Counter-Terrorism – GOVT 481

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course will evaluate the main aspects of the war on terror. The course will focus on dilemmas relating to intelligence gathering, offensive and defensive actions taken against terrorist organizations, civil liberties and media coverage, and the strategies and approaches for combating terrorism.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The terrorist threat posed by Islamic extremist groups is the greatest threat to the Western World of the modern era—greater even than that of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This course will build on the foundational understandings of terrorism with specific focus on the weapons, tactics, strategies, and approaches necessary to counter or combat terrorism. The desire is to produce graduates, who will become future decision makers, with the tools necessary to make rational and effective decisions for both preventing and countering terrorism.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (8)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will take part in 8 Discussions throughout this course. The student will post a thread of 500 words minimum presenting his/her own opinion on the assigned topic. Additionally, the student will post replies of at least 200 words to 2 other students’ threads.

Research Paper Assignment

The student will choose a topic directly related to the study of intelligence analysis and write a 10-12-page research paper on that topic, making use of at least 6 different sources. The paper must be written in current APA format and adhere to the standards of academic writing. 

Quizzes (2)

The student will complete a Midterm Quiz and a Final Quiz during the course. Both quizzes are open-book/open-notes, but are not to be collaborated on with any other person. The student will have 2 hours to complete 4 essay questions per quiz.