The major in Intelligence & National Security Studies in Political Science supports the Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence mission, which is to enhance the recruitment & retention of an ethically and culturally diverse workforce with capabilities critical to U.S. national security interests.   This major directly supports these core requirements.  

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core 34 General Education		34
The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3)
MATH 107 Introduction to Statistics is the designated "math pathway"course. This course will fulfill your Core 34 Math and Statistics requirement.
POLS 110 is a required course of the major. Students are strongly advised to satsify 3 credits of their Core 34 Social and Behavioral Sciences by taking this course.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree Requirements		16-21
Students will follow the BA or BGS degree specific requirements based on their degree selection. BA students will demonstrate proficiency in a Non-English Language, complete a Quantitative Literacy course, a Laboratory or Field Experience, and two semesters of Writing. BGS students will complete a minor, two certificates, or a second major and a Career Preparation Course. Please see the College's undergraduate tab for more detailed information on these requirements.
1 credit hour of a Laboratory of Field Experience, 6 credit hours of Writing, and 3 credit hours of Quantitative Literacy are required for all BA students. These requirements will be met through the completion of the KU Core 34.
Major Requirements
POLS 206	Political Science Methods of Inquiry	3
POLS 110	Introduction to U.S. Politics	3
or POLS 150	Introduction to Comparative Politics
or POLS 170	Introduction to International Politics
POLS 125	Intelligence: Supporting National Security	3
POLS 130	US Intelligence Community	3
POLS 325	Intelligence Analytics	3
POLS 345	Counterintelligence	3
Electives
Choose five courses (15 credit hours) from the following:		15
POLS 310	Contemporary Issues in U.S. Politics
POLS 320	Introduction to Public Policy
POLS 356	Politics of East Asia
POLS 361	Politics of the Middle East
POLS 371	United States Foreign Policy
POLS 375	Russian Foreign Policy
POLS 378	Chinese Foreign Policy
POLS 390	Introduction to Public Administration
POLS 413	Psychology in Politics
POLS 419	Topics in American Politics: ______
POLS 425	Extremist Groups and Government Response
POLS 433	Iran, Turkey, and the Kurds
POLS 445	Corruption, Crisis and Scandal
POLS 452	Politics in Europe
POLS 467	Islam and Politics
POLS 468	Politics and Society in China
POLS 472	International Political Economy
POLS 476	International Relations of Asia
POLS 477	U.S. National Security Policy
POLS 480	Politics and Government in Israel
POLS 482	Transnational Terrorism
POLS 489	Topics in International Relations: _____
POLS 687	Introduction to Cyber Intelligence
POLS 688	U.S. Counterterrorism Approaches to International and Domestic Terror Groups
General Electives		34-29
Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours.
Capstone Requirement		3
POLS 494	Internship Capstone for Political Science
POLS 495	Seminar for Fieldwork and Internships
POLS 499	Capstone Research for Political Science
Total Hours		120

A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Intelligence and National Security Studies can be found here: BA in Intelligence and National Security Studies, or by using the left-side navigation.

A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Intelligence and National Security Studies can be found here: BGS in Intelligence and National Security Studies, or by using the left-side navigation.

At the completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Apply a broad base of disciplinary knowledge (concepts, theories, methods) to promote inquiry, discover solutions, and generate and disseminate new ideas. Identify, describe, and analyze the dynamics that shape politics in local, national, and/or international settings.
• Clearly and effectively articulate thoughts, make arguments, and communicate ideas supported by evidence in a range of contexts using a variety of means and modalities. This includes, but is not limited to, written and oral communication. Recognize the value of feedback and respond to it to improve the effectiveness of future communication.
• Use qualitative and/or quantitative information to identify patterns, evaluate arguments and theories, test hypotheses, and/or formulate and support interpretations. Identify, describe, apply, and analyze common research methods that political scientists use to answer research questions and advance knowledge.
• Develop critical and reflective awareness of how political science research analyzes social and cultural differences (including ability, language, class, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, ethnicity, indigeneity, and/or race) across communities and countries. Identify, explain, and analyze how political science incorporates and studies these differences.

1.Eligibility:

Undergraduate majors in the department with senior standing, a minimum 3.5 GPA in Political Science and a minimum 3.25 overall GPA are eligible to enroll in departmental honors work.  These GPA levels also must be achieved at the end of the candidates's final semester for both in-residence and combined work. 

2.Procedures:

Majors wishing to pursue the honors program must file a declaration of intent form with the department's Undergraduate Studies Coordinator no later than at enrollment for the final semester of undergraduate study. Normally students will be expected to enroll at the beginning of their senior year of study, for two consecutive semesters.

Students pursuing honors will enroll in POLS 498 Honors Thesis, with an individual faculty member who has agreed to serve as thesis adviser, thus accepting responsibility for directing the honors research project. Enrollment for 3 hours for two consecutive semesters in POLS 498 is usually expected. In unusual cases students may enroll for 6 hours in one semester, doing all the thesis work in that period.

3.Requirements for graduation with honors:

Completion of a written research project which has been read and approved by a committee of at least three members of the College faculty (of whom at least two must be political science faculty, including thesis advisor). The committee will then certify successful completion of the honors thesis enrollment. Work considered by the project director to be less than "A" quality will not be considered for honors and will not be presented to the committee for approval. The written report is expected to be more than an extended term paper, while something less than a graduate-level thesis. It must reflect analysis and perceptive understanding of the subject matter being studied.

4.Research timetable:

It is strongly recommended that students follow a relatively strict schedule in completing their research studies, in order to avoid having the honors oral examination come very late in the final semester.  The following timetable is recommended:

1. A research design should be submitted by the middle of the first semester of enrollment.
   1. At the latest, the first draft of the written report should be completed approximately 2 months before the end of the semester in which honors are to be awarded (e.g., March 15, or October 15)
   2. At the latest, the final draft of the written report should be completed 1 month before the end of the semester in which honors are to be awarded.