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Tue, 10/24/2023 - 19:01
Edited Text
California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 2/4/13
Department of Professional Studies
A.
Protocol
Course Name: Terrorism, Threats & Vulnerability
Course Number: AST 740
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Maximum Class Size (face-to-face): NA
Maximum Class Size (online): 25
B.
Objectives of the Course:
•
Summarize and describe the historical causation and other factors in the development of
terrorism.
•
Identify the various motivations, reasons, and other mental justifications that terrorists
generate.
•
Evaluate the extent of terrorism in the world.
•
Identify the various terrorist groups and corresponding ideology.
•
Create specific policies that react to threat and internal vulnerabilities.
•
Explain the complexities of asymmetric warfare and the many challenges it poses for
conventional military response.
•
Write specific recommendations that thwart terrorist threats and makes it less opportune
for the terrorist to act.
•
Analyze the diverse motivations in the terrorist mind.
•
Identify terrorist thought processes in order that conduct might be anticipated.
•
Describe specific terrorist groups of that pose an extraordinary threat to the United States.
•
Outline the workings of Al Qaeda, and what steps will effectively disarm this enemy of
the United States.
•
Illustrate local and community settings where terrorism would likely find a place to hide.
C.
Catalog Description:
The course will help "bound the problem" of Homeland Security by examining how terrorism has
spurred sharp changes in US strategy, policy and governmental design, and how those changes
should continue over the near and longer term. Elements of Threat and Vulnerability
Assessments will be thoroughly discussed, as well as various procedures for assessments and the
method of tailoring the assessment to the facility/area under study. Manners of protecting the
facility/area in question will then be addressed as well as evacuation plans and emergency plans.
D.
Outline of the Course:
1)
The Nature and Definition of Terrorism
2)
The Nature, Ideology, and History of Terrorism
3)
Understanding the Threat of Global Terrorism
4)
Suicide Terrorism: Methods, Strategies, Tactics
5)
Al Qaeda
Revised 01/26/2016
6)
7)
8)
Hezbollah, Hamas, and al Qaeda Affiliates
U. S. Counterterrorism
Radicalization in America
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.
Quality Matters™ Statement – The online course follows the standards of the Quality Matters™
rubric.
F.
Text
1)
Brigitte L Nacos, Terrorism and Counterterrorism 4th Ed. (Pearson, 2012) ISBN: 9780205005802.
2)
Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 20th ed. (Harvard Law Review, 2015) ISBN:
978-0-692-40019-7.
G.
Assessment Activities:
1)
Traditional Classroom Assessment: NA
2)
Online Assessment
White Paper and WP Proposal: You must write a graduate level paper on a homeland security
policy topic. The paper will include the following components: research of relevant academic,
legal and professional material; and analysis of terrorism policy issues related to the topic.
Detailed instructions will be provided.
Discussion Boards: Each week students will be required to participate in threaded discussions on
various topics. Online courses lend themselves to the creation of a learning community which is
an informal learning environment where the emphasis is moved from teaching to learning. The
discussions will reflect the intellectual reasoning of the students relating to the topics and
questions raised by the instructor and each other. Engaging in an interactive discussion with
multiple substantive responses is the key to a good grade in these discussions. There will be
detailed instructions for each discussion.
Long War Essay: You will be required to write an essay on the book, Winning the Long war:
Lessons from the Cold War for Defeating Terrorism and Preserving Freedom. This book will be
provided to you free in PDF format. You will receive specific instructions for the essay which
will be due at the end of Unit 5.
Final Exam: This course has a 10-question Final Examination.
The exam answers must be well-researched, analytical, well-written, and focused on providing a
through intellectually reasoned response. The exam answers are in the form of responses to
analytical legal questions, case studies, or exercises. The answers require students to research the
assigned topic, analyze the relevant aspects of the topic using the electronic resources available
on the university’s online library system, and develop well-written, organized succinctly stated
responses. Exam answers require the student to exhibit a thorough knowledge of the topics, to
provide evidence the students has read and understood the reading assignments, to complete
additional research on the topic, to cite the sources used to support the exam answers, and to
demonstrate the ability to articulate an intellectually reasoned analysis of the topics.
20% Discussion Board Posts
20% Long War Essay
20% Final Exam
Revised 01/26/2016
40% White Paper (including Proposal)
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:
•
•
•
•
•
I.
Location:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web Site:
Carter Hall G-35
(724) 938-5781
(724) 938-4599
osdmail@calu.edu
http://www.calu.edu/osd
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
Revised 01/26/2016
•
•
•
•
•
•
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.)
*************************************************************
Please Note:
This syllabus attachment is also available in electronic format:
Go to:
Microsoft Outlook
Open:
Public Folders
Open:
All Folders
Highlight:
Faculty/Staff Resources
Open:
Announcement – Academic Syllabus Attachment
J.
Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Cal U Online Orientation
If this is your first online course with Cal U you should visit the following web Site:
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/online-student-resources/new-student-onlineorientation/index.htm
The university student handbook is available at:
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/student-services/files/11-12_Handbook.pdf
Netiquette
All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages,
threaded discussions and chats. ""Netiquette" is network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online
communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the
road" of cyberspace." The Netiquette Home Page http://www.albion.com/netiquette/ provides
links to both summary and detailed information about Netiquette.
"The Core Rules of Netiquette" can be found at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
Learn Netiquette basics by reading this concise overview of network etiquette excerpted from the
book Netiquette by Virginia Shea. Shea's "Core Rules" are the classic introduction to the subject
and are widely cited in cyberspace.
Library Services:
Online Library Services:
Revised 01/26/2016
As a student taking a Web-based course, you have access to the print and electronic resources of
the
Manderino Library. You may receive reference assistance, library instruction, document delivery,
limited interlibrary loan, and access electronic course reserves. To learn more about resources
and services, please go to the Library’s Web page at: http://library.calu.edu/home . The electronic
resources of the Cal U library are extensive. You are expected to use these resources to locate
source material.
Distance Learning Library Support:
You may ask questions about distance education library support by contacting Bill Denny, a
Distance Learning Librarian. He can be contacted at 724-938-4451, Monday –Friday, 8:00 AM
to 4:00 PM, EST. Every attempt will be made to answer your questions within 48 hours but
questions received over holidays and semester breaks will be answered upon his return. In
addition, a librarian can be reached Monday – Thursday, until 9:00 PM, EST, Saturday, 9:00 AM
to 5:00 PM, EST, and Sunday 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM, EST by calling the reference desk at 724938-4094. http://library.calu.edu/distance-ed
Library FAQ’s for Distance Learning Students
This library web site has information about the resources available online through the Cal U
Library.
http://library.calu.edu/guidelist
D2L Technical Support
If you are having difficulties using any of the course tools, please contact Desire2Learn
Technical Support at 1-877-325-7778 or Click Here to submit an issue via email. The D2L Help
Desk is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
System Maintenance: Please note that on the 4th Sunday of each month there will be System
Maintenance which means the system will not be available 1am - 7am Eastern Standard Time.
Additional Resources
The D2L Help Desk above is only for D2L related issues. Here are additional resources that you
may utilize.
Revised 01/26/2016
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: 2/4/13
Department of Professional Studies
A.
Protocol
Course Name: Terrorism, Threats & Vulnerability
Course Number: AST 740
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Maximum Class Size (face-to-face): NA
Maximum Class Size (online): 25
B.
Objectives of the Course:
•
Summarize and describe the historical causation and other factors in the development of
terrorism.
•
Identify the various motivations, reasons, and other mental justifications that terrorists
generate.
•
Evaluate the extent of terrorism in the world.
•
Identify the various terrorist groups and corresponding ideology.
•
Create specific policies that react to threat and internal vulnerabilities.
•
Explain the complexities of asymmetric warfare and the many challenges it poses for
conventional military response.
•
Write specific recommendations that thwart terrorist threats and makes it less opportune
for the terrorist to act.
•
Analyze the diverse motivations in the terrorist mind.
•
Identify terrorist thought processes in order that conduct might be anticipated.
•
Describe specific terrorist groups of that pose an extraordinary threat to the United States.
•
Outline the workings of Al Qaeda, and what steps will effectively disarm this enemy of
the United States.
•
Illustrate local and community settings where terrorism would likely find a place to hide.
C.
Catalog Description:
The course will help "bound the problem" of Homeland Security by examining how terrorism has
spurred sharp changes in US strategy, policy and governmental design, and how those changes
should continue over the near and longer term. Elements of Threat and Vulnerability
Assessments will be thoroughly discussed, as well as various procedures for assessments and the
method of tailoring the assessment to the facility/area under study. Manners of protecting the
facility/area in question will then be addressed as well as evacuation plans and emergency plans.
D.
Outline of the Course:
1)
The Nature and Definition of Terrorism
2)
The Nature, Ideology, and History of Terrorism
3)
Understanding the Threat of Global Terrorism
4)
Suicide Terrorism: Methods, Strategies, Tactics
5)
Al Qaeda
Revised 01/26/2016
6)
7)
8)
Hezbollah, Hamas, and al Qaeda Affiliates
U. S. Counterterrorism
Radicalization in America
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.
Quality Matters™ Statement – The online course follows the standards of the Quality Matters™
rubric.
F.
Text
1)
Brigitte L Nacos, Terrorism and Counterterrorism 4th Ed. (Pearson, 2012) ISBN: 9780205005802.
2)
Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 20th ed. (Harvard Law Review, 2015) ISBN:
978-0-692-40019-7.
G.
Assessment Activities:
1)
Traditional Classroom Assessment: NA
2)
Online Assessment
White Paper and WP Proposal: You must write a graduate level paper on a homeland security
policy topic. The paper will include the following components: research of relevant academic,
legal and professional material; and analysis of terrorism policy issues related to the topic.
Detailed instructions will be provided.
Discussion Boards: Each week students will be required to participate in threaded discussions on
various topics. Online courses lend themselves to the creation of a learning community which is
an informal learning environment where the emphasis is moved from teaching to learning. The
discussions will reflect the intellectual reasoning of the students relating to the topics and
questions raised by the instructor and each other. Engaging in an interactive discussion with
multiple substantive responses is the key to a good grade in these discussions. There will be
detailed instructions for each discussion.
Long War Essay: You will be required to write an essay on the book, Winning the Long war:
Lessons from the Cold War for Defeating Terrorism and Preserving Freedom. This book will be
provided to you free in PDF format. You will receive specific instructions for the essay which
will be due at the end of Unit 5.
Final Exam: This course has a 10-question Final Examination.
The exam answers must be well-researched, analytical, well-written, and focused on providing a
through intellectually reasoned response. The exam answers are in the form of responses to
analytical legal questions, case studies, or exercises. The answers require students to research the
assigned topic, analyze the relevant aspects of the topic using the electronic resources available
on the university’s online library system, and develop well-written, organized succinctly stated
responses. Exam answers require the student to exhibit a thorough knowledge of the topics, to
provide evidence the students has read and understood the reading assignments, to complete
additional research on the topic, to cite the sources used to support the exam answers, and to
demonstrate the ability to articulate an intellectually reasoned analysis of the topics.
20% Discussion Board Posts
20% Long War Essay
20% Final Exam
Revised 01/26/2016
40% White Paper (including Proposal)
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:
•
•
•
•
•
I.
Location:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web Site:
Carter Hall G-35
(724) 938-5781
(724) 938-4599
osdmail@calu.edu
http://www.calu.edu/osd
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
Revised 01/26/2016
•
•
•
•
•
•
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.)
*************************************************************
Please Note:
This syllabus attachment is also available in electronic format:
Go to:
Microsoft Outlook
Open:
Public Folders
Open:
All Folders
Highlight:
Faculty/Staff Resources
Open:
Announcement – Academic Syllabus Attachment
J.
Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Cal U Online Orientation
If this is your first online course with Cal U you should visit the following web Site:
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/online-student-resources/new-student-onlineorientation/index.htm
The university student handbook is available at:
http://www.calu.edu/current-students/student-services/files/11-12_Handbook.pdf
Netiquette
All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages,
threaded discussions and chats. ""Netiquette" is network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online
communication. Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the
road" of cyberspace." The Netiquette Home Page http://www.albion.com/netiquette/ provides
links to both summary and detailed information about Netiquette.
"The Core Rules of Netiquette" can be found at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
Learn Netiquette basics by reading this concise overview of network etiquette excerpted from the
book Netiquette by Virginia Shea. Shea's "Core Rules" are the classic introduction to the subject
and are widely cited in cyberspace.
Library Services:
Online Library Services:
Revised 01/26/2016
As a student taking a Web-based course, you have access to the print and electronic resources of
the
Manderino Library. You may receive reference assistance, library instruction, document delivery,
limited interlibrary loan, and access electronic course reserves. To learn more about resources
and services, please go to the Library’s Web page at: http://library.calu.edu/home . The electronic
resources of the Cal U library are extensive. You are expected to use these resources to locate
source material.
Distance Learning Library Support:
You may ask questions about distance education library support by contacting Bill Denny, a
Distance Learning Librarian. He can be contacted at 724-938-4451, Monday –Friday, 8:00 AM
to 4:00 PM, EST. Every attempt will be made to answer your questions within 48 hours but
questions received over holidays and semester breaks will be answered upon his return. In
addition, a librarian can be reached Monday – Thursday, until 9:00 PM, EST, Saturday, 9:00 AM
to 5:00 PM, EST, and Sunday 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM, EST by calling the reference desk at 724938-4094. http://library.calu.edu/distance-ed
Library FAQ’s for Distance Learning Students
This library web site has information about the resources available online through the Cal U
Library.
http://library.calu.edu/guidelist
D2L Technical Support
If you are having difficulties using any of the course tools, please contact Desire2Learn
Technical Support at 1-877-325-7778 or Click Here to submit an issue via email. The D2L Help
Desk is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
System Maintenance: Please note that on the 4th Sunday of each month there will be System
Maintenance which means the system will not be available 1am - 7am Eastern Standard Time.
Additional Resources
The D2L Help Desk above is only for D2L related issues. Here are additional resources that you
may utilize.
Revised 01/26/2016