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Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) Scholars Program

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The Office of the Director of National Intelligence developed the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) program at select universities to help meet the IC's critical need for diverse personnel who possess the technological, analytic and critical language capabilities needed for the 21st Century world.

Virginia Tech is helping develop the pipeline of qualified candidates through a targeted development of pre-collegiate outreach, national security symposiums, basic research in IC-relevant topics, curriculum development, student funding to study abroad, and internship/co-op facilitation with IC agencies, national labs, and related industries.

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iccae opportunities
iccae opportunities

About the IC CAE Program

Students who participate in this program will garner significant benefits to their educational and long-term career goals by:

  • Scholarship opportunities for research, language immersion programs, travel abroad programs, and more
  • Opportunity to visit IC agency headquarters such as the CIA, NSA, NGA, and others
  • Having access to our campus visitors from national agencies, labs and private companies involved in National Security work, National Security symposium speakers, and research sessions
  • One-on-one face time with representatives of the IC to gain a better understanding of the reality of work within the IC
  • Gaining exposure to the work of National Security and understanding the structure and function of the 17 Intelligence Community Agencies
  • Improving critical thinking skills, communication capabilities and other core skills desired by the IC and by any employer
  • Improving the understanding of global affairs and obtaining better awareness of different cultures and societies
  • Assistance in resume development for pursuing Intelligence Agency co-ops, internships and full-time employment
  • Assistance in finding and obtaining co-op/internship positions and full-time employment through the program's direct connections to the IC and related companies

There are two levels of IC CAE participation: IC CAE Scholars and Hume IC CAE Research Fellows.

IC CAE Scholars are required to:
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Maintain good academic and Honor code status while enrolled in the program
  • Obtain a minimum of 6 points for the academic year.*
  • Points can be accumulated by any of the following:
    • Participate in events
      • Examples include Hume Seminar Series, IC CAE workshops (such as intel brief writing, IC resume development, ins/outs of security clearances, etc.), IC CAE field trips to IC Agencies, and the spring colloquium
    • Attend the annual Colloquium during the spring semester;
    • Provide resume to be shared in the Hume Center’s annual resume book;
    • Complete coursework in the area of Intelligence and/or National Security, Cybersecurity, STEM-related, Foreign Language.
    • Keep an up-to-date listing of the internships/co-ops/jobs applied to, and report this information when requested via the NSEP Participant Survey;
    • Complete any additional questionnaires/surveys as requested to aid in gathering data and improving programming

Hume IC CAE Research Fellows receive financial support through the scholarship program and are required to:

  • Meet all requirements as listed for the IC CAE Scholars and:
    • Obtain a minimum of 8 points for the academic year
    • Develop and present a research poster and/or oral presentation at the Hume Center Annual Colloquium (April)
internships

Apply here. The IC CAE program accepts applicants on a rolling basis.

Frequently Asked Questions about the IC CAE Program

The Hume Center is a Virginia Tech center that conducts sensitive research for the intelligence community and promotes educational opportunities for students interested in the intelligence community. The Hume Center administers programs on behalf of Virginia Tech with funds from our Academic Affiliates Program and the Hume Endowment.

While there are no funded undergraduate research projects or graduate research assistantships provided directly, the Hume Center supports undergraduate employees and graduate research assistiants for research that aligns with their technical areas. For more information on  graduate research assistantship opportunities, contact faculty members with research interests that match your own.

Yes.

This is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

No there is no commitment, but the IC CAE program will help broker connections to agencies and companies for students that are interested.

The Hume Center maintains a network of alumni who have graduated. You will be invited to join upon completing your studies at Virginia Tech, so that you can network and make connections with other Hume Center alumni.

The program itself is unclassified in that any of the speakers, workshops, travel abroad, independent research, summer summits, symposium and discussion groups are all unclassified. However, some students may be elect and qualify for internships or full-time employment with an organization that requires security clearances. These positions and the work that they entail will have their own requirements. Additionally certain graduate research opportunities with the Hume Center may require students to obtain a security clearance.

No, one does not have to be fluent or have high proficiency in language to be part of the program. Some study abroad program may require a higher level than others though. We do not require that students take a language but this will count higher during the application review process. While a language is not required, many in the IC and outside the IC feel that some knowledge of another language other than your native tongue is requisite for being a world citizen.

Arabic (all dialects), Azerbaijani, Bangla, Burmese, Cambodian/Khmer, Chinese (all dialects), Dari, Farsi, French, Georgian, German, Haitian, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Lao, Pashto, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Turkmen, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese and other less commonly taught languages of interest to the IC.

No, applicants from any major can apply. In fact, the IC has a need for many niche disciplines that one might not normally consider. So, while there are more careers available in the traditional engineering and international studies disciplines there are also opportunities for any major.

No, anyone from Virginia Tech may apply.

Yes, only current Virginia Tech students are eligible for this program.

The Hume Center is influencing the development new curriculum and extension of current curriculum to help ensure graduates are well versed in skills relevant to the intelligence community. While none of these courses are required, students may find them valuable.

  • Cybersecurity Minor
  • GEOG 3034: The CIA: Its Capabilities in Today's Geo-Political World
  • ENGR XXXX: Intelligence Community Communications

Our long-term goal is to develop an undergraduate minor in National Security Studies that one can obtain in addition to your major field of study. This program is currently undergoing the university approval process.

Yes, your continued eligibility in the program is reevaluated each year based on the program requirements listed under the "Student Expectations".

IC CAE Scholars are required to:
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Maintain good academic and Honor code status while enrolled in the program
  • Obtain a minimum of 6 points for the academic year.*
  • Points can be accumulated by any of the following:
    • Participate in events
      • Examples include Hume Seminar Series, IC CAE workshops (such as intel brief writing, IC resume development, ins/outs of security clearances, etc.), IC CAE field trips to IC Agencies, and the spring colloquium
    • Attend the annual Colloquium during the spring semester;
    • Provide resume to be shared in the Hume Center’s annual resume book;
    • Complete coursework in the area of Intelligence and/or National Security, Cybersecurity, STEM-related, Foreign Language.
    • Keep an up-to-date listing of the internships/co-ops/jobs applied to, and report this information when requested via survey;
    • Complete any additional questionnaires/surveys as requested to aid in gathering data and improving programming

 

Hume IC CAE Research Fellows receive financial support through the scholarship program and are required to:
  • Meet all requirements as listed for the IC CAE Associates
    • Develop and present a research poster at the annual Colloquium; and
    • Identify a focused area of independent student research related to the IC or National Security.

 

In order to be eligible for the Hume IC CAE Research Fellowship program, you must obtain a minimum of 8 points per academic year.

Hume IC CAE Research Fellows receive financial support through the scholarship program and are required to:

  • Meet all requirements as listed for the IC CAE Scholars and:
    • Obtain a minimum of 8 points for the academic year
    • Develop and present a research poster and/or oral presentation at the Hume Center Annual Colloquium (April)

Each year a select number of IC CAE students will be awarded a separate study abroad scholarship. The application process and award process are independent and will be announced separately.

In 2010 we sent 12 students to Prague, in 2011-2014 Guilin, China for a language immersion program.

Both full and partial scholarships will be offered that pay the tuition cost for the study abroad program and may cover the airfare from Virginia to destination. Additional costs to travel are at the student's expense. Meals not included in the tuition cost of the program are at the student's expense. An additional stipend may be awarded that can go towards food/incidentals.

Scholarships and Fellowships