As global threats continue to evolve, governments and private organizations face growing pressure to safeguard people, infrastructure, and sensitive information. The Bachelor of Science in Global Security & Intelligence Studies (GSIS) is designed to prepare students for leadership roles across the intelligence, security, and law enforcement landscape, equipping them with practical skills and real-world insight.
Program Overview
The GSIS degree addresses the increasing need for professionals trained to assess risk, analyze intelligence, and respond to complex security challenges. Graduates are prepared for careers in both public service and the private sector, with pathways into intelligence analysis, homeland security, emergency management, corporate security, and federal, state, or local law enforcement.
What sets this program apart is its emphasis on applied learning. Courses are led by faculty members with extensive professional experience, including former intelligence officers, federal agents, security executives, and international affairs specialists. Students gain hands-on experience through realistic case studies and applied projects that mirror the demands of today’s security environment.
What Students Will Learn
The curriculum blends analytical thinking, technical knowledge, and leadership development. Students in the program learn how to:
- Produce professional intelligence reports and briefings
- Evaluate threats, vulnerabilities, and risk exposure
- Apply investigative methods and effective interviewing techniques
- Understand national and international security challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, and asymmetric conflict
- Plan and manage security and emergency operations
- Design integrated security solutions using access control, surveillance systems, alarms, and physical barriers
- Build project management expertise, including the opportunity to earn an industry-recognized certification
These competencies prepare graduates to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
Career Pathways and Employers
Graduates of the Global Security & Intelligence Studies program are well positioned to enter a wide range of security-focused professions. Common career roles include intelligence analyst, security operations specialist, corporate investigator, emergency management professional, physical security consultant, and security manager.
Embry-Riddle reports that nearly 96% of GSIS graduates secure employment or pursue further education within one year of completing the program. Alumni have gone on to work with prominent employers such as the FBI, NSA, Defense Intelligence Agency, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Amazon, Intel, and branches of the U.S. military.
Salary Outlook
Graduates with a degree in Global Security & Intelligence Studies often earn strong starting salaries. As of 2022, Embry-Riddle alumni reported an average annual income of approximately $59,000 within their first year after graduation, with earning potential increasing as experience and specialization grow.
A Degree with Real-World Impact
The Bachelor of Science in Global Security & Intelligence Studies offers a direct pathway into meaningful, high-impact careers focused on protecting people, organizations, and nations. By combining expert instruction, practical training, and industry-relevant skills, the program prepares students to meet today’s security challenges—and anticipate tomorrow’s.
