Module: Intelligence & Nationa Security

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Intelligence & Nationa Security
Module Code	POL1031 (ITS: LG2440)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Law & Government
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module introduces students to intelligence studies by encouraging an appreciation of the many important roles that intelligence plays for states’ national security. The module begins by introducing the conceptual foundations of intelligence and situating intelligence activity as a core function of states’ security. It provides an overview of the intelligence process while assessing intelligence’s influence on states’ bilateral and multilateral cooperation and policy-making. The traditional intelligence activities of counterintelligence and covert action are addressed along the traditional challenges of intelligence failure and surprise. Targeted assassinations, rendition and surveillance provide and introduction to intelligence oversight and the normative debates pertaining to the role of intelligence in liberal democracies. The module concludes with a discussion of new intelligence challenges such as cyber-warfare and cyber-espionage.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E264C27-4772-0001-A0A5-9B9012401074
2. 1. An appreciation of intelligence studies as a dimension of international relations
4. 20,7,6,19
5. 1
6. 1E264C32-80C6-0001-415E-1F9026C81037
7. 2. Knowledge of the traditional dimensions of intelligence activity
9. 20,6,19,9
10. 2
11. 1E264C32-8F8C-0001-A7F9-130052E712E5
12. 3. An understanding of the role that intelligence plays in states’ national security and its influence on foreign policy-making
14. 7,19,11
15. 3
16. 1E264C32-9C4D-0001-ED75-1630E514E2C0
17. 4. Ability to critically engage with scholarly literature on intelligence, security and policy-making
19. 21,11,9,10
20. 4
21. 1E264C32-AB84-0001-8CA7-6EEF53501872
22. 5. An appreciation of contemporary intelligence challenges and its role in warfare
24. 7,8,19,11
25. 5
26. 1E264C32-B939-0001-AF2E-BF70151E1190
27. 6. Awareness of the normative questions that intelligence activities raise for liberal democracies and governance
29. 22,7,23,11
30. 6

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Lecture, Seminars, Tutorials
Independent Study	228	Independent Study and Assessment
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11407	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Eleanor Williams	Module Teacher	Erika Biagini

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	n/a	20%	n/a
Digital Project	n/a	30%	n/a
Essay	n/a	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None