Posted on Feb 10, 2022
Which degree is best to try and start a career in the intelligence community?
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I am looking to get my Bachelor's (and then Master's) degree using my GI Bill to try and start a career within the Intelligence Community. I'm trying to keep multiple options in mind such as raw analysis, all-source intel, HUMINT, etc. I've narrowed my choices down to three (all online by the way):
BA in Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel
BS in National Security Studies at Norwich
and BA in International Relations and Global Security at AMU, most likely with a minor in Intelligence.
Now, I didn't want the degree to be JUST Intelligence, because I want to have something to fall back on if I cant get a TS/SCI, I decided it's not for me, or just whatever.
It's very difficult to weigh the pros and the cons when you can't quantify just how a potential employer will look at one degree vs the other. That said, what do you think would provide the best ROI? I think the AMU option not only gives me more confidence that I can get my foot in the door, but that it can be more useful outside of the IC in comparison to the other two. That said, I've seen some say that a degree from The Citadel or Norwich would be more respected than one from AMU. But my opinion is very limited, and I would like to hear what some more knowledgeable members think of my potential choices.
BA in Intelligence and Security Studies at The Citadel
BS in National Security Studies at Norwich
and BA in International Relations and Global Security at AMU, most likely with a minor in Intelligence.
Now, I didn't want the degree to be JUST Intelligence, because I want to have something to fall back on if I cant get a TS/SCI, I decided it's not for me, or just whatever.
It's very difficult to weigh the pros and the cons when you can't quantify just how a potential employer will look at one degree vs the other. That said, what do you think would provide the best ROI? I think the AMU option not only gives me more confidence that I can get my foot in the door, but that it can be more useful outside of the IC in comparison to the other two. That said, I've seen some say that a degree from The Citadel or Norwich would be more respected than one from AMU. But my opinion is very limited, and I would like to hear what some more knowledgeable members think of my potential choices.
Intelligence
College
Bachelors Degree
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 5
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If you can't get a TS/SCI, you're not going to work in intel. At all. Ever. So I would definitely not base any degree on a career field that you potentially can't even work in. What makes you think you can't get a TS/SCI? These are the thee main reasons a clearance is denied: Financial issues, Drug use. If you have a ton of debt you're not actively paying or you have a serious history of drug use, then you won't get one no.
I've been an all source analyst for 17 1/2 years - and not one of my degrees that I have is in intelligence studies. I came in with a Bachelor's in Journalism. I have a Master's in Public Relations and one in Security Management.
Ultimately someone is going to look with an intelligence professional who has some experience especially after the military but the one degree you mentioned that could be useful is International Relations. But you also have to have a focus of what INT discipline you want because you nearly listed all of them above. Each one is different - HUMINTers do different things than SIGINTers and all source analysts basically we just make products taking together all the disciplines and putting them together. We make Power Points mostly.
The fact you haven't done intel, you don't have a clearance and don't have experience yet you wouldn't likely be a top contender among others who are going for the same job who have a TS/SCI clearance and experience.
I've been an all source analyst for 17 1/2 years - and not one of my degrees that I have is in intelligence studies. I came in with a Bachelor's in Journalism. I have a Master's in Public Relations and one in Security Management.
Ultimately someone is going to look with an intelligence professional who has some experience especially after the military but the one degree you mentioned that could be useful is International Relations. But you also have to have a focus of what INT discipline you want because you nearly listed all of them above. Each one is different - HUMINTers do different things than SIGINTers and all source analysts basically we just make products taking together all the disciplines and putting them together. We make Power Points mostly.
The fact you haven't done intel, you don't have a clearance and don't have experience yet you wouldn't likely be a top contender among others who are going for the same job who have a TS/SCI clearance and experience.
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CPT (Join to see)
SrA Bronson Strange - You're better off getting a generic degree that covers analytics. Then if you get the clearance, and the job THEN get a graduate degree in Intel.
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SSG (Join to see)
You can’t get in the door with just a degree and no intel experience.SrA Bronson Strange
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SFC (Join to see)
SrA Bronson Strange - If you have zero intel experience, you're not going to even get a toe in the door. That's as simple as it is. You'd be going up against people who have experience in intel and probably already have a clearance no matter what discipline you go into. It's really not as simple as you're making it.
There are no degrees really worthwhile in the IC. They focus more on experience than anything.
There are no degrees really worthwhile in the IC. They focus more on experience than anything.
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SSG (Join to see)
AMEN! I have a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and begin a Masters in National security in May. SrA Bronson Strange if you were to apply to the same job as myself and SFC (Join to see) and you have ZERO intel experience and myself and Kelly have over 25 years combined, who do you think gets hired? You with just an intel related degree, or us with degrees and experience?
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As someone who is Intel, if you have ZERO experience doing anything related to intel, the door is locked and isn’t opening. You aren’t getting to a 3 letter without at least 8+ years on related intel experience and contracting firms require some, usually 2 years of intel experience. Just having a degree doesn’t even unlock the door for you. As SFC (Join to see) mentioned, the degree alone is not what makes you a good candidate for the intelligence field. I’ve been an All source analyst for 8 years, 3 of which is strategic level intel on active missions and have done counter terrorism work in both Africa and Asia. If you can’t explain to employers what you provide outside of a degree, you aren’t getting hired.
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SrA Bronson Strange
Then what options are there for getting in aside from military? Not that I'm opposed to going back in, but it would be stupid to enlist again after getting a degree (not to mention I couldn't reenlist in the Air Force unless it was in the same job I did before), and there's no guarantee I could get a commission for Intel either.
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SSG (Join to see)
if you want me to be honest with you, I would suggest determining a new career goal. Over 98% of the countries Intel field is prior service military intelligence. The other 2% are subject matter experts on specific areas such as missiles or chemical weapons. If you have ZERO experience, you’re gonna get someone killed. The best analysts are the ones that have done the work when peoples lives are at stake.SrA Bronson Strange
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If you can't get a clearance you may need to focus on a different career field. Even if you were going the Federal Agency route you will eventually run into needing some form of clearance and all paths will converge to the same crossroad. Focus more on a solid education and less on getting a degree specifically in the intel field. Not all Intel workers have Bachelor's in their career field just as you won't find every FBI agent or US Marshal with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice. Just be sure to do your research
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