$200
Total certificate cost
Online - self-paced
Learning modality
3-6 Weeks to complete
4 courses
Overview
Graduates of the liberal arts are well-versed in the concept of the “skills gap”: employers are looking for recruits with critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication – especially written communication – skills. While graduates report feeling underprepared in these areas, employers report they are even less skilled than they think they are, causing frustration for employers, jobseekers, and burgeoning professionals new to the workforce.
Although most college graduates know how to conduct research and solve problems, the mismatch happens where this intersects with the need to package it in a concise written product or presentation. These skills are so instrumental to some careers that applications often require applicants to demonstrate they already possess them.
Designed by a former practitioner and expert faculty member from the School of Politics and Global Studies MA in Global Security Program, this four-course series bridges the gap between formal education and the concrete skills needed to be a successful analyst.
About this course
This certificate includes four courses that build on one another to arm the learner with a full set of skills applicable to a wide range of careers in government, policy, and national security. It begins with the general principles of professional analytical writing, includes several short courses on product-specific training for policy and intelligence specialties, and ends with the basics of professional briefing.
Upon completion of the certificate, learners will leave ready to present their ideas, arguments, and analysis in both written and verbal form in a variety of career fields.
Courses within certificate
Writing Policy Memos is a skills-based course designed for new and aspiring professionals in public policy and related fields. While many possess strong research and analytical abilities, writing a policy memo requires a distinct structure, style and approach that differs significantly from academic writing. This course teaches you how to translate your ideas and analysis into clear, actionable written products used to advocate for policy change and support decision-making in real-world government contexts.
You will gain specialized training in producing the concise, purpose-driven communication formats commonly used across national security, intelligence and public sector environments. Whether pursuing a career in policy advocacy, analysis or advising, this course provides essential tools to succeed in roles within government, NGOs, IGOs and similar organizations.
Key Benefits:
- Understand different policy memo types and their purposes
- Transform broad issues into focused, solvable policy problems
- Craft compelling analytical arguments for policy recommendations
What's Included:
- Video lectures with knowledge checks and practical exercises
- Real-world policy memo examples and templates
- Structured guidance on objective and advocacy memo formats
- Downloadable resources and writing worksheets
Whether you're new to policy writing or refining existing skills, this course prepares you to communicate effectively with decision-makers through well-structured policy memos.
Who this certificate is designed for
- Intelligence analysts seeking to refine written and verbal communication skills
- Policy professionals writing memos and briefs for decision-makers
- Military personnel transitioning to intelligence or policy roles
- Government employees working in national security agencies
- Defense contractors requiring strong analytical writing abilities
- Students preparing for careers in national security fields
Outcomes
By the end of this certificate, you’ll be able to:
- Apply analytical writing principles to policy memos, intelligence reports and professional essays
- Identify different types of security documents and adapt content to purpose
- Transform complex issues into clear, actionable written names
- Present analytical arguments and recommendations effectively
- Structure and edit professional documents following sector standards
- Design and deliver professional briefings with effective visuals
Connect with our team
Complete a brief form to get program recommendations and answers to your questions.