxis.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Recidivism among Violent Offenders: Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Psychological and Social Risk Factors

Velez Oliveira, R. L., C. Reid, J., Brown, S. & Mims-Beliles, B., 2026, In: Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology. 12, 2

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

GraphRAG-Based NLP at Risk: Graphemic Dot-Level Adversarial Attack on Arabic Sentiment and LLM Retrieval-Augmented Models

Melhem, A., Aleroud, A. & Albert, C. D., 2026, Social Networks Analysis and Mining - 17th International Conference, ASONAM 2025, Proceedings. An, A., Cuzzocrea, A. & Hu, H. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 252-263 12 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; vol. 16322 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

​

Work-Life Balance in the Public Sector: Burnout, Public Service, and the Search for Compassionate Organizations

Hatcher, W. & Meares, W. L., Jan 1 2026, Taylor and Francis. 108 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

Mirrorball Politics: How Taylor Swift Reflects America's Partisan and Gender Divides

Elder, L., Greene, S., Gulati, J. & Lizotte, M. K., Dec 2025, In: Social Science Quarterly. 106, 7, e70108.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Understanding factors associated with the decision not to bid – empirical tests and strategies for improving public procurement

Boykin, E., McCue, C., Atkinson, C. L. & Prier, E., Nov 10 2025, In: Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management. 37, 5, p. 676-695

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The Polarization Paradox: How State Wealth and Online Media Consumption Affect Polarization

Hunter, L. Y., Jul 1 2025, In: World Affairs. 188, 3, WAF270019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Elite corporate networks and CEO compensation: the causes and consequences of CEO pay premiums

Henriksen, L. F., Poulsen, T. & Avent-Holt, D., Jul 1 2025, In: Socio-Economic Review. 23, 3, p. 1113-1139 27 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Intentions to Seek Healthcare Following Sexual Assault: Understanding Stigma as a Barrier

Culatta, E., Reif-Stice, C. & Boyle, K. M., Jun 2025, In: Social Currents. 13, 3, p. 156-171 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Tuition‐Free College Policies and Workforce Diversity: How Policy Incentives and Environmental Favorability Shape Representation

Boykin, E. & Bell, E., 2025, In: Public Administration Review. p. 1-16

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Online government disinformation, censorship, and civil conflict in authoritarian regimes

Hunter, L. Y., Topping, K. & Hosny, Y., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Media, War and Conflict. 17506352251351579.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The Cuban Tourism Industry: Evolution, Challenges, and Prospects

Spadoni, P., Jan 1 2025, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 337 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

“Cyber-Enabled Education Operations: Towards a Strategic Cybersecurity Curriculum for the Social Sciences”

Albert, C. D. & Heslen, J. J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Political Science Education.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Defending Health Security: Securing Healthcare Infrastructure against Ransomware

Pavlova, P. & Albert, C. D., 2025, In: Cyber Defense Reivew.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Editor's introduction to the issue: Volume 44, Issue 2

Murray, G. R., 2025, In: Politics and the Life Sciences. 44, 2, p. 142 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

​

Coalitional Utility of Formidable Men as a Function of Perceived Humor Styles

Brown, M., Stewart, P. A. & Murray, G. R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Psychological reports.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

INNOVATION AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ∙ Introduction to the Special Issue

Tátrai, T., Boykin, E., McCue, C. & Prier, E., Jan 1 2025, In: European Procurement and Public Private Partnership Law Review. 20, 1, p. 6-7

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Analyzing Influence Operations on Facebook: An Exploratory Study

Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y., Mullaney, S. & Mays, M., 2024, In: Digital War.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Year-End Spending Spikes and Single Bid Procedures: An Analysis of Public Procurement in the European Economic Area

Lofaro, R. J., Boykin, E. A., McCue, C. P. & Prier, E., Jun 1 2023, In: Public Finance and Management. 21, 2, p. 135-166

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Public procurement and European Union integration: a systematic review

Boykin, E. A., May 19 2023, In: Journal of European Integration. 45, 4, p. 613-632

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

A Lesser-Known Arms Race: the Military Application of Artificial Intelligence in Non-Major Power Developed States and the Implications for Global Security

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D., Rutland, J. & Hennigan, C., 2023, In: International Journal of Security Studies & Practice .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Towards a General Theory of Ethnic Conflict: Explaining Identity and Violence in Chechnya

Albert, C. D., 2023, In: International Journal of Security Studies & Practice .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Weaponizing Words: Using Technology to Proliferate Information Warfare.”

Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y., Mullaney, S., Huitt, J. & Snider, L., 2023, In: Cyber Defense Reivew.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Democracy and Cyberconflict: How Regime Type Affects State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D., Garrett, E. & Rutland, J., 2022, In: Journal of Cyber Policy.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Competitive Public Procurement during COVID-19: The Unique Political and Policy Experience of the United States

McCue, C., Boykin, E. & Prier, E., Jul 1 2021, In: European Journal of Public Procurement Markets. 1, 3, p. 81-97

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Assessing European Union standardization: a descriptive analysis of voluntary ex ante transparency notices

Prier, E., McCue, C. & Boykin, E. A., May 7 2021, In: Journal of Public Procurement. 21, 1, p. 1-18

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

View All Publications.

Career Outlook

The Master of Arts in Intelligence & Security Studies equips students for a variety of careers within military intelligence and industry security at both the specialist and analyst levels in all branches of the US military, as well as the civilian sectors. It also prepares students to pursue a PhD. 

Potential Careers:

Intelligence Analyst

Business Intelligence

Personnel Security Specialist

Intelligence Specialist

Cyber Intelligence Analyst

Cryptologic Language Analyst

Military Capabilities Intelligence Analyst

Security Specialist

Information Operations Analysts

Our Faculty

photo of Dr. Craig Albert

Dr. Craig Albert

  • Professor
photo of Aaron Gold

Aaron Gold

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Dr. John “Jay” Heslen

Dr. John “Jay” Heslen

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Dr. Lance Hunter

Dr. Lance Hunter

  • Professor
photo of Tiffany Mack

Tiffany Mack

  • Adjunct Professor
photo of Jeff Morris

Jeff Morris

  • Adjunct Professor
photo of Dr. Gregg Murray

Dr. Gregg Murray

  • Professor
photo of Dr. Sudha Ratan

Dr. Sudha Ratan

  • Professor
photo of Dr. Paolo Spadoni

Dr. Paolo Spadoni

  • Associate Professor
photo of LTC (Retired) Robert Ross, PhD

LTC (Retired) Robert Ross, PhD

  • Adjunct Faculty
photo of LTC Devlin Winkelstein, PhD

LTC Devlin Winkelstein, PhD

  • Adjunct Faculty
photo of Dr. Yufan Yang

Dr. Yufan Yang

  • Assistant Professor
photo of LTC James Zavala, EdD

LTC James Zavala, EdD

  • Adjunct Professor
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