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  • Defense Studies

PhD in Intelligence, Defense, & Cybersecurity Policy

The PhD in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity prepares students for leadership roles in government, the military, or the private sector.

Our synchronous online curriculum offers extensive core work (with required credit hours in research methods, intelligence studies, cybersecurity policy, and security studies), that will equip students with a strong, broad-based understanding of security studies, especially as it pertains to the national security of the United States and its position in the international arena. Each course will expose students to US policy documents, military doctrine, and academic literature pertinent to the course of study.

Our PhD program in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy offers a robust core curriculum, including essential courses in research methods, intelligence studies, cybersecurity policy, and security studies. You’ll gain hands-on experience by analyzing U.S. policy documents, military doctrine, and cutting-edge research, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to excel in high-level security roles.

Did you know Pamplin’s national defense programs are now recognized by two prestigious organizations? Augusta University’s MAISS and PhD programs are now affiliated with the prestigious Sword and Shield Honor Society and the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE). These distinctions recognize our commitment to excellence in homeland security and intelligence education. These partnerships give students access to national networks, recognition, and leadership opportunities, reinforcing Augusta University’s role as a leader in national defense education.

 

Request InformationApply NowExam Information

 

 

Contact Us

Dr. Craig Albert- Program Director

 Summerville Campus

Allgood Hall

1120 15th St, AH-N309
Augusta, GA 30912

defensestudies@augusta.edu

706-737-1710

Our Course Work 

Classes You Can Take:

Area I: Intelligence Studies

SECR 7200: Us Intelligence Theory and Practice 

SECR 7202: Intelligence and Research Analysis 

SECR 7205: Social Media Intelligence

SECR 7206: Counter-Intelligence Theory and Practice 

SECR 7208: Strategic Intelligence 

Area II: National Defense Studies

SECR 7101: U.S. Grand Strategy and Foreign Policy 

SECR 7104: Domestic Terrorism 

SECR 7105: Advanced Counterterrorism Strategies 

SECR 7106: International Conflict and Security 

SECR 7107: Nationalism, Identity, and Ethnic Conflict 

SECR 7108: Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and International Security 

 

 

View Catalog

Area III: Cybersecurity Policy

SECR 7300: Theories of Cyberwar

SECR 7301: US Cyber Strategy and Policy 

SECR 7302: Comparative Cyber Policy: NATO

SECR 7303: Comparative Cyber Policy: US Adversaries 

SECR 7304: Cyber Intelligence and Theory

SECR 7305: Information Operations and Warfare 

SECR 7308: The Psychology of Cyberspace 

SECR 7309: Social Media Psychology and Propaganda Operations 

Our Faculty

photo of Dr. Craig Albert

Dr. Craig Albert

  • Director of the Program
photo of Patrick Walworth

Patrick Walworth

  • Program Manager
photo of Dr. Valery Dzutsati

Dr. Valery Dzutsati

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Dr. John “Jay” Heslen

Dr. John “Jay” Heslen

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Dr. Lance Hunter

Dr. Lance Hunter

  • Professor
photo of Dr. Weeda Mehran

Dr. Weeda Mehran

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Dr. Reyhan Topal

Dr. Reyhan Topal

  • Assistant Professor

Recent Publications

Publication
​

Effects of differential contacts with the criminal legal system on mental health outcomes of adolescents and young adults: A fixed-effects model

Velez Oliveira, R. L. & Culatta, E., Jun 17 2026, In: PloS one.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

An advocacy coalition framework analysis of local government autonomy in Nigeria

Ikpebe, E., Boykin, E., Osei-Kojo, A. & Peters, B. U., Jun 2026, In: Policy Sciences. 59, 2, p. 417-437 21 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Political Ideology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Labor Markets: How Political Party Members Perceive AI’s Effects in OECD Countries

Hunter, L. Y., Jun 2026, In: Political Research Quarterly. 79, 2, p. 410-425 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Sex differences in the coherence of PCL5 and CAPS-5 assessments for post-traumatic stress disorder

Bakshi, B., Nalloor, R., McCall, W. V. & Vazdarjanova, A., Mar 2026, In: Psychiatry Research. 357, 116890.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Terrorism and U.S. and Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment in the Developing World

Lu, K., Biglaiser, G. & Hunter, L. Y., Feb 2026, In: Global Policy. 17, 1, p. 81-93 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Information Warfare and Influence Operations

Albert, C. D., 2026, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. Oxford University Press, (Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

​

Evading Detection or Triggering False Alarms? A Character-Level Adversarial Attack on LLM Detection of Arabic Social Media Bots

Melhem, A., Aleroud, A. & Albert, C. D., 2026, The 59th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Proceedings. .

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

​

Disrupting the Nation as Self: Russia’s Attack on Ukrainian Ontological Security through Information Warfare

Celestino, O. & Albert, C. D., 2026, In: Journal of Information Warfare.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Not Going Back Public Opinion on Abortion in Post-Dobbs America

Elder, L., Greene, S. & Lizotte, M.-K., 2026, Temple University.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

Overcoming stigma: the role of responsiveness in transgender identity disclosure

Reif-Stice, C. E., Culatta, E., Venette, S., Smith-Frigerio, S., Ellefsen, A. & Butauski, M., 2026, In: Communication Quarterly. 74, 3, p. 264-287 24 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Preparing for Future Wars: Incongruent Beliefs on Autonomous Weapons

Godbolt, N., Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y. & Morris, J., 2026, In: Prism: The Journal of Complex Operations .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Rethinking Budgeting? An Analysis of Budget Theory and Reform for Modernizing Municipal Practice

Boykin, E., McCue, C. & Goldman, D., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Public Administration Review.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The United States, China, and Global AI Governance

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D. & Antilla, R., 2026, Handbook on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

​

The curious public administrator and positive public administration: two frameworks to guide policy design and practice

Hatcher, W., 2026, In: Policy Design and Practice. 9, 2, p. 244-251 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

​

AI, monitoring, and the public workplace

Boykin, E., Hatcher, W., Hunter, L., Meares, W. L. & Ginn, M. H., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Administrative Theory and Praxis.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Recidivism among Violent Offenders: Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Psychological and Social Risk Factors

Velez Oliveira, R. L., C. Reid, J., Brown, S. & Mims-Beliles, B., 2026, In: Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology. 12, 2

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

GraphRAG-Based NLP at Risk: Graphemic Dot-Level Adversarial Attack on Arabic Sentiment and LLM Retrieval-Augmented Models

Melhem, A., Aleroud, A. & Albert, C. D., 2026, Social Networks Analysis and Mining - 17th International Conference, ASONAM 2025, Proceedings. An, A., Cuzzocrea, A. & Hu, H. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 252-263 12 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; vol. 16322 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

​

Work-Life Balance in the Public Sector: Burnout, Public Service, and the Search for Compassionate Organizations

Hatcher, W. & Meares, W. L., Jan 1 2026, Taylor and Francis. 108 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

Mirrorball Politics: How Taylor Swift Reflects America's Partisan and Gender Divides

Elder, L., Greene, S., Gulati, J. & Lizotte, M. K., Dec 2025, In: Social Science Quarterly. 106, 7, e70108.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Understanding factors associated with the decision not to bid – empirical tests and strategies for improving public procurement

Boykin, E., McCue, C., Atkinson, C. L. & Prier, E., Nov 10 2025, In: Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management. 37, 5, p. 676-695

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The Polarization Paradox: How State Wealth and Online Media Consumption Affect Polarization

Hunter, L. Y., Jul 1 2025, In: World Affairs. 188, 3, WAF270019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Elite corporate networks and CEO compensation: the causes and consequences of CEO pay premiums

Henriksen, L. F., Poulsen, T. & Avent-Holt, D., Jul 1 2025, In: Socio-Economic Review. 23, 3, p. 1113-1139 27 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Intentions to Seek Healthcare Following Sexual Assault: Understanding Stigma as a Barrier

Culatta, E., Reif-Stice, C. & Boyle, K. M., Jun 2025, In: Social Currents. 13, 3, p. 156-171 16 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Tuition‐Free College Policies and Workforce Diversity: How Policy Incentives and Environmental Favorability Shape Representation

Boykin, E. & Bell, E., 2025, In: Public Administration Review. p. 1-16

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Online government disinformation, censorship, and civil conflict in authoritarian regimes

Hunter, L. Y., Topping, K. & Hosny, Y., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Media, War and Conflict. 17506352251351579.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

The Cuban Tourism Industry: Evolution, Challenges, and Prospects

Spadoni, P., Jan 1 2025, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 337 p.

Research output: Book/Report › Book

​

“Cyber-Enabled Education Operations: Towards a Strategic Cybersecurity Curriculum for the Social Sciences”

Albert, C. D. & Heslen, J. J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Political Science Education.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Defending Health Security: Securing Healthcare Infrastructure against Ransomware

Pavlova, P. & Albert, C. D., 2025, In: Cyber Defense Reivew.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Editor's introduction to the issue: Volume 44, Issue 2

Murray, G. R., 2025, In: Politics and the Life Sciences. 44, 2, p. 142 1 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

​

Coalitional Utility of Formidable Men as a Function of Perceived Humor Styles

Brown, M., Stewart, P. A. & Murray, G. R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Psychological reports.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

INNOVATION AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ∙ Introduction to the Special Issue

Tátrai, T., Boykin, E., McCue, C. & Prier, E., Jan 1 2025, In: European Procurement and Public Private Partnership Law Review. 20, 1, p. 6-7

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Analyzing Influence Operations on Facebook: An Exploratory Study

Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y., Mullaney, S. & Mays, M., 2024, In: Digital War.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Year-End Spending Spikes and Single Bid Procedures: An Analysis of Public Procurement in the European Economic Area

Lofaro, R. J., Boykin, E. A., McCue, C. P. & Prier, E., Jun 1 2023, In: Public Finance and Management. 21, 2, p. 135-166

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Public procurement and European Union integration: a systematic review

Boykin, E. A., May 19 2023, In: Journal of European Integration. 45, 4, p. 613-632

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

A Lesser-Known Arms Race: the Military Application of Artificial Intelligence in Non-Major Power Developed States and the Implications for Global Security

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D., Rutland, J. & Hennigan, C., 2023, In: International Journal of Security Studies & Practice .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Towards a General Theory of Ethnic Conflict: Explaining Identity and Violence in Chechnya

Albert, C. D., 2023, In: International Journal of Security Studies & Practice .

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Weaponizing Words: Using Technology to Proliferate Information Warfare.”

Albert, C. D., Hunter, L. Y., Mullaney, S., Huitt, J. & Snider, L., 2023, In: Cyber Defense Reivew.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Democracy and Cyberconflict: How Regime Type Affects State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

Hunter, L. Y., Albert, C. D., Garrett, E. & Rutland, J., 2022, In: Journal of Cyber Policy.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Competitive Public Procurement during COVID-19: The Unique Political and Policy Experience of the United States

McCue, C., Boykin, E. & Prier, E., Jul 1 2021, In: European Journal of Public Procurement Markets. 1, 3, p. 81-97

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

​

Assessing European Union standardization: a descriptive analysis of voluntary ex ante transparency notices

Prier, E., McCue, C. & Boykin, E. A., May 7 2021, In: Journal of Public Procurement. 21, 1, p. 1-18

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

View All Publications.

In The News

men shaking hands

AU and U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence expand partnership

AU and U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence expand partnership
A man in a suit stands in the entryway to a large room filled with computer workstations.

Albert named higher education ambassador by Council on Foreign Relations

Albert named higher education ambassador by Council on Foreign Relations
Three people are gathered around a computer screen with one man sitting at the keyboard. A man in a suit is leaning on the table the computer is sitting on while a woman looks on.

AU to launch new PhD in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy

AU to launch new PhD in Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy

 

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