Academic Year 2026-2028 National Intelligence University (NIU) Reserve Component Masters Degree Programs

1.  National Intelligence University (NIU) is an
accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees
in Strategic Intelligence and Science and Technology Intelligence.
NIU is a directorate of the Office of the Director of National 
Intelligence (ODNI), supported administratively by the Defense 
Intelligence Agency (DIA), and located at the Intelligence Community
Campus-Bethesda (ICC-B).  NIU is currently undergoing transfer to be
part of the National Defense University.  The Master of Science of
Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) and the Master of Science and
Technology Intelligence (MSTI) are graduate-level education programs
conducted at NIU.  Successful program completion results in the
awarding of an MSSI or MSTI graduate degree.  NIU's graduate degree
programs include core and elective courses; both the MSSI and MSTI
offer thesis and non-thesis completion options.  The progression of
classes in the part time monthly degree programs is designed to
allow USMCR students to complete all required course work and
completion options in two years.  Marines accepted into the part
time monthly program attend classes in-person at NIU in Bethesda, MD
one weekend per month for 22 months plus two, two-week periods of
annual training.  These graduate degree programs are open to
Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA), Selected Marine Corps
Reserve (SMCR), and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) component
Marines. Active-duty candidates pending reserve affiliation will be
considered as long as their timelines for reserve affiliation will
allow for joining the IMA detachment and matriculation into the
academic program. 
2.  NIU is currently accepting applications for new students for the
MSSI and MSTI programs commencing in the fall term of 2026 for the
Monthly Executive Program (MEP) Cohort 2026-2028. Marines are
encouraged to directly apply to NIU and upon successful acceptance
apply for membership to the NIU Marine IMA Detachment.  
3.  A selection panel convened by the USMCR NIU IMA Detachment
Faculty will review applications in synchrony with NIU's admissions
process.  The panel will provide an endorsement to the Deputy
Commandant for Information (DCI) for the applicants most qualified
to attend the MSSI/MSTI Program for Reserves as a member of the NIU
IMA detachment.  The panel does not make admission decisions for
NIU and applicants must apply and be accepted into NIU's Monthly
Executive MSSI/MSTI at ICC-B in order to join the NIU IMA Detachment.
Applicants who are accepted into the MSSI/MSTI programs outside of
the drilling IMA should be mindful of the challenges of balancing
other USMCR drilling requirements with the demands of the MSSI/MSTI
program. 
3.  Prerequisites for NIU IMA Detachment: 
3.A.  USMCR: 
3.A.1.  Acceptance by NIU into the Monthly Executive MSSI/MSTI
program.  Those waitlisted by NIU will not be considered.   
3.A.2.  Grade:  1stLt to Maj, CWO2 to CWO3, SSgt to GySgt. 
3.A.3.  MOS: Open to any MOS, however, preference will be given to
Marines in the following priorities:                                           
Intelligence, Cyberspace, Space, and Communications military
occupational specialties. 
3.A.4.  Experience:  Minimum five years intelligence, cyber, space,
or communications experience through either military and/or
civilian occupations. 
3.A.5.  Service:  Candidates must have had four satisfactory years
(50 points minimum each year) during the last five years. 
3.A.6.  Officers must not have failed selection for promotion to the
next higher grade and majors must have less than four years' time-
in-grade. 
3.A.7.  Staff Non-Commissioned Officers must be eligible for
re-enlistment and have two years remaining on contract after
graduation. 
3.A.8.  Officers and SNCOs must agree to remain in an intelligence
billet in the reserves (IMA detachment or SMCR unit) for three years
following graduation. 
3.A.9.  Applicants must meet Marine Corps height and weight
standards per MCO 6110.3A. 
3.B.  NIU: 
3.B.1.  Possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
institution. 
3.B.2.  Possess (at the time the candidate submits his/her
application) a Top Secret clearance and be eligible for access to
Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).  Application for
this program is an insufficient justification to request initial
processing for a TS/SCI clearance. 
4.  Applications.  Applicants must submit an application package to
both NIU and DCI, as outlined below:                            
4.A.  Apply to either the MSSI or MSTI program via the procedures
outlined at https://www.niu.edu/admissions-aid/index.shtml.
Questions about the university admissions process, requirements, or
application status must be addressed directly with the NIU Office of
Admissions at NIU_Admissions@niu.odni.gov. 
4.B.  Upon NIU acceptance, coordinate with the DCI POC and
alternate POC listed above to deliver the documents below via a
method approved for PII DOD SAFE https://safe.apps.mil is preferred.    
4.B.1.  Copy of NIU acceptance notification.                         
4.B.2.  Copy of Essay Submission to NIU. 
4.B.3.  Current Reserve Qualification Summary (RQS).             
4.B.4.  Current civilian resume. 
4.B.5.  A favorable endorsement from the applicant's command
(IMA detachment or SMCR), IRR Marines should obtain this endorsement
from the Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity (MCIRSA).
As part of the NIU application process, the applicant's command will
provide a nomination memorandum in NIU's prescribed memorandum
format to NIU. A copy of this nomination memorandum will suffice as
a favorable endorsement. Use the format located at: 
(https://www.ni-u.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NIU-Nomination-
Memorandum-Template.docx.)  
5.  Marines selected to join the DCI IMA Detachment (RUC 88600) will
be provided a Billet Identification Code (BIC) for their transfer
package and will be transferred NLT 1 August 2026. 
5.A.  Selectees will not be transferred to the IMA Detachment until
a confirmation from NIU of the selectee's admission to NIU and
security clearance is confirmed. 
5.B.  Attendance at NIU 12 weekends over a 10-month academic year
is required and will be considered normal drill periods. 
5.C.  Attendees will be required to perform active-duty training at
NIU for 12 days each summer for two consecutive academic years. 
5.D.  NIU students will also be required to complete all Marine
Corps annual training requirements. 
5.E.  Drill attendance sheets, orders requests, and other
administrative requirements associated with this duty will be
processed by DCI. 
5.F.  Applicants located outside the National Capitol Region should
familiarize themselves with which travel expenses are reimbursable for
IMA, IDT, and AT, and plan accordingly.   
6.  These programs do not currently qualify as an Intermediate Level
School (ILS) equivalent. 
7.  Selectees will be notified individually by this Headquarters.
This bulletin is applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve or those
joining the Marine Corps Reserves. This bulletin is cancelled
31 December 2026. 
8.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General J. A. Matos III, 
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.