Master of Arts in National Security and Intelligence — Online

The fully online MA in National Security and Intelligence prepares working professionals and career-changers to lead at the intersection of security, law, politics, and civil liberties through an interdisciplinary, practitioner-taught curriculum. You’ll build tradecraft in the intelligence cycle, threat and risk assessment, and policy design/evaluation; choose a track (Strategic Intelligence & Analysis or Homeland Security & Emergency Management); and complete a hands-on capstone tackling real-world challenges.

Arlington, VA Boston, MA Online

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Enrollment
Full-Time, Part-Time
Entry Terms
Fall, Spring, Summer
Completion Time
12-18 Months
F1 Visa Eligible
No
Program Type
Online

Overview

Designed for both active practitioners and career-changers, this fully online MA in National Security and Intelligence develops principled leaders who operate at the intersection of security, law, politics, and civil liberties. Through an interdisciplinary, practitioner-led curriculum, you’ll learn to anticipate emerging threats, make evidence-based decisions, and brief senior stakeholders with clarity and rigor.

What you’ll learn

  • Intelligence cycle tradecraft: collection, analysis, and dissemination

  • Structured analytic methods and research design

  • Threat and risk assessment across cyber, geopolitical, and infrastructure domains

  • Policy development and evaluation grounded in legal and ethical frameworks

  • Clear, concise writing and oral briefings for decision makers

Tracks

  • Strategic Intelligence & Analysis

  • Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Program highlights

  • 100% online format built for working professionals—no campus residency required

  • Courses taught by experienced practitioners (e.g., constitutional lawyers, former White House advisors, CIA and military intelligence professionals)

  • Foundational core plus broad electives suitable for domestic and international students

Experiential learning
All students complete core courses and an experiential capstone that applies classroom learning to real-world problems—such as crafting a national security strategy, developing a cybersecurity plan for a healthcare organization, or designing a tabletop exercise for large public events.

Career Prospects

Occupation Avg. Annual Salary Annual Growth Rate Growth Outlook Sources
Detectives and Criminal Investigators $91,610 8.45% Growing BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
Security Managers $110,120 0.59% Steady BLS, O*NET OnLine
Security Management Specialists $104,210 0.66% Steady BLS, O*NET OnLine

Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace.

This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.

Learn About Getting Real World Experience

Program Curriculum

For details on required courses, concentrations, and electives, please consult the current academic catalog.

Cost and Tuition

$41.3K*

Tuition

Estimated Total Tuition

This is an estimate based on the tuition rates for Academic Year 2025-2026 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time. Select programs at select campuses offer additional scholarships of up to 25% off the listed price for domestic students studying on campus. For more detailed information, please visit Student Financial Services.

For students interested in pursuing financial assistance or educational loans, additional educational costs, known as Cost of Attendance (COA) components, can be included in the calculation of aid and loan eligibility. Components may include food, housing, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, and the cost of obtaining a first professional licensure. You can find comprehensive details on the Student Financial Services website. Please keep in mind that COA can vary significantly depending on academic program, enrollment intensity, and individual circumstances.

Application Deadlines

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:

Domestic Application Guidelines

International Application Guidelines*

*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.

Admissions

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