BSST - Terrorism Studies

BSST200 Terrorism Studies (3 Credits)

Theories explaining the formation of terrorist groups and the motivations behind terrorist behavior, building upon theories from social psychology, sociology, political science, criminology, and history. The course examines the different levels of analysis for terrorism studies, the different methods scholars utilize for research, and the most prominent datasets in the field of homeland security. In addition, this course provides a review of various terrorist groups and ideological movements. The course concludes with an introduction to the different approaches to counter violent extremism and terrorism.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST330 or BSST200.

Formerly: BSST330.

BSST240 Understanding The Principles and Perils of CBRN Weapons (3 Credits)

Explores the 'dark side' of scientific applications. Students will gain an understanding of CBRN Weapons, through the exploration of the scientific method, and certain fundamental principles of chemistry, biology, and physics. Students will also learn how to test hypotheses, use basic statistics, interpret results, and apply their new knowledge through discussions of practical applications in the domains of public health, emergency management, epidemiology, and threat assessment. Bringing these fields together in one class will allow students to better understand the use of and threat from CBRN weapons in terrorism.

Additional Information: If taken in the same term as BSST241 these courses will count for General Education Natural Sciences Lab.

BSST241 Understanding the Principles and Perils of CBRN Weapons (Lab) (1 Credit)

An exploration of the threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons aimed to provide students with a basic, multidisciplinary, natural science foundation in chemistry, biology, and physics.

Corequisite: BSST240.

Additional Information: This is an optional 1-credit lab course offered in coordination with BSST240. If taken in the same term as BSST240 these courses will count for General Education Natural Sciences Lab.

BSST258 Special Topics in Study Abroad II (1-6 Credits)

Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.

Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.

BSST288 Special Topics in Terrorism Studies (3 Credits)

A special topics course for students in the Global Terrorism Minor program. Topics that may be offered are Psychology of Terrorism; Development of Counterterrorism Policies and Programs; Terrorism and Popular Culture; Terrorism and the Media; International Perspective on Terrorism and Counterterrorism (Education Abroad); The Evolution of Hezbollah; Terrorism and Small Wars; Political Islam in the West.

Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.

BSST331 Innovations in Counterterrorism (3 Credits)

Explore the manners in which states respond to terrorist incidents and the threat of terrorism through counterterrorism approaches and strategies. We will examine counterterrorism responses from law enforcement, military, and the intelligence community. This will include discussions about policy decisions made in response to both terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorism. Counterterrorism strategies this course will cover include deterrence, interdiction, and legal efforts to combat terrorism, including terrorist financing and online recruitment. The course is divided into four general parts. First, we will provide an overview of government counterterrorism options and review key concepts. Second, we will examine law enforcement responses to terrorism including efforts to counter cyberterrorism, social media recruitment, and terrorist financing online. Third, we will focus on military responses to attacks conducted by terrorist groups, including deterrence strategies, targeted strikes, and covert operations. Last, we will review the challenges and complexities of counterterrorism approaches, including the ethical, moral, and legal dilemmas.

Restriction: Must be in the Terrorism Studies minor program.

BSST334 States of Emergency (3 Credits)

Students will explore the manner in which crises unfold from the perspective of a variety of emergency response disciplines, including: emergency management, law enforcement, intelligence analysis, cyber analysis, risk communication, health and human services, and emergency psychiatry/psychology. Students will participate in a semester-long simulation of an unfolding terrorist attack.

BSST335 Innovations in Countering Violent Extremism (3 Credits)

Introduces students to novel innovations in the development of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs. CVE is a realm of policy, programs, and interventions designed to prevent individuals from engaging in violence associated with radical political, social, cultural, and/or religious ideologies. Unlike counterterrorism strategies that often focus on targeting and disrupting terrorist plots, CVE focuses on radicalization prevention through engagement and intervention with communities. CVE also focuses on deradicalization and rehabilitation of former extremists. Throughout the course, students will work in groups to develop their own innovative CVE programs, rather than merely learn about CVE through lectures.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST335 or BSST338V.

Formerly: BSST338V.

Additional Information: It is recommended that BSST335 be taken after, or concurrent with, BSST330.

BSST337 Ideology and Social Conditions in the Making of Terrorism (3 Credits)

This class focuses on the relations of ideology with social conditions in the historical context of the Middle East and North Africa in order to explain the process of the rise and domination of Islamist extremism and suicide terrorism as a dominant oppositional discourse in the region. Resting on a cognitive conception of ideology, this class focuses on the process in which ideological discourses shape the making of the terrorist mind.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST338G or BSST337.

Formerly: BSST338G.

BSST338 Special Topics in Terrorism Studies (3 Credits)

Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.

BSST340 Oral Communication for National Security Careers (3 Credits)

Students will discuss perspectives on strategic communication and national security, while discussing and practicing public speaking skills and developing proficiency in three genres of security-related briefings. Students will work with the technical, scientific, and/or specialized data, vocabularies, processes, and products of the academic disciplines and/or fields of expertise relevant to national and international security careers.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST340 or BSST338E.

Formerly: BSST338E.

BSST358 Special Topics in Study Abroad III (1-6 Credits)

Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.

Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.

BSST370 Financing Terror and Hate (3 Credits)

This course will discuss terrorist financial activities, initiatives focused on countering those financial activities, and sanctions policy. This course approaches these topics through various techniques including, structured analytic tools, such as weighted ranking methods, scenario trees, causal flow diagramming, hypothesis testing, utility analysis, as well as game theory and logic will be incorporated into the course to provide students a better framework to form analytic judgments. At the end of the course, students will have gained a solid foundational understanding of the financing and counter-financing of terrorists.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST370 or BSST338Z.

Formerly: BSST338Z.

BSST371 Far-Right Extremism: Violent Ideologies and Actions (3 Credits)

Introduces students to the ideologies, organizing patterns, and actions within far-right extremism. This will include a focus on movements within white supremacism, anti-government extremism, male supremacy, homophobia, and anti-immigrant extremism. Using as examples specific violent extremists and groups on the far-right, we will study key theories explaining extremist radicalization, recruitment, engagement, and mobilization.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST338R or BSST371.

Formerly: BSST338R.

BSST372 Terrorist Hostage Taking (3 Credits)

Examines different forms of hostage taking, drawing on theory and research from across a range of different fields, including international relations, political science, criminology, psychology, sociology and economics. We will consider these events in terms of how they are similar, how they differ and what they are designed to achieve. This course provides insights into the complicated nature of terrorism via hostage taking in order to broaden student understanding of current events. This course also gives students practical experience in finding and coding data, and studying complex human behaviors.

BSST373 Analyzing Terrorism: Simulations, Wargaming, and Strategies of Security (3 Credits)

Introduces students to novel, applied methods to study terrorism and security, including simulations, wargaming exercises, and red teaming. This course assumes no prior experience with these methods. Throughout the course, students will complete activities to understand the behavior of militant groups and develop security strategies to counter violent non-state actors.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST338J or BSST373.

Formerly: BSST338J.

BSST374 Political Assassinations (3 Credits)

Course topics include political assassinations, their consequences, and the possible means for their prevention, from profiling assassins to protection of potential targets. Research on political assassinations has developed from many different disciplines and so we will be drawing on theory and research from across a range of different fields, including international relations, political science, criminology, psychology, sociology and economics. In each lecture we will review the scholarly issues associated with political assassinations as well as considering the practical, counter attack challenges faced by security and law enforcement.

BSST375 Violent Non-State Actors in Latin America: Terrorism, Cartels, and Crime (3 Credits)

Examines why non-state actors resort to violence and crime, what tactics and strategies they use, how they fund their existence, and what can be done to counter them. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to many different types of violent non-state actors, including terrorist organizations and criminal organizations. This will all be done in the context of Latin America and students will gain an in-depth understanding of the problems that plague individual countries, as well as which issues afflict the region as a whole.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST338L or BSST375.

Formerly: BSST338L.

BSST376 Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and Global Jihadist Movements (3 Credits)

Provides an in-depth overview into global jihadist movements, with specific focus on the terrorist groups known as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In an effort for students to come to a common understanding of key terms that will be discussed throughout the course, a session will be devoted to understanding key concepts and terms related to Islamic history. The course will also examine the Islamic State's connection and ultimate divorce from al-Qaeda. The course will all examine group finances, as well as the rise of affiliates. The course will also explore the use of foreign fighters and social media, as well as global responses to these movements and groups.

Credit Only Granted for: BSST338V or BSST376.

Formerly: BSST338V.

BSST377 Applying Theory to the Practice of Countering Terrorism (1 Credit)

Focuses on current events related to terrorism and counterterrorism, as they are discussed in mass media, and the implications of those current events on the ethical and professional conduct of the counterterrorism community. Through a discussion-based seminar, students will bring current, terrorism-related events to classroom discussion, where they will consider the media-framed current events in relation to academic research. Students will be continually challenged to draw connections between terrorism-related events in the news and relevant academic research. Furthermore, this class will use vignettes based in current events to present students with real-world ethical dilemmas that those in the professional counterterrorism community and broader national security community have to confront.

Recommended: BSST330.

Restriction: Restricted to students enrolled in the Global Terrorism Minor (#BS07).

Credit Only Granted for: BSST327, BSST377, or BSST399K.

Formerly: BSST327.

Additional Information: It is recommended that this course be taken in the final semester in the minor program.

BSST386 Experiential Learning in Terrorism Studies (1-5 Credits)

This course will supplement student's experiential learning experience, or internship in the field of terrorism studies and homeland security with guided reflection on their experiences.

BSST389 Internship in Terrorism Studies (1-6 Credits)

Supplements student's experiential learning experience, or internship in the field of terrorism studies and homeland security, with guided reflection on their experiences.

Restriction: Must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Repeatable to: 9 credits.

BSST398 Individual Study in Terrorism Studies II (1-3 Credits)

An independent study course for START Students.

Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.

BSST399 Individual Study in Terrorism Studies (1-3 Credits)

An independent study course for students in the Global Terrorism Minor program.

Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.

BSST458 Special Topics in Study Abroad IV (1-6 Credits)

Special topics course taken as part of an approved study abroad program.

Repeatable to: 15 credits if content differs.