This Module can only be taken as an Short Course for Credit. 
For more information please go to the 'Upgrade to a professional qualification' section.
Due to the nature of the subject matter in this Module, security clearance may be required. 
 

This module equips you with a critical understanding of the opportunities and vulnerabilities faced when planning Information Operations as part of an integrated operation to enhance the overall impact achieved through military action or in planning a full spectrum response against an adversary.


At a glance

  • Dates
    • Please enquire for course dates
  • Duration5 days face to face learning (with additional distance learning to be completed during 7 weeks)
  • Location美姬阁 at Shrivenham
  • Cost£2,350 - Short Course for Credit fee 
    Concessions available

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • Elaborate the main elements and key management issues in the conduct of Information Operations,
  • Evaluate theories of behavioural and social change relevant to Information Operations,
  • Formulate the behaviour change effects sought through Information Operations,
  • Recommend alternate courses of action based on self evaluation, evaluation of the target audience, and the needs of the primary decision makers in the planning process,
  • Critically examine behavioural change techniques used in military and other domains, with respect to their implicit treatment of causation. Where ‘other domains may include; health education, marketing, offender rehabilitation, mine awareness campaigns, weapons amnesties, mass civilian evacuations, and crime prevention.

Core content

This course approaches the domain of professional practice of Information Operations as the need to change the behaviour of target audiences through the coordination of multiple military and civilian capabilities including emerging cyber based activities.

This course will be built on three core foundations:

  • That military actors cannot avoid communicating messages in some form by direct action or inaction,
  • That when seeking to change the behaviour of a target audience, there is an implicit need to understand that target audience from their own stakeholder perspectives,
  • In designing an Information Operation to modify the behaviour of a target audience the military planner should be aware of their own personal perspectives, assumptions and values around the target behaviours as well as the perspectives of their host organisation. 

These three foundations underpin the course's recognition of the unique context of seeking behaviour modification in a military context. This context is addressed in the course content through coverage of the following areas:

  • Overview of the core concepts of Information Operations, military capabilities and different international approaches to this area of professional practice,
  • Individual and Group Target Audience Analysis,
  • Theories of behavioural and social change.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

After successful completion of this Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards the Cyber Defence and Information Assurance MSc and the Cyberspace Operations MSc.

 Find out more about short course credit points.

Who should attend

Students must have completed Foundations of Cyber in order to take this as a Short Course for Credit.


Concessions

A limited number of MOD sponsored places are available.

Location and travel

 

How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.