Department Of Intelligence And Security Science

MAJ DR A ISA

Hod, Intelligence, And Security Science

 Nigerian Defence Academy

The Department of Intelligence and Security Science was established in November 2019 following the approval of the NDA Council. It commenced academic program in September 2020 with 72 RC. Education and Training in the Department is designed to last for Four (4) years for undergraduates and 9 to 18 months for Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Masters in Intelligence and Security (MA ISS) respectively. The BSc in Intelligence and Security Science at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is designed to meet the national security and intelligence needs of military and governmental agencies, engaged in intelligence and security activities.  The goal of this degree is to prepare students for the analytic, operational, research, and investigative intelligence process within the federal government, as well as the military. Given the NDA’s reputation history and affiliations, it is strategically placed to take a prominent leadership role in this emerging academic discipline.

The Postgraduate Programmes in Intelligence and Security Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is designed to meet the national security and intelligence needs of governmental agencies, engaged in intelligence and security activities.  The goal of this degree is to prepare students for the analytic, operational, research, and investigative intelligence process within the federal government, as well as the Private sectors. Given the NDA reputation history and affiliations, it is strategically placed to take a prominent leadership role in this emerging academic discipline.

The aim of intelligence and security studies both at Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degree is to produce both career and non-career professionals who can creatively explore, describe, and explain intelligence issues and the acquisition of transferable knowledge. There are however specific skills or training necessary to achieve those goals which include the ability to determine the sources and type of information, access the information effectively and efficiently, evaluate critically the sources and content of information, effective use and understand the socio-economic and political-legal issues that surround its uses and observe appropriate rules, laws, regulations and policies to the access of information. The acquisition of these skills or training is fundamental and can only be acquired through intelligence education. In addition, the degrees in Intelligence Security and Studies are to develop future security and intelligence professionals with a broad knowledge and understanding of global interrelationships in politics, economics, social change, science and technology, military development, and the implications of these for the security of nation-states and the future of Nigerian society in a globalised world. The programme provides professionals in various fields with the interdisciplinary knowledge to analyse the interactions between all these elements and to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and oral contexts. In the end, they should be able to exhibit innovative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills in issues such as terrorism, security strategy, security governance, intelligence tradecraft, national security issues, intelligence law and ethics, the role and function of intelligence agencies and transnational security threats. The programme core courses impart substantive knowledge and analytic skills required by all professionals in the intelligence community. However, the curriculum for the Intelligence studies programme proposes three instructional elements:

1.  Core courses: Dedicated interdisciplinary courses on intelligence topics that provide the intellectual foundation for advanced work in this field.
2. Cognate courses: Specified courses in related academic fields that provide breadth and depth to intelligence studies.
3. Optional courses: Recommended courses on intelligence topics and other related disciplines that deal with particular issue areas, institutions and policy matters of interest and relevance to intelligence studies.

Intelligence and security studies are one of the fastest-growing areas of academic and public concern. More than ever before, national governments, international agencies, and international corporations need employees with a strong grasp of intelligence and security concerns who can also demonstrate first-rate skills in research and assessment. The professional masters and Postgraduate diploma degrees in Intelligence and Security Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is designed to meet the national security and intelligence needs of military and governmental agencies, engaged in intelligence and security activities, and others who are interested in gaining greater knowledge about the field of intelligence and security studies.  The objective of this degree is to prepare students for the analytic, operational, research, and investigative intelligence process within the federal government, the military, as well as the private sector.

Intelligence and Security Studies also offers you a unique opportunity for practical; policy-oriented graduate study of intelligence issues across the private and public sectors around the world. You will be taught by one of the West African Pioneer University most innovative scholars in intelligence and security studies: experts on covert action and structured analytic techniques. With the knowledge, skills, and understanding to develop your academic and professional potential. A highly committed and enthusiastic teaching team combines broad-ranging expertise in areas such as Intelligence analysis, Intelligence operations, and collections disciplines. Graduates secure jobs in the private and public sector with most pursuing careers in intelligence and security studies. Those already in government employment find the course supports their promotion, commissions or provides new employment opportunities in post-retirement.

Given the NDA reputation history and affiliations, it is strategically placed to take a prominent leadership role in this emerging academic discipline. In addition to the outstanding academic preparation students receive, NDA graduates are especially attractive to the public and private agencies for the following reasons:

• The NDA focus on Principled Leadership is highly valued in the Intelligence Community.
• NDA students learn and are expected to retain high ethical standards, as members of the Intelligence community.

The NDA rigid standards of conduct help ensure that graduates can pass the rigorous background checks required for service in the IC.

The minimum requirement for admission into the BSc degree programme of the Department of Intelligence and Security Science at Nigerian Defence Academy is detailed below:

1. Candidates must have at least 5 credits in not more than 2 sittings in social science subjects which must include English Language, Mathematics, government and economics at the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASCE/NECO/GCE) or its equivalent.
2. All awaiting results candidates are not eligible for admission into the Academy and only Senior Secondary School results of not more than 5 years old are accepted.
3. All candidates must sit and pass JAMB UTME and also the Nigerian Defence Academy Entrance Examination, which now stands as the post–JAMB for NDA and be successful at the Armed Forces Selection Board interview.
4. In addition, all candidates must be at least 17 years old and not more than 21years old in August at the time of entry into the Academy.
5. Applicants must be medically and physically fit, and not below 1.55 metres tall for females and 157 metres tall for males.

Candidates seeking admission into this programme must satisfy the following requirements:

 All candidates must possess at least five (5) credits at G.C.E., level or SSCE or NECO in English Language, Mathematics and any other science subjects at not more than two sittings. 

1.  A Bachelor degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy or any other recognized university.

2. Higher National Diploma (HND) with a minimum of Lower Credit level      

   Duration of Programme

   The programme duration is twelve (12) months of two semesters.

Students are expected to offer and pass four (4) units of the project and thirty-two (32) credits units of course work. A minimum of two (2) semesters will be required for coursework. A period of two (2) to three (3) months shall be required for the project during the last semester or after the successful completion of course work

The courses are made up of Intelligence and Security courses. All students are required to pass the courses, which are all core courses and the project work. At the beginning of the second semester, the student is expected to start the project work under the supervision of the approved supervisor.  At the end of the second semester, students are required to defend the project, which will be evaluated by the departmental examination committee. A student shall satisfy both coursework requirements and projects before graduation.  No student shall be permitted to defend his/her project unless he/she has satisfied the coursework requirements

The program structure for PGD in Intelligence Security Studies is as follows:

1. First Semester Students are expected to take basic Intelligence and Security courses.
2. Second Semester, In this semester, the students take more specific courses in Intelligence and Security Studies with a research project on current trends in Intelligence and Security Studies. The students are equally passed through oral defence and examination by the Department.

Intelligence Security Studies Department has the enabling environment and human resource to educate and enforce the vision of this unique programme.

The list of Academic Staff available for the program are.