COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Intelligence and International Security degree at Aberystwyth University provides a comprehensive understanding of global security challenges, international politics, and the role of intelligence in shaping state and non-state responses. In the first year, students develop core analytical skills and foundational knowledge through modules such as Exploring the International 1, War, Strategy and Intelligence, and optional modules including Globalization and Global Development, Politics in the 21st Century, and The Making of the Modern World. In the second year, the focus shifts to more advanced topics in strategy, intelligence, and security, including the study of nuclear weapons, covert operations, international development, human rights, NATO, climate governance, and comparative politics, alongside practical simulations and specialised modules exploring war, peace, and global cooperation. Optional modules allow students to deepen their expertise in areas such as US intelligence, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, women in military service, and the evolution of capitalism and international politics. The final year consolidates knowledge and research skills through a dissertation, supported by core and optional modules that cover contemporary and historical security issues, diplomatic leadership, covert operations, and strategic intelligence studies. Across the three years, students gain a robust understanding of international security, critical thinking abilities, and practical insights into intelligence and strategy, preparing them for careers in intelligence, security analysis, policy-making, and related fields.