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Curriculum | MASCI

Through the MASCI degree, you will develop the knowledge to address the intersection between intelligence and the formation of national strategy.

Full-Time  

Pre-Term

Prepare to begin your studies during a week of engagement with MASCI faculty, your cohort peers, and the broader SAIS community. The mandatory Boot Camp portion will expose MASCI students to the program structure and cover basic preparatory material. The Orientation portion, organized by the Office of Student Affairs, will offer an overview of the resources available to all SAIS students.

Curriculum

Boot Camp/Orientation

Duration

One week in August

Fall Term

Gain an in-depth understanding of the field of strategic studies and the discipline of intelligence through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises. Continue to build your expertise by choosing two electives that focus on specific areas of strategy, cybersecurity, and/or intelligence.

Curriculum

  • Strategy I
  • Intelligence I
  • Elective
  • Elective

Duration

September – December

Intersession

The intersession Capstone Research Seminar is designed to equip MASCI students with the necessary tools and sound research skills for their capstone projects.

Curriculum

Capstone Research Seminar

Duration

One week in January immediately preceding the start of the spring smester

Spring Term

You will explore key strategy, cybersecurity, and intelligence concepts in greater depth and examine the transition into a new technological environment in the 21st century. Choose two electives to further enhance your knowledge and complement your studies.

Curriculum

  • Capstone Prospectus
  • Strategy II
  • Intelligence II
  • Elective
  • Elective

Duration

January – May

Capstone Research Project

With guidance from a faculty advisor, MASCI students conduct an in-depth capstone research project focused on a topic of interest related to the fields of strategy, cybersecurity and/or intelligence.

Curriculum

Capstone

Duration

June-July
Part-Time (Year 1)  

Pre-Term

Prepare to begin your studies during a week of engagement with MASCI faculty, your cohort peers, and the broader SAIS community. The mandatory Boot Camp portion will expose MASCI students to the program structure and cover basic preparatory material. The Orientation portion, organized by the Office of Student Affairs, will offer an overview of the resources available to all SAIS students.

Curriculum

Boot Camp/Orientation

Duration

One week in August

Fall Term 1

Gain an in-depth understanding of the field of strategic studies through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises. Continue to build your expertise by choosing one elective that focuses on specific areas of strategy, cybersecurity, and/or intelligence.

Curriculum

  • Strategy I
  • Elective

Duration

September-December

Intersession 1

The intersession Capstone Research Seminar is designed to equip MASCI students with the necessary tools and sound research skills for their capstone projects.

Curriculum

  • Capstone Research Seminar

Duration

One week in January

Spring Term 1

You will explore key strategic studies concepts in greater depth and examine the transition into a new technological environment in the 21st century. Choose one elective to further enhance your knowledge and complement your studies.

Curriculum

  • Strategy II
  • Elective

Duration

January-May
Part-Time (Year 2)  

Fall Term 2

Gain an in-depth understanding of the field of intelligence studies through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises. Continue to build your expertise by choosing one elective that focuses on specific areas of strategy, cybersecurity, and/or intelligence.

Curriculum

  • Intelligence I
  • Elective

Duration

September-December

 Intersession 2

  

Spring Term 2

You will explore key intelligence concepts in greater depth, with a particular focus on cybersecurity, and examine the transition into a new technological environment in the 21st century. Choose one elective to further enhance your knowledge and complement your studies.

Curriculum

  • Capstone Prospectus
  • Intelligence II
  • Elective

Duration

January-May

Summer 2 - Capstone Research Project

With guidance from a faculty advisor, MASCI students conduct an in-depth capstone research project focused on a topic of interest related to the fields of strategy, cybersecurity and/or intelligence.

Curriculum

  • Capstone

Duration

June-July

* Degree conferral is in late August

Sample Elective Courses 

  • Cyber Operations
  • Disinformation
  • Economic Sanctions and Statecraft
  • Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action
  • Net Assessment
  • Russian National Security Policy
  • Space Security
  • Technology and International Competition