Covert Action, HUMINT and the Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation (Taught)

Course Highlights

• Enhances opportunities to develop a professional career in the intelligence and security sectors

• Outstanding flexibility – study offered part time and full time AND by way of distance learning (i.e., online learning)

• The programme welcomes both holders of first degrees or those who have the relevant professional experience

• Pre-recorded lectures enable the student to decide the best time and day to study

• Learning supported by former practitioners and leading international experts who work with NGO’s Governments and security sectors worldwide

If successful in the PGCert, the opportunity to migrate to Master’s programme

• Programme qualifies for ELCAS funding

• Tutorial design enables quality small group student-lecturer engagement.

• Inclusive access to BUCSIS sponsored national intelligence conferences

• Opportunity to study at the world-leading Buckingham Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS)

• Opportunity to transfer and convert Postgraduate Certificate to the MA Covert Action, HUMINT and the Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation programme subject to approval from Programme Lead

To survive, states require effective intelligence collection and covert action capabilities, yet both attract significant controversy. This course will critically and systematically analyse aspects of these capabilities and the attendant practice that are designed to mitigate threats to the state. More specifically, it will explore the state’s use of covert action as a way of limiting or avoiding war, stifling the hostile intentions of enemies, and assisting in progressing the aims of foreign policy. It will explore the types of covert action historically deployed by states, from propaganda to political violence to paramilitary action. It will offer a framework for evaluating the success or otherwise of covert action in an ethical context. It will do this by anchoring the study to real-world case studies while discussing covert actions relationship with national security, civil liberties and wider international power-relations.

Safety, survival and prosperity in an uncertain world, also demands actionable intelligence. Good intelligence can address threat ambiguity. It can assist policymakers in making hard choices in complex and dynamic circumstances. Intelligence can provide clarity over the nature of an adversary’s threat and inform the selection of the most appropriate operational or strategic response.

Accordingly, this course will also explore the use of an established collection discipline, that of human intelligence (HUMINT). It will examine the application of HUMINT in both national security and serious crime operating environments. Aligned to this study of HUMINT is the tradecraft associated with the elicitation of intelligence. The course will undertake a scientific approach to understanding of how and why people are willing to cooperate with the state in terms of the provision of human intelligence. It will investigate the evidence base for techniques adopted to elicit intelligence that aim to maximise the volume and quality of intelligence, interviewee recall and accuracy and the avoidance of deception and deceit.

This Postgraduate Certificate in Covert Action, HUMINT and Psychology of Intelligence elicitation programme builds upon the success of the Centre of Security and Intelligence Studies at Buckingham (BUCSIS) which has established itself as one of the world leaders in educational provision in this subject area. Both the centre and the university at large offer a very diverse environment. With students coming to Buckingham from over 80 countries, it is an ideal situation to learn about matters of international concern and to discuss them with people from differing cultural backgrounds.

Module 1: Covert Action
Understanding and defining covert action
Disinformation, propaganda and fake news
Political Action – regime change and election interference
Covert paramilitary action
Assassinations and targeted killings
Covert Action case studies – UK, USA and Russia, China

Module 2: Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
HUMINT and the law
Informants – identification, recruitment and deployment
Undercover policing
Online HUMINT
Cooperating or assisting offenders
Community intelligence
Operational ethics and HUMINT use

Module 3: The Psychology of Intelligence Elicitation
Detecting lies and deceit
Interview models
Characteristics of good intelligence
Ethics of interrogation
Use of non-coercive elicitation techniques
Motivations for source cooperation

Assessment is constituted by a number of written assignments, including essays on big-picture issues; and short policy-paper exercises submitted online. Tutor support is provided throughout, and there are opportunities to attend workshops and symposia in person at the university for those who are able to do so.

Each student will be assigned a personal tutor with whom online contact, advice and assistance with course work can be accessed throughout the programme. In addition to online contact, students can also take advantage of optional physical workshops at the university for those who are able to attend.

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Course does not award QTS