Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Intelligence, Strategy, International Security

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Intelligence, Strategy, International Security

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based intelligence, strategy, and security theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Intelligence, Strategy, and International Security is an advanced interdisciplinary program designed to prepare scholars and practitioners to engage with complex geopolitical landscapes. Students analyze the intersection of global security, intelligence operations, and strategic policy through the lens of ethical leadership, stewardship, and justice. The program emphasizes rigorous analytical inquiry, historical context, and the synthesis of intelligence theory with professional ethical responsibility.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Intelligence, Strategy, International Security is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based intelligence, strategy, and international security theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based intelligence, strategy, and international security-support programs.
• Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, and a successful oral defense.
• DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Dissertation Prospectus Development

• 4
• RES800
• INT830
• Intelligence Operations in Conflict Zones
• 4
• INT725
• HIS840
• Diplomatic History and International Security
• 4
• HIS730
• EDU850
• Instruction and Training in Security Agencies
• 4
• None
• RES810 — Dissertation Prospectus Development: Guided instruction for developing a robust dissertation proposal. Students refine their research questions and methodologies in consultation with faculty mentorsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• INT830 — Intelligence Operations in Conflict Zones: Provides an in-depth examination of fieldwork, operational security, and intelligence ethics in volatile regions. Discusses the moral dilemmas inherent in covert operationsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• HIS840 — Diplomatic History and International Security: Examines the evolution of diplomatic relations and international treaties. Evaluates the role of international law in shaping modern security strategiesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• EDU850 — Instruction and Training in Security Agencies: Explores the pedagogical strategies used in educating professional intelligence and security personnel. Focuses on curriculum design and ethical leadership trainingThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Research I

• 4
• RES810
• INT850
• Regional Security Seminar
• 4
• STR720
• ETH860
• Ethics of Power and Force
• 4
• ETH705
• COM870
• Strategic Communication in Global Security
• 4
• None
• DIS890 — Dissertation Research I: Initial phase of independent research for the doctoral dissertation. Focuses on data collection and the primary analysis of key findings under faculty supervisionThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• INT850 — Regional Security Seminar: Focuses on the specific security challenges of a selected world region. Students synthesize their knowledge of intelligence and strategy to propose regional policy solutionsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• ETH860 — Ethics of Power and Force: Analyzes the moral considerations of using hard and soft power in international relations. Encourages deep reflection on the proportionality and necessity of military actionThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• COM870 — Strategic Communication in Global Security: Evaluates the impact of messaging and public perception on security policy. Develops communication strategies that promote stability and clarity in international relationsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Completion II

• 4
• DIS890
• STR880
• Advanced Strategic Synthesis
• 4
• STR720
• ORG890
• Organizational Leadership and Public Service
• 4
• None
• INT895
• Global Security Trends and Policy Future
• 4
• STR720
• DIS895 — Dissertation Completion II: Culminating research phase focused on drafting the final manuscript and preparing for the oral defense. Emphasizes the synthesis of academic research and ethical conclusionsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• STR880 — Advanced Strategic Synthesis: Capstone seminar integrating all aspects of intelligence, strategy, and security. Requires students to demonstrate mastery through comprehensive strategic analysis projectsThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• ORG890 — Organizational Leadership and Public Service: This course examines evidence-based models of ethical leadership and administrative capacity building within public and civic sectors. The curriculum focuses on management practices that foster organizational resilience, stakeholder engagement, and altruistic professional service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• INT895 — Global Security Trends and Policy Future: Analyzes emerging trends in international security and the future of global policy. Challenges students to provide foresight-based strategies to address potential crisesThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..

Dissertation Requirement

• The dissertation represents the pinnacle of the doctoral experience, requiring an original, rigorous research contribution that advances the field of intelligence, strategy, and security. Students must identify a specific, complex geopolitical challenge and conduct an independent study that demonstrates mastery of research methodology and synthesis. The project integrates faith-based perspectives by requiring candidates to evaluate how their findings serve the broader mission of human flourishing, justice, and the responsible stewardship of global resources.
• The dissertation process spans the final year of the program and carries significant credit weighting, reflecting its intensity and scope. Students work closely with a faculty committee to ensure the research is both academically robust and ethically sound, emphasizing the application of servant leadership principles and a commitment to integrity in public service. The final deliverable serves as both a demonstration of advanced academic competence and a testament to the candidate’s development as a faith-informed, morally grounded scholar-practitioner.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES700 | Advanced Research Methods in Security | 3 | None
• INT710 | Intelligence Theory and Operations | 3 | None
• ETH705 | Ethical Frameworks in Global Governance | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• STR720 | Strategic Planning for National Security | 4 | RES700
• INT725 | Intelligence Analysis and Forecasting | 4 | INT710
• JUS715 | Comparative Theories of Restorative Justice | 4 | None
• HIS730 | Comparative History of Global Conflicts | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES800 | Quantitative Data Analysis for Strategy | 4 | RES700
• INT810 | Cybersecurity and Intelligence Policy | 4 | INT725
• MGT805 | Stewardship in Public Organizations | 4 | ETH705
• SOC820 | Geopolitical Sociology and Human Security | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES810 | Dissertation Prospectus Development | 4 | RES800
• INT830 | Intelligence Operations in Conflict Zones | 4 | INT725
• HIS840 | Diplomatic History and International Security | 4 | HIS730
• EDU850 | Instruction and Training in Security Agencies | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS890 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES810
• INT850 | Regional Security Seminar | 4 | STR720
• ETH860 | Ethics of Power and Force | 4 | ETH705
• COM870 | Strategic Communication in Global Security | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• DIS895 | Dissertation Completion II | 4 | DIS890
• STR880 | Advanced Strategic Synthesis | 4 | STR720
• ORG890 | Organizational Leadership and Public Service | 4 | None
• INT895 | Global Security Trends and Policy Future | 4 | STR720

Career Opportunities

• Senior Intelligence Analyst
• National Security Policy Advisor
• Global Strategy Consultant
• Diplomatic Service Officer
• International Conflict Mediator
• Academic Researcher and Professor
• Non-Governmental Organization Security Director

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ph.D. in Faith-Based Intelligence, Strategy, International Security
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based intelligence, strategy, and security theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours