Hi, I’m really interested in JMU’s Intelligence Analysis program. Would anyone in the program be able to tell me what they like/ dislike about the program, and if they feel like it will actually help them in the field of IA? Also, how hard was it to get in and what does admission to the major looks for in a student? Thanks!!
My son started the program this year. He enjoys it. Full Admission to IA occurs after Fall Year 2. The top students (based on their grades in IA 200, IA 240, and IA 261) will be invited to continue. (A minimum grade of “C” is required in all of thee three courses, but higher will likely be needed to be among those chosen. Ties will be broken by grades in one’s statistics class. Declare IA by the February 15th prior to the fall semester in which you wish to begin taking IA courses. The IA program’s focus is analytic methodology: how to think, use technology, assess situations, and communicate your conclusions. For example, an analyst might specialize in the Asia Pacific region and have knowledge of Chinese or Korean. Students with strong skills in languages such as Persian, Arabic, Chinese, or Korean or a student might specialize in the “hard” sciences with a minor in biology or chemistry or CS. He has a 3.3 gpa in IA will minor in CS & maybe Chinese. He applied over Christmas break for an IA intern in summer 2017 at a government agency and was accepted a few weeks ago. Now he is starting the process to get his clearances.
Thank you, this helps a lot!
My son is a Junior IA major and loves it; it can really be universally applied to every type of industry, in additional to national security-related fields. He already did an Honors Internship at the FBI, and is doing a highly selective internship at a top financial company this summer. Professors are great, and high level people come to campus (DIA, CIA, NSA, etc.). It’s a great, unique major offered at JMU.