EXPLANATION OF THE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM, DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06213A000400030002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: May 9, 1973
• Content Type: MF

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9 May 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Training
THROUGH : Executive Assistant,
Office of Training
SUBJECT : Explanation of the Master's Degree Program,
Defense Intelligence School
ATTACHMENT : Ten enclosures selected from "Board of
Visitor's Report," October 1972.
1. The following paragraphs include a general description of the
Master's Degree Program of the Defense Intelligence School, a status
report on the planning for implementation, and my comments in response
to your questions of 4 May.
BACKGROUND
2. Since at least mid-1971, the administration and faculties of
the DIS have been considering the feasibility and advisability of estab-
lishing a Master's Degree program in intelligence. Various objections
were raised to other approaches to the advanced degree concept:
establishment of cooperative program with a recognized university and
other forms of transfer of accreditation for Service experience. The
DIS Board of Visitors has pressed for some kind of accreditation for
the Postgraduate (nine-month) Course and at the last meeting in October
1972 approved, and recommended for implementation, the program as out-
lined on enclosure ten.
PURPOSE
3. Essentially, the program is intended to recognize meaningful
scholarship at the graduate level, for a selected group of officers,
based on satisfactory completion of certain requirements. (see Degree
Requirements on enclosures six and seven) At the present time, it is
envisaged that at least 20 officers enrolled in the Postgraduate Intelli-
gence Course beginning this Semptember, will have received a "Master's
Degree in Strategic Intelligence" within the next three years.
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CURRICULUM FOR MASTER'S DEGREE
P ,:t7 it MORN L Li
4. The curriculum of the 38-week Postgraduate Course is to be
the core of the program and is described in outline on enclosures three
and four. It will be noted that some six weeks will be given to the
fundamentals of intelligence, 26 weeks to intelligence operations
(collection, analysis, and dissemination) and six weeks for intelligence
management. Approximately 1400 instructional hours (30 formal academic
hours) will comprise the formal instruction and classroom activities.
The practicum/thesis will constitute an additional six academic hours
but will be accomplished outside the DIS environment. In all of this
educational program, however, the administration and faculty of the DIS
will be responsible for the conduct and evaluation of the student
activities. Faculty guidance and evaluation is critical at all points
in the program. It is to be remembered that the 38-weeks of instruction
include a significant input of non-DIS speakers and instructors, both
civilian and military. CIA alone will, as in the past, supply a large
number of curriculum presentations in the Postgraduate Course with
especially heavy inputs from the Operations and Intelligence Directorates.
CURRENT STATUS
5. The current status of the planning for implementing the degree
indicates it is "on track." (see enclosure nine) I was informed by
Dr. Plumb, educational advisor at DIS, that the Director, DIA has re-
eently signed off on the entire program and it is now being presented
to Dr. Hall, Aset. Sec. of Defense for Intelligence, for approval and
consideration of the necessary legislation. I understand that Congress
has to approve the program since the DIS is a chartered institution of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The American Council on Education and the
U.S. Office of Education both have indicated their favorable approval;
and the letter will have an evaluation role in the form of a review
committee.
6. My own views on the success of the Master's Degree program
are as follows:
I believe that the DIS will be successful in implementing
the program this September. If any delays occur, the degree
could be awarded retroactively (a year or so after graduation).
There appears to be a flow of high quality students from
the Military Services that would make the program a worth-
while educational effort. Whether the degree in "Strategic
Intelligence" can be given academic importance outside the
defense establishment remains a question. There is also the
possibility that it could be opened up to civilian students
in the Postgraduate Course; currently there are none.
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Although enclosure eight indicates that the Defense
Intelligence School has "adequate resources to ensure a
quality program" I have some personal reservations.
Both the library and other research support, together
with some inadequacies in the number of available quali-
fied faculty members, may be problem areas for the School.
There is still a great amount of personnel turbulence in
the instructional staff (rotation, etc.). In my view the
tours are not long enough nor, in the case of some of these
officers, are they career-enhancing. More stability is
needed; perhaps more civilians on the faculty might help
the program. These need not be permanent staff but rotated
in from other elements of DIA or perhaps the intelligence
community.
I believe that some additional support from CIA (very
modest I think) through my liaison position might be re-
quested as the program gets underway. This could take the
form of seminar leaders, resource speakers, and some analyti-
cal review of papers or briefings. Over the past two years
I have been giving a modest amount of such support, either
personally or through officials upon which I draw from the
Agency.
7. In consulting with both Capt. Furnas and Dr. Plumb on this
matter I was given assurances by both that they would be happy to supply
any additional briefing on the progress of their program at any future
date. In this connection, I have in my possession one copy of the official
"Board of Visitors Report" dated October 1972, which I can make available
to you for limited OTR circulation. In addition to this document, I will
be available to brief you or anyone else on more details of the program
based on curriculum sessions that I was asked to attend.
ST
Attachment as stated
(with original only)
Defense Intelligence School
5N! W
ANT NAL
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1. Master's Degree Program
a. Conclusion:
The Board agrees that satisfactory progress has been made
in planning a curriculum, establishment of academic standards and
administrative procedures, and development of a schedule of imple-
mentation for the awarding by the Defense Intelligence School of a
Master of Science in Strate is Intelli ence. It is believed that
the existing Postgraduate Intelligence Course with minor modifications
and the addition of a one-year practicum more than meet the require-
ments for the degree.
b. Recommendation:
The Board urges that this Master's degree program be pursued
vigorously on the schedule proposed (Enclosure Nine), and that the
degree program be Plan A with minor modifications as suggested in
this report and set forth in toto in Enclosure Ten.
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 A.MASTER'' DEeEE R1OC1 tAM GONCEp1 A00QQ~0030002-5 .
1. Proposed by Board of Visitors
POSTGRADUATE INTELLIGENCE COURSE (9 months)
"INTERNSHIP" (1 - 3 years)
ADVANCED COURSE (3 months)
ORALS
THESIS
2. Proposed as alternatives
PLAN A.
(9 months)
"PRACTICUM" (1 Year)
TWO INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH PAPERS
ORALS
PLAN B.
POSTGRADUATE INTELLIGENCE COURSE (9 months)
ONE INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH PAPER
THESIS (3 - 6 rrionths)
ORALS
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CURRICULUM
OF
POSTGRADUATE INTELLIGENCE COURSE
(38 Weeks)
Part I 6 weeks Defense Intelligence Officers Introductory Course
Nature
Tools
Structure
Substance
Processes
of Intelligence
Part II 26 weeks Defense Intelligence Operations Course
Strategic Intelligence (1 week)
Intelligence Cycle (4 weeks)
USSR Threat (3 weeks)
PRC Threat (2 weeks)
Foreign Intelligence Services (1 week)
Area Assessments (2 weeks)
Insurgency (2 weeks)
Intelligence Support by Joint
Operational Forces (10 weeks)
Electives (1 week)
Part III 6 weeks Defense Intelligence, Management Course
Principles of Management (3 weeks)
Management of Intelligence (3 weeks)
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POSTGRADUATE INTELLIGENCE COURSE
CURRICULUM
CONVERSION TO GRADUATE CREDITS
3 hours Principles of Strategic Intelligence
(Nature, History and Structure)
3 hours Methodologies of Intelligence Research
(Communication skills and analytical process)
6 hours Strategic Intelligence Cycle
(Collection, Production and Dissemination)
6 hours Problems of Strategic Intelligence Assessment
(Threat Assessment, Free World Assessment, and
Foreign Intelligence Services)
6 hours
3 hours
3 hours
TOTAL
Intelligence for Joint Operations
Intelligence Management
30 Academic Hours
(38 weeks/ 1, 330 Instructional Hours)
6 Academic Hours Practicum/Thesis
36 Academic Hours
*(Note: 30 Academic Hours Equals Approximately 340 Iinstr,uctional Hours)
lsure Four
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MASTER'S DEGREE TITLE
DEGREE TITLE.
- 'Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI)
RATIONALE
Does not compete with existing degree or program
Stresses role of Defense Intelligence School
Has academic stature
Reflect School's antecedents
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MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM PREREQUISITES
Prerequisites for Admission:
1. Undergraduate Degree with at Least "C" Average
2. Satisfactory score on Graduate Record Examination
3. Evidence of graduate level writing ability
4. Volunteer for the program
(Preference will be given to (1) Intelligence Careerists and (2) those
who do not already pot3sess a, graduate degree)
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MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM
Requirements for continued Good-Standing:
1. Maintain a "B" Average in the Postgraduate Intelligence Course
2. Complete a course in Research Methodology
3. Enroll in two electives
4. Intelligence Research Paper must fulfill standards of
scholarly writing
5. Participate actively in an "on-the-job" intelligence practicum
or submit an acceptable thesis proposal
6. Have recommendation of faculty advisor
Requirements for Graduation:
1. Graduate from the Postgraduate Intelligence Course with
a "B" average or higher
2. Complete either a one-year intelligence practicum under
faculty guidance or an unclassified'thesis
3. Pass oral examination by committee of five
4. All work to be completed within 3 years of enrollment in program
Enclosure Seven
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KEY ACCREDITATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR
MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN INTELLIGENCE
Degree is a terminal degree
Degree cannot be obtained from existing non-federal
institutions of higher learning
Curriculum does not duplicate existing graduate programs
Degree is essential to accomplishment of program objectives
of applying agency
Academic standards of degree program must rnt et those. of
graduate schools
Faculty and students are free to conduct their research
activities in an objective and unbiased manner
School resources are adequate to ensure a quality program:
Faculty
Library
Facilities
Institutional Administration
Finances
Enclosure Eight
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O LS AND SCHEDULE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND APPROVAL OF
MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN INTELLIGENCE
FY-73 OCT 72 Present concept to and seek counsel of
Board of Visitors
MAY 73 Complete coordination actions and finalize
degree concept
FY-74 JULY 73 Acquire approval to proceed from OSD
SEP 73 Inaugurate "Pilot" Master's Program
OCT 73 Request OED to evaluate program
AUTUMN 73 Evaluation conducted by OED review committee
SPRING 74 Receive OED report and recommendation
FY-75 AUTUMN 74 OSD drafts appropriate legislation
JAN 75 Seek -congressional authorization to award degree
FY-76 Invite Middle-States Association of Colleges
Secondary Schools to accredit program
Enclosure Nine
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 MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM IN INTELLIGENCE
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Degree Title: Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence
Program Concept:
Postgraduate Intelligence Course (9 months)
Practicum in Intelligence (1 year)
Two Original Intelligence Papers
Orals
Prerequisites for Admission:
Undergraduate degree with "B"average or higher
Satisfactory Score on the Graduate Record Examinations
Advancement to Candidacy:
Maintain "B" average in Postgraduate Intelligence Course
. Complete a course in Research Methodology
? Enroll in two electives
? Intelligence Papers must meet standards of scholarly
research and writing
. Recommendation of Faculty Advisor
Degree Requirements:
Graduate from Postgraduate Intelligence Course
with "B" average or higher
Complete one-year Intelligence Practicum under
faculty guidance
Pass comprehensive oral examination by Committee of Five
Complete all work within three years of enrollment in
program
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