By Kelsey Corley, Student Editor
The field of international relations has perhaps never played such an important role in society as it does today. With ever-increasing globalization, countries across the globe are more interdependent than ever before, and politics no longer stops at the water’s edge.
The Security and Intelligence Studies program is one of the lesser-known majors offered at King, yet it is one of the few that provides students with a truly global perspective. While studying fascinating topics such as terrorism and counterterrorism, geo-politics, and national security, students in the SIS program further develop critical thinking and analysis skills, and gain experience with disseminating large amount of information.
One of the more advanced classes necessary to complete the major allows student to craft their own covert action plan, which helps students understand threat and risk analysis, as well as handling high pressure situations. “The goal is to inform and challenge students to think critically and be able to defend their ideas and analysis with facts, not to change their whole worldview,” notes Professor Gail Helt, Director of the SIS Department.
Students who do well with an SIS major tend to be forward-thinking, with a genuine curiosity about other countries and cultures. Alumni of the program have gone onto to receive internships and jobs within several different national security agencies, such as the FBI and the DIA; some have also pursued legislative or analytic work, as well as law enforcement.
The King Security and Intelligence Studies Group (KSI) is a student-led organization that helps students not only in their studies but with building connections within the field, such as helping to find internship opportunities and creating business contacts. The group welcomes students pursuing and SIS major, as well as any students passionate about developing their understanding of foreign policy and international affairs.
For more information on the SIS major, visit https://www.king.edu/programs/social-sciences/security-intelligence-studies/, and to learn about KSI visit https://www.king.edu/programs/social-sciences/security-intelligence-studies/.
