Take your Terrorism course online today for continuing education credits or as part of the degree program!
Home / FAQs / Online Degrees / Certificate Courses / Admission Policies / Class Rooms / Request Info.

Canyon College

online Terrorism course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS:  Terrorism


Course Title: HLS332 - Terrorism
Department: Homeland Security
Instructor: Ed Piper, MS, BA, AA - - Vita

Course Description:

This course will provide students with the historical and geographical look at terrorism, its origins, types and history. It will also address the events of the 20th century related to terrorism from both left and right wings. Finally, it will discuss the kind of efforts around the world focused on deterring and discovering acts of terrorism.

Required Texts –   Online Bookstore

Terrorism Today, by Clifford E. Simonsen and Jerry R. Spindlove. Prentice Hall (Pearson), 2000 (1999). ISBN: 0023017317

Course Objectives:
  1. Students will gain a detailed understanding of the history terrorism
  2. Students will be introduced to the basic causes of terrorism around the world.
  3. Students will develop a detailed understanding of 20th Century events related to terrorism.
  4. Students will gain a better understanding of methods for detecting and deterring terrorism.
  5. Students will develop a better understanding of responses to terrorism.
Course Requirements:

Successfully complete chapter readings, answer questions and email answers to instructor. 50 points * 2 points for each question.
Students will write a 10-page double spaced research paper focused on any one of the terrorist's groups mentioned in the text. The paper will address the group's history, philosophy, tactics, attack methodologies, linkages to other terrorist groups and potential for attacking targets in 2005. 50 points. Due by week 7.

GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH PAPER:

The research paper will be 10 pages, double spaced and 12 font. Students may utilize any recognized writing style including MLA, APA, Chicago Style and Turabian. The paper must include footnotes and a bibliography. Students should provide at least 10 different sources in their bibliography.

Points will be deducted for the following:
Sloppy work: 5 Points
Poor Grammar: 5 Points
Repeated spelling errors: 5 Points
No Footnotes: 5 Points
Plagiarism: Automatic failure for the entire course!
Late Paper: 2 points for each day late.

TOTAL FOR COURSE: 100 POINTS

I will determine your final grade based on the total number of points you have accumulated at the end of the semester. I do not award letter grades for each paper or exam. Your grade will be determined as follows:

95-100 points A
90-94 points A-
85-89 points B+
80-84 points B
75-79 points B-
70-74 points C+
65-69 points C
60-64 points C-
55-59 points D
below 55 points F

STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

WEEK 1: Read Chapter One. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. How did the Inquisition contribute to punishment of offenders of that time?
  2. Describe the pros and cons for the use of assassination.
WEEK 2: Chapter Two. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. How does violence differ from terrorism?
  2. Describe the concept of little war. How does it differ with terrorism?
WEEK 3: Read Chapter Three. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Explain why state terrorism has been so pervasive and the history of the world.
  2. What does the use of terrorism offer as an advantage in future wars?
WEEK 4: Read Chapter 4. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Describe the role of the provincial Irish Republican Army and the struggle for independence by Northern Ireland.
WEEK 5: Read Chapter 5 and 6. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. How does the situation in Chechnya compare to the Vietnam War?
  2. What role has Hamas had in the stability of Palestine and peace in the Middle East?
  3. Describe the genesis of the PLO and their role in the Middle East.
  4. Why do you believe the United States has changed its role with Libya?
WEEK 6: Read Chapter 7. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Why is there such hatred and a split between the Shi'a and the Sunni Muslims?
  2. The Gulf war was fought over what issue?
WEEK 7: Read Chapter 8. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Describe the reign of Idi Amin and tribal rivalries in Uganda.
  2. Describe the manner in which Cecil Rhodes influenced the development of terrorism in Rhodesia.
WEEK 8: Read Chapter 9 and 10 Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Describe the conditions in the past that created the hatred between India and Pakistan
  2. Why do you think that Cambodia had to go through such a horrible time of the killing fields from the Khemer Rouge?
  3. Explain why there is so little terrorism in China.
  4. The Philippines are seeing a resurgence of terrorism -- what do you think are the reasons for that?
WEEK 9: Read Chapter 11 and 12 Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Explain why Columbia such a difficult country to rid of drugs and terrorism.
  2. Describe how the death squads were used and the reasons for them in Venezuela.
  3. Describe the terrorists events that brought major international and domestic terrorism home the United States of America
WEEK 10: Read Chapter 13 and 14. Answer following questions and e-mail your answers to the instructor.
  1. Describe your reasons for establishing counter-terrorism specialized units in England and Ireland.
  2. Explain how the British SAS held a number of nations learn counterterrorism techniques.
  3. What can be done to make a better team of the public police special-teams and the media?