POL 350 : International Terrorism

Course Description

This course will focus on the development and evolution of the specific form of international and national political violence known as terrorism. Emphasis will be placed on theories of the causes, historical development, governmental, international responses, and counter-terrorism strategies. Attention will be given to the political dilemmas posed by terrorism in democratic societies, and emphasis will be placed on American policy during the last forty years. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

ENG 101: English Composition 1
ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Evaluate and critique the historical development of terrorism.
Assess the international political and legal context in which terrorism must be controlled.
Analyze, critique and compare the impact of globalization and the emergence of the post-Cold War international system on the phenomenon of terrorism in the late 20th and 21st century.
Compare and examine the typologies of terrorist actions and the perpetrators.
Examine and evaluate the strategies and tactics used by terrorists.
Identify and evaluate the organizational structures, financing and networking of terrorist groups and states.
Analyze the politics of terrorism.

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Discussions	40%
Midterm (Week 4)	20%
Case Study (5-10 page paper) (Week 7)	20%
Final (Week 8)	20%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

Combs, Cynthia. Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century. 8th ed. Prentice Hall, Inc., 2018. ISBN-10: 1-138-67139-8 or ISBN-13: 978-1-138-67139-3
White, Jonathan. Terrorism and Homeland Security: An Introduction. 10th ed. Cengage Learning, 2022. ISBN-10: 0-357-63384-9 or ISBN-13: 978-0-357-63384-7

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignments
1	1-3,7	Learning Unit 1: Introduction: Define Terrorism and the Context of Terrorism, Who? Learning Unit 2: The Origins of Terrorism: History and Theory Readings: Combs- Parts I & II, Chapter 2 White- Chapters 1 & 2	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion
2	1-3,7	Learning Unit 3: Religion and Terrorism Learning Unit 4: Political Ideology and Terrorism Readings: Combs- Chapter 3 White - Chapters 6, 10 & 11	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion Submit Case Study Topic
3	1-4,7	Learning Unit 5: Terrorism in America and Europe Learning Unit 6: Terrorism in the Modern Middle East Readings: Combs- Chapter 9 White- Chapters 8, 9, & 12	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion Submit preliminary bibliography and thesis
4	1-7	Learning Unit 7: Terrorism in Other Parts of the World Learning Unit 8: Structure and Organization of Terrorists State & Non-State Terror Readings: Combs- Chapters 6-8 White- Chapter 11	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion Submit Midterm Exam
4		Midterm Exam Learning Units 1-8
5	4-7	Learning Unit 9: Financing Terrorism Learning Unit 10: Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction Readings: Combs- Chapters 6 & 14 White - Chapter 3	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion
6	3-7	Learning Unit 11: The Age of Cyber-Terrorism Learning Unit 12: The Media and Terrorism Readings: Combs- Chapter 8 White- Chapter 4	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion
7	3,7	Learning Unit 13: United States Policy Learning Unit 14: Counter-Terrorism: Intelligence, International Law & International Politics Readings: Combs- Chapters 10-13 White- Chapters 13, 14-16	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Review Resources Participate in discussion Submit Case Study
8	1,3,7	Learning Unit 15: Globalization, Terrorism and Other Forms of Political Violence Learning Unit 16: Future Trends Readings: Combs- Chapter 15 White - Chapter 16	Read assigned chapters Review lecture material Participate in discussion Complete Final Exam
8		Final Exam Learning Units 9-14

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.