Security and Intelligence Studies Minor

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University General Education Requirements

Content Designations: SIS

The Security and Intelligence Studies (SIS) minor prepares students from any major for careers in security and intelligence with federal, local, state and municipal government or industry. The SIS minor is a 24-credit hour program consisting of three core courses (9 credit hours), four concentration-option courses (12 credit hours), and an internship (3 credit hours). The minor offers four specialization options. Three of the options (Cybersecurity+, Geospatial Intelligence+, and Information Analytics+) can be completed completely online. One option (Language+) is a combination of online and campus-based courses. Each minor option includes at least one elective course from one of the other concentration options.

Students who select the Language+ option are required to take 6 credit hours of a foreign language (Arabic, Hausa, Kiswahili, or a foreign language deemed critical by the US intelligence community and approved by the program) have the option to participate in the Center for Information and Security Education and Research’s (CINSER) Study Abroad program whenever available. CINSER’s Study Abroad program includes an intensive 4-8 weeks of curricular and co-curricular activities that are equivalent to two courses. The program is expected to immerse our students into the language/culture of the host country.

Students who select the Security+ option will develop skills in cybersecurity and will have the academic preparation necessary to sit for three industry certifications: CompTIA’s A+, CompTIA’s Security+ and the EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certifications.

Students are required to complete the course work for the minor (24 credit hours) in two years. No more than one C grade is allowed in courses required for the minor and a D course grade must be repeated.

Certificate Minor Requirements

The minor is open to undergraduate juniors in good academic standing enrolled in a major field of study at CSU. A cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or a grade of B or above is required.

Required Courses (9 credit hours)

SIS 4050 - The Intelligence Community Credit Hours: 3
SIS 4060 - Collection and Use of Intelligence Information Credit Hours: 3
SIS 4070 - Intelligence Analysis Credit Hours: 3

Elective Courses (12 credit hours)

Program Options (12 credit hours)-Choose One Option

Option 1- Language+

Two foreign language courses (6 credit hours) taken at CSU: Arabic, Hausa, Kiswahili, or a foreign language approved by the program.
Two courses (6 credit hours) that can be fulfilled in one of two ways:
- Participating in Study Abroad undergraduate language and cultural immersion courses (S AB 4980 - Study Abroad: Education for 6 credit hours (Pass or Fail))
- Taking any two courses from options (2, 3, or 4).

Option 2 - Cybersecurity+

TPS 3500 - Computer System Tech Credit Hours: 3
TPS 4600 - Applied Cyber Security Credit Hours: 3
TPS 4605 - Applied Ethical Hack Credit Hours: 3
1 course from Option 3 (Geospatial Intelligence+) or Option 4 (Information Analytics+)

Option 3 - Geospatial Intelligence+

GEOG 4805 - GIS for HS & CJ Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 4820 - Envir Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 4840 - Adv Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 3
1 course from Option 2 (Cybersecurity+) or Option 4 (Information Analytics+)

Option 4 - Information Analytics+

LIS 4510 - Database Design for Information Storage and Retrieval Credit Hours: 3
LIS 4580 - Introduction to Information Analytics Credit Hours: 3
LIS 4590 - Introduction to Information Visualization Credit Hours: 3
1 course from Option 2 (Cybersecurity+) or Option 3 (Geospatial Intelligence+)

Concluding Course (3 Credit hours)

SIS 4990 - Internship in Intelligence Credit Hours: 3