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The Intelligence Community (IC) Scholar Program is a career mentoring program (not a degree or a certificate) meant to augment your current academic activities with a focus on intelligence. Whether you’re starting out in college or already building experience with research and study abroad, the IC Scholar Program helps you focus your efforts toward a career in the IC.
The program’s time commitment is modest, and its requirements are flexible. All your experiences and work, especially the annual internships/study abroad applications and other tasks like that, will be focused on the goal of making you competitive to pursue this prestigious career path. Your experience in this program will help you learn about the IC, develop relevant career skills, and network with knowledgeable people.
IC Access
Learn about how the IC functions and what it is like to work in it through hands-on experiences and opportunities. These include IC-related simulation activities, guided tours of local facilities, presentations by guests experienced with the IC, and more.
IC Skills Training
To help you prepare for the application process, the IC Scholars hold seminars throughout the Fall and Spring semester. These seminars involve both fellow IC Scholars and mentors. The time is used to discuss IC-relevant topics, as well as share practical advice on getting a job in Intelligence. Some seminar topics include: how to present a briefing, getting a security clearance, writing for the IC, how to do analysis, using GIS, as well as resume editing and interview practice.
Career Mentoring
Be more competitive for positions within the IC as a result of this experience. As an IC Scholar, you can navigate your degree and plan your potential career path with the help of an IC-knowledgeable mentor. You will also have priority access to IC recruiters when they are on campus.
International Experiences
Studying abroad, particularly in places where you can learn a critical language, can be one of the best ways to make yourself stand out when applying for these careers. Education abroad programs are available via the Global Experiences office. Meet with an advisor or career coach to find out which destinations best fit with this program.
A Center of Academic Excellence
The IC Scholars was originally part of the Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) initiative sponsored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Now a legacy of this initiative, the IC CAE in the National Security Studies Program was established during 2005 in response to the nation’s increasing need for IC professionals who are educated and trained with the unique knowledge, skills, and capabilities to carry out America’s national security objectives. The goal of the IC Scholars continues to be the recruitment and retention of the best and brightest scholars who seek to serve the public by protecting our citizens and leading this country in the 21st century.
General Competencies
Across a broad range of professional skill sets: data collection, research, analysis, critical thinking, communications, management, strategy and operations.