Master of Arts in Threat Intelligence

Our Master of Arts in Threat Intelligence gives you the latest knowledge and tools to effectively address cybercrime and espionage, sanctions evasion, extremism, money laundering, corruption, and financial crimes. Gain professional experience through real-world projects with this STEM-designated degree that can be completed in 12 months.

What is Threat Intelligence?

Threat intelligence is the detection, deterrence, and prevention of a broad range of threats that can impact a state or organization’s operations, assets, and overall security. Threat intelligence involves gathering, analyzing, and applying information about various physical, geopolitical, economic, and social threats using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods. 

Transform Your Career

Advising

Your program’s dedicated career advisor will work with you to clarify your career objectives, communicate your strengths, and assess your career readiness. They will help you craft your resumes, cover letters, and online presence, developing your professional network to access the hidden job market. You’ll learn how to interview effectively and negotiate offers. Your advisor will personalize your strategy to align with your unique background and advance your career goals.

Practical Experience

Our graduates are often hired before they complete their program, leveraging real-world projects from their classes and internships to showcase their relevant experience. At the Middlebury Institute, you will not just learn about the “dark web” but you will actively chase crypto wallets. 

• Our research centers and initiatives offer paid graduate research assistantships, summer internships, full-time employment, and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Your practicum is a graduate-level internship in the U.S. or abroad.
• Our Middlebury in DC office provides the entire Middlebury community with a wealth of resources.
• The annual Career Exploration Week in the nation’s capital gives you facilitated and direct access to D.C.-based employers.
• Our large and influential alumni network in Washington, D.C., and other centers of global security are eager to mentor and help you prepare for your next steps.

Careers

You’ll be prepared to work in relevant federal, state, and local government entities, private sector intelligence, consulting, banking, tech, and intergovernmental organizations. Our graduates find meaningful careers at organizations like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, the FBI, Pinkerton, Ciphertrace, KPMG, Google, META, and HSBC. 

Our alumni are in high demand and many are earning $100K+ within a year of graduation.

Learn more about career opportunities.

Curriculum

Our interdisciplinary curriculum covers the full spectrum of contemporary threats, while also emphasizing specific skills, with significant real-world opportunities for you to apply your learning. Build your expertise in:

• Cyber threat analysis
• Quantitative data management and analysis (Python, SQL)
• Data analysis and visualization
• Open source intelligence (OSINT)
• Analyzing satellite imagery
• Blockchain analysis
• Dark web research and sleuthing
• Social media exploitation
• Strategic communications

See curriculum for more details.

Faculty: Professors and Practitioners

Our faculty are regularly featured in the media for their groundbreaking work. They are active practitioners and leading experts in the field, including former intelligence officers, cybersecurity specialists, and globally recognized academic researchers.

While other graduate schools rely on teaching assistants, at the Institute you will have direct access to faculty and collaborate with them on research and projects. They are genuinely committed to your success and will become your mentors and colleagues throughout your education and career. 

Meet your faculty.

Customize Your Threat Intelligence Degree

Our flexible curriculum means you can customize your degree:

• STEM designation allows expanded career opportunities for international students and scholarships for U.S. students.
• Put theory into practice through a semester-long practicum in the field (in the U.S. or abroad).
• Complete your degree in 12 or 16 months.
• Focus your coursework on financial crime, WMD proliferation, and/or terrorism.
• Our partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) gives you access to courses with the Department of National Security Affairs and Department of Defense Analysis.
• Student teams regularly enter the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, which combines interactive policymaking activities with competitive scenarios to analyze cybersecurity threats.

Related Programs

The MA in Threat Intelligence is related to several other programs at the Middlebury Institute:

• MA in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (NPTS): focus on WMD nonproliferation and counterterrorism while developing professional communication skills in a second language in this four-semester, in-person degree program.
• Online MS in Cybersecurity: analyze cyber threats in this part-time, asynchronous, online degree program.
• Introduction to Cybersecurity Communications: learn to convey critical information about cyber threats in this five-to-six-hour, self-paced, asynchronous, online course.

Research and Practice

Build valuable professional experience while earning your degree. We offer paid graduate research assistantships and events at our world-renowned research centers and initiatives including:

• The Cyber Collaborative explores the implications of the cyber domain for national and international security and other policy concerns.
• The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) is the largest NGO in the world devoted to curbing the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
• The Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism (CTEC) conducts in-depth research to provide private and government organizations with an understanding of and responses to terrorism threats.
• The Mixed-Methods Evaluation, Training, and Analysis (META) Lab addresses the growing need for data-savvy professionals across a broad range of fields.
• The Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies enables students with advanced Russian language skills to professionalize their interest in Russia and Eurasia.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

More than 95 percent of students who request scholarship consideration receive institutional support. You may receive merit, need-based, partner, and external scholarships and financial aid, which are available to both U.S. and international students.

The program length and remote practicum option allow you to get back into the workforce—earning a salary—faster and potentially save on housing costs.

Your personal enrollment advisor can help you think through financing this important investment in your career development.

Review tuition costs.

How to Apply

We take a holistic approach when considering your application, looking at your academic background, international exposure, professional experience, and career goals. We welcome applicants with or without work experience, and our program has numerous opportunities for you to gain professional experience before you graduate. This approach aligns with the Institute’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We do not require GRE or GMAT scores for our master’s programs but competitive scores may strengthen your application and positively influence scholarship decisions.

Learn how to apply.