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Edited Text
California University of Pennsylvania
New Course Proposal
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 2/4/13
Department of Professional Studies
A.

Protocol
Course Name: Domestic Extremism in the United States
Course Number: AST 720
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Maximum Class Size (face-to-face): NA
Maximum Class Size (online): 25

B.

Objectives of the Course (all objectives to be presented and taught within a legal studies
framework):
• Identify domestic extremist ideologies and motivators.
• Examine the tactics, targets, and tools of domestic extremists.
• Comprehend the Constitutional law parameters impacting counterterrorism efforts to mitigate
domestic extremism.
• Apply Constitutional intelligence methods to analyze effective law enforcement techniques
targeting domestic extremism.
• Evaluate the evolution of domestic extremism
• Examine potential emerging domestic extremist ideologies and movements.

C.

Catalog Description:
In-depth study of US-based domestic extremism presented and taught within a legal studies
framework. This course aims to present the growth of the domestic extremism threat in the
United States within the legal context of the challenges and difficulties inherent in
counterterrorism efforts directed at US persons. Topics include: domestic extremist ideologies,
history and current state of domestic extremism, Constitutional law protections and civil liberties
impacting counterterrorism efforts, intelligence and law enforcement techniques to combat
domestic extremism, evolution of domestic extremism.

D.

Outline of the Course:
1. Overview of domestic extremism in the United States
1.1 Extremism versus Activism
1.2 History of domestic extremism
1.3 Current state of domestic extremism
1.4 Domestic extremism ideologies and movements
2.

Tactics, targets, and tools of domestic extremists
2.1 Traditional targeting
2.2 Targeting unique to ideology
2.3 Non-violent tactics
2.4 Violent tactics
2.5 Media and Internet tools
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3. Constitutional law protections and civil liberties
3.1 Bill of Rights
3.2 Privacy Act of 1974
3.3 First & Second Amendment Protected Activities
Predication Standards of a true AOT Investigation.
3.4 Collection, Retention & Dissemination of Personal Information.
3.5 Dissemination of U.S Person Information to Foreign Governments.
4. Domestic intelligence and law enforcement
4.1 Federal, state, and local law enforcement roles and capabilities.
4.2 Fusion Centers
4.3 Information sharing.
4.4 Applicable laws – federal, state, and local.
5. Emerging trends in domestic extremism
5.1 Leaderless Resistance.
5.2 Transforming into a more political organization.
5.3 Hybrid Ideologies.
5.4 Cross over of ideologies DT/IT.
6. Lone Offender
6.1 Group association vs. non-group association.
6.2 How does the internet influence the lone offender?
6.3 What are the characteristics of a lone offender and do these characteristics aid in the
identification of a lone offender.
6.4 How does mental health impact lone offenders.
6.5 The most common myth of the lone offender.
7. Case Study: Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC)
7.1 Change within a small segment of the movement.
7.2 Ramifications of the SPEAK Campaign and its impact on the SHAC movement.
7.3 Introduction of SHAC Tactics.
7.4 Success of SHAC Tactics across the AR Movement Globally.
7.5 Adoption of SHAC Tactics across other ideologies.
7.6 Implications of Indicting a Group.
8. Radicalization of DT Subjects
8.1 When does radicalization occur?
8.2 When does a subject cross from 1st amendment advocacy to radicalization and
extremism?
8.3 Ramifications of targeting radicalization early.
8.3 Public opinion prior to and after an act of violence.
E.

Teaching Methodology:
1)
Traditional Classroom Methodology: NA
2)
Online Methodology
A variety of teaching methodologies will be used in this course. These methods include: lecture
notes, podcasts, power point presentations, case studies, threaded discussions, chat room
sessions, and guided reading assignments.
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Quality Matters™ Statement – The online course follows the standards of the Quality Matters™
rubric.
F.

Text
1. Erroll Southers, Homegrown Violent Extremism. (Anderson Pub., 2013) ISBN:
9781455776436.
2. Vohryzek-Bolden, Mikl, Olson-Raymer, Gayle, and Whamond, Jeffrey O., Domestic
Terrorism and Incident Management: Issues and Tactics. (Charles C. Thomas, Pub., 2001)
ISBN: 978-0-398-07226-1.

G.

Assessment Activities:
1)
Traditional Classroom Assessment: NA
2)
Online Assessment
In this class, students will be expected to participate in online discussions. In addition, a midterm
essay examination, a final essay examination and a topical analysis paper will be required.

H.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

OSD
Revised June 2015
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations.
Students requesting approval for reasonable accommodations should contact the Office for Students
with Disabilities (OSD). Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for self-identifying,
providing documentation and requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Students will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting
accommodations that involve the faculty.
Contact Information:




Web Site:

Location:
Carter Hall G-35
Phone:
(724) 938-5781
Fax:
(724) 938-4599
Email:
osdmail@calu.edu
http://www.calu.edu/osd

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I.

Title IX Syllabus Addendum
California University of Pennsylvania
Reporting Obligations of Faculty Members under Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681, et seq.

California University of Pennsylvania and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive
educational environment for all students. In order to meet this commitment and to comply with the
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office of Civil Rights, the
University requires faculty members to report incidents of sexual violence shared by students to the
University’s Title IX Coordinator, Dr. John A. Burnett, Special Assistant to the President for EEEO,
Office of Social Equity, South Hall 112, Burnett@calu.edu, 724-938-4014. The only exceptions to the
faculty member’s reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual violence are communicated by a
student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment for a class, or as part of a Universityapproved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report sexual violence or any other abuse
of a student who was, or is, a child (person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred to
the person designated in the University protection of minors policy.
The University’s information regarding the reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are
available to victims of sexual violence is set forth at:
• Office of Social Equity, South Hall 112, 724-938-4014
o Social Equity Home Page
www.calu.edu/SocialEquity
o Social Equity Policies
www.calu.edu/SEpolicies
o Social Equity Complaint Form
www.calu.edu/SEcomplaint
• Counseling Center, Carter Hall G53, 724-938-4056
• End Violence Center, Carter Hall G94, 724-938-5707
• Student Affairs, Natali Student Center 311, 724-938-4439
• Wellness Center, Carter Hall G53, 724-938-4232
• Women’s Center, Natali Student Center 117, 724-938-5857
• Threat Response Assessment and Intervention Team (T.R.A.I.T.) & Dept. of Public Safety
& University Police, Pollock Maintenance Building, 724-938-4299
o EMERGENCY: From any on-campus phone & Dial H-E-L-P or go to any public
pay phone & Dial *1. (*Identify the situation as an emergency and an officer will be
dispatched immediately.)

*************************************************************
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J.
Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
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Additional Information for Course Proposals
K.

Proposed Instructors:
David E. Heller, M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense), Center for
Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Post Graduate School. Retired FBI Supervisory Special
Agent, or other qualified instructors.

L.

Rationale for the Course:
This course provides an additional homeland security for the homeland security concentration.
The course topic focuses on the growing domestic extremism threat in the United States, which
arguably the greatest terrorist threat to the security of the United States.

M.

Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:
No additional equipment or supplies are required

N.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:
1.
Does the course require additional human resources? (Please explain)
One additional temporary faculty member must be assigned this course.

O.

2.

Does the course require additional physical resources? (Please explain)
No additional physical resources are required.

3.

Does the course change the requirements in any particular major?
(Please explain)
This course requires a change to the MS in Legal Studies / Homeland Security
Concentration advisement sheet to show that AST 720 will be a required course in the
homeland security concentration.

4.

Does the course replace an existing course in your program? (If so, list the course)
No courses will be replaced.

5.

How often will the course be taught?
The course will be taught once per calendar year.

6.

Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College? (If the
possibility exists, indicate course discipline, number, and name)
This course does not duplicate an existing course in another department or college. There
is no other graduate-level course in Domestic Extremism offered either face to face or
online by California University of Pennsylvania.

If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another
discipline, you must request a statement of support from the department chair that houses
that discipline.
The Professional Studies Department maintains that the proposed course does not include
substantial material that is traditionally taught in another discipline. To the extent that the
Criminal Justice Department disagrees, the Professional Studies Department has requested a
statement of support but does not believe that such a statement is required as a condition of
approval of this new course proposal.

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P.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for
General Education. If yes, justify and demonstrate the reasons based on the categories for
General Education. The General Education Committee must consider and approve the course
proposal before consideration by the UCC.
This course will not be included in the menu for General Education courses.

P.

Provide Approval Form (electronically).

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