High School Summer Intelligence Programs

Intelligence analysts collect, evaluate, and interpret information to help decision-makers understand potential threats and emerging developments. They examine information from different sources, assess its reliability, identify patterns, and prepare reports or briefings that explain their findings. Their work may involve national security, international affairs, cybersecurity, or criminal investigations. At NSLC, you’ll explore this process by assessing threats and preparing intelligence briefings during a national security crisis exercise.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) focuses primarily on gathering and analyzing foreign intelligence to support national security decisions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal law enforcement and intelligence agency that investigates federal crimes and threats to national security, including terrorism, espionage, and cybercrime. Although their responsibilities sometimes overlap, the CIA primarily operates in foreign intelligence, while the FBI has significant domestic investigative responsibilities. Both contribute information that helps national security officials understand and respond to threats.

Careers in intelligence and national security include intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, counterintelligence, foreign affairs, emergency management, and national security policy. Professionals work in federal agencies, the military, research organizations, and private companies that support security operations. Some investigate threats or analyze information, while others develop policies, protect digital systems, or coordinate responses to emergencies. The field brings together people with backgrounds in technology, international relations, political science, languages, and other disciplines.

There isn’t one required college major for every intelligence or national security career. International relations, political science, cybersecurity, computer science, economics, and foreign languages can all provide relevant foundations, depending on the work you want to pursue. Some universities also offer intelligence studies or national security programs. An interest in analyzing information, understanding global events, or solving complex problems can help you identify which academic direction might be the best fit.

Intelligence professionals evaluate potential threats by comparing information from multiple sources, assessing their reliability, and looking for evidence that supports or contradicts a claim. They also consider what remains unknown and how confident they can be in their conclusions. At NSLC, you’ll put these skills into practice by analyzing intelligence, preparing a Presidential Daily Brief, and making decisions during a National Security Council crisis exercise. You’ll experience how difficult it can be to recommend a course of action when the information available is incomplete.

Intelligence involves gathering and analyzing information to help decision-makers understand situations, risks, and potential threats. National security is the broader effort to protect a country’s people, institutions, interests, and critical infrastructure. Intelligence supports national security, but national security also involves diplomacy, defense, cybersecurity, law enforcement, and public policy. Exploring both fields can help you understand how information becomes part of larger decisions about protecting a nation.