SECR 5150: Terrorism and Extremist Activity

Cross listed with INTL 5860: Issues in International Politics Terrorism

Course Description

Understanding the motivation, tactics and targeting trends of terrorist and extremist groups is mandatory if managers are to be able to evaluate potential threats and then develop appropriate countermeasures to protect the organization's personnel and other assets. Students discuss terrorism as a form of political violence and its effects on security management. Using case studies and class discussions, students examine groups ranging from radical religious fundamentalists to environmental extremists along with other extreme special interest groups. Understanding the manifestations of terrorism will enable students to develop and to apply some of the countermeasures against it through the use of case studies and specific activities.

Prerequisites

SECR 5000 (for SECR majors only). Students in other degree programs are welcome to take this elective without the prerequisite.

Course Level Learning Outcomes

Describe historical terrorist organizations to include anarchist, nationalist, and anti-colonial movements.
Define terrorism within the context of early 21st Century historical events.
List and describe the different terrorist tactics employed in the modern era.
Identify the terrorist organizations that specifically target U.S. government and business interests today.
Define Eschatology and state how it is reflected in current terrorist philosophies.
Distinguish between typical criminal behavior and terrorist activities.
Distinguish between terrorist activities and asymmetric warfare employed by nation-states.
Explain the motivations behind the tactic of suicide bombing.
Demonstrate knowledge of the Patriot Act and its impact on law enforcement, civil society, and counter-terror efforts.
Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of "Internal Discipline."
Differentiate between politically motivated terrorist activity and that motivated by religious beliefs.
Identify the sources of funding for various terrorist organizations.
Diagram the organizational structure of various terrorist organizations.
Compare and contrast al-Qaeda and Hizbollah.
Describe the behavioral and socio-economic profile of the typical suicide bomber.
Appraise current counter-terror efforts in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Course Materials

Please go to MBS Direct to find the appropriate textbooks for this course.

Please be aware when purchasing your textbooks that the International versions of the text may differ from the Domestic (North American) version required for your course.

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Course Activities

The course will be concluded entirely online. Students are expected to participate in all course activities as assigned by the instructor. Course activities may include discussions, weekly assignments, quizes, case studies, and learner assessments. However, individual instructors may incorporate other activities into the course materials.

Grading

The GRADUATE catalog provides these guidelines adn grading options:

A/A–	Superior graduate work
B+/B/B–	Satisfactory graduate work
C	Work that is barely adequate as graduate-level performance
CR	Work that is performed as satisfactory graduate work (B– or better). A grade of “CR” is reserved for courses designated by a department, involving internships, a thesis, practicums, or specified courses.
NC	Unsatisfactory graduate work *(School of Education only)*
F*	Work that is unsatisfactory *The School of Education (MAT, MA and EdS) does not utilize the “F” Grade.
I	Incomplete work
ZF	An incomplete which was not completed within one year of the end of the course. ZF is treated the same as an F or NC for all cases involving GPA, academic warning, probation, and dismissal.
IP	In progress
W	Withdrawn from the course

A student in the School of Education may choose to receive Credit/No Credit, rather than a letter grade, by completing a grade choice form by the second week of classes. Education students must complete 33 credit hours with a B average or the equivalent.

Grades are available on the Internet to all students at the end of each scheduled term. (A hard copy is available upon request and may be requested online via the Academic Services Channel within Connections.)

Policy Statements

University policies are provided in the current course catalog and course schedules. They are also available on the university website. This class is governed by the university’s published policies. The following policies are of particular interest:

Academic Honesty

The university is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards. Please refer to the university’s academic honesty policies for a definition of academic dishonesty and potential disciplinary actions associated with it.

Drops and Withdrawals

Please be aware that, should you choose to drop or withdraw from this course, the date on which you notify the university of your decision will determine the amount of tuition refund you receive. Please refer to the university policies on drops and withdrawals (published elsewhere) to find out what the deadlines are for dropping a course with a full refund and for withdrawing from a course with a partial refund.

Special Services

If you have registered as a student with a documented disability at the Academic Resource Center (ARC) and are entitled to classroom or testing accommodations, please verify with your instructor at the beginning of the class that the instructor has received your accommodations letter from the ARC. If you have a disability and need academic accommodations but have not been documented with the ARC, please contact Barbara Stewart at (314)-968-7495 or stewart@webster.edu . Contacting the ARC to complete ADA documentation is the only way to ensure you may receive reasonable accommodations.

Disturbances

Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption, disruption of class by inconsiderate behavior is not acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and other students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where a diversity of opinion arises. Students who engage in disruptive behavior are subject to disciplinary action, including removal from the course.

Student Assignments Retained

From time to time, student assignments or projects will be retained by The Department for the purpose of academic assessment. In every case, should the assignment or project be shared outside the academic Department, the student's name and all identifying information about that student will be redacted from the assignment or project.

Contact Hours for this Course

It is essential that all classes meet for the full instructional time as scheduled. A class cannot be shortened in length. If a class session is cancelled for any reason, it must be rescheduled.

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