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PSYC360 - Psychology of Terrorism
Course Details
Course Code: PSYC360 Course ID: 3194 Credit Hours: 3 Level: Undergraduate
This course is an introduction to historic and contemporary terrorist groups and their motives and strategies. The psychological and social impact on individuals, communities and global societies of the achievement of terrorist goals as well as recruitment methods, the influence terrorist groups exert on their members and factors influencing the establishment and dissolution of terrorist groups will be examined.
Course Schedule
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/27/19 - 11/01/19 | 11/04/19 - 12/29/19 | Fall 2019 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 06/24/19 - 11/29/19 | 12/02/19 - 01/26/20 | Fall 2019 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 07/29/19 - 01/03/20 | 01/06/20 - 03/01/20 | Winter 2020 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/19 - 01/31/20 | 02/03/20 - 03/29/20 | Winter 2020 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/19 - 02/28/20 | 03/02/20 - 04/26/20 | Winter 2020 Session D | 8 Week session |
Current Syllabi
Upon completion of this course, the student will have:
1. Examined factors affecting a person’s choice of violence to support political ideals.
2. Delineated the differences between terrorism as a defense and terrorism as a violent choice.
3. Differentiated various ideologies surrounding terrorist groups.
4. Examined methods employed by terrorists to achieve their goals including recruiting and tactics.
5. Analyzed the effect that group mentality has on individual members
6. Examined psychological concepts applied in the field of counter-terrorism.
FORUMS: Discussion forums scheduled during all eight weeks of the course. Instructions are located on the classroom Forums link on the classroom left-screen menu.
Weekly Assignments: Assignments are required during weeks 2, 3, 6, and 7 of the course. Instructions are in the Assignments link on the classroom left-screen menu.
EXAMS: The course Midterm (Week 4) and Final (Week 8) Exams are accessed via the Tests & Quizzes link on the classroom left-screen menu.
| Name | Grade % |
|---|---|
| Forums | 32.00 % |
| Week 1 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 2 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 3 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 4 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 5 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 6 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 7 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Week 8 Forum | 4.00 % |
| Assignments | 40.00 % |
| Week 2 Review Paper Exploring Radical Ideology in America | 10.00 % |
| Week 3 Developing a Theory of Terrorism | 10.00 % |
| Week 6 Assignment: Recruiting a Terrorist | 10.00 % |
| Week 7 Current Events in Counterterrorism | 10.00 % |
| Exams | 28.00 % |
| Final Essay Exam | 14.00 % |
| Midterm_Essay Exam | 14.00 % |
| Unassigned | 0.00 % |
| RealizeIT | 0.00 % |
| Final Essay Exam | 0.00 % |
Reich, W. (1998) Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind. Washington DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press
Jaber, H. (1999) Hezbollah: Born with a vengeance. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
Toolis, K. (1997) Rebel hearts: Journeys within the IRA’s soul. St. Martin's Press.
Randal, J. (2011) Osama: The making of a terrorist. New York, NY, Knoph.
| Book Title: | The Moral Psychology of Terrorism: Implications for Security - e-book available in the APUS Online Library, link also provided in the classroom lessons section. |
| ISBN: | 9781443844703 |
| Publication Info: | Cambridge Scholars Publishing |
| Author: | Lean, Nathan |
| Unit Cost: | $88.41 |
Previous Syllabi
Not current for future courses.