The course examines the U.S. Intelligence Community and its role in national security. It will analyze the intelligence cycle including planning and direction, collection, processing, analysis and dissemination. It will also focus on topics such as warning and surprise, denial and deception, covert action, oversight and the role of policy makers, civil liberties, ethics and accountability and intelligence reform. It will also compare the organization and activities of foreign intelligence agencies with the U.S. model. Many of these topics will be analyzed through the context of current events including the congressional investigation into Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election. The course will also feature high ranking current and former intelligence officials as guest speakers. No prior study of intelligence issues is required.

This course is taught by Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-5), a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the activities of the U.S. intelligence community.