Revised 05/2025

ADJ 252 - Counterintelligence Concepts for Law Enforcement and National Security (3 CR.)

Course Description

Studies the role national security agencies and law enforcement play in counterintelligence programs to identify and thwart hostile criminal activities against United States citizens, businesses, corporations, and U.S. national interests by foreign governments, organizations, and individuals. Focuses on the role of ethical and moral counterintelligence activities and investigations in a democratic society. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

This course is intended for students desiring a broad understanding of the investigative and operational components of counterintelligence operations. Students intending to seek employment in federal investigative agencies, large police departments, or security departments of large corporations will have employment potential enhanced with knowledge of this course content. Likewise, students already employed in these agencies will benefit from increased job advancement possibilities. This course provides a broad overview of the history of counterintelligence and acquaints the student with an understanding of the four main functions of counterintelligence operations. Discussions, based on open-source materials, will show how to identify hostile foreign activities directed against the United States, penetrate and neutralize their operations, and exploit the situation for political and security reasons. Case studies of actual counterintelligence investigations will be utilized to illustrate the four main concepts of counterintelligence operations.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

None.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Identify the reasons why a country or major business needs a counterintelligence capability, and why a country needs a national security strategy.
  • Recite and explain the four main objectives of counterintelligence programs.
  • Describe how counterintelligence is conducted in a democratic society which has respect for constitutionally-imbedded principles for national security operations.
  • Identify the role counterintelligence plays in the overall national security strategy of the United States, and its importance in securing U.S. national interests.
  • Identify at least 15 traits of a professional counterintelligence officer.
  • Identify and describe the new role local law enforcement plays in counterintelligence investigations in the United States.
  • Explain the relevance of the Joint terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and Fusion Center in the conduct of national security investigations.
  • Explain the guidelines and ethical issues involving eavesdropping, information retention in files, and covert action.
  • Discuss how motivation plays a dominant role in the commission of espionage or sabotage.
  • Describe the differences between strategic and tactical operations and identify five examples of each.
  • Describe the personal, professional, and academic preparation necessary for a career in counterintelligence.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Historical successes and failures in counterintelligence
  • The FBI's historic and changing role in counterintelligence
  • Counterintelligence objectives of identification, penetration, neutralization, and exploitation.
  • The September 11, 2001 counterintelligence failures
  • Local law enforcement's emerging adaptation of counterintelligence methodologies to investigate and prosecute organized crime, drug cartels, and corrupt business organizations.
  • Counterintelligence myths and realities
  • Traits of a professional counterintelligence officer
  • Terminology used in the world of intelligence and counterintelligence
  • Counterintelligence legal authority and guidelines
  • National security threats to the United States
  • Information classification at the confidential, secret, and top-secret level
  • Open-source identification and examination of sources, methods, and techniques
  • Careers in counterintelligence. Comparison of foreign counterintelligence organizations

Optional Topics

  • On-campus role plays and counterintelligence scenarios
  • Field trip to a law enforcement or federal national security agency.
  • Utilization of guest speakers in class