CMJS/SOCI 4013 Homeland Security Instructor Information: Professor: Dr. Gruenewald (jgruenew@uark.edu) TA: Kristin Kelley (kxk001@uark.edu) Office Location: Old Main 221 Office Phone: 479-575-2057 Office Hours: T, Th 2-4pm (or by appointment) Course Information: Day: T,Th Time: 11-12:20pm Building/Rm: JBHT 0148 Course Description This course examines issues of homeland security. The first portion of the course will consist of an introduction to intelligence and counterterrorism, including issues of defining and measuring terrorism threats. The second part of the course addresses how counterterrorism intelligence is gathered, developed, and utilized. The third portion of the course addresses responses to modern and emerging terrorist threats. Finally, balancing counterterrorism with the protection of civil liberties in the United States will be addressed in this course. Learning Outcomes After successful completion of this course the student will be able to: demonstrate an understanding of the many issues of defining and understanding intelligence and counterterrorism. demonstrate an understanding of how counterterrorism intelligence is processed. demonstrate an understanding of emerging threats to the homeland. demonstrate an understanding of the dilemmas of domestic security and civil rights. Required Reading Ronczkowski, M.R. (2012). Terrorism and organized hate crime: Intelligence, analysis, and investigations (3 rd ed). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. *Readings will be assigned every week from books and other assigned articles that will be provided on blackboard. Students will be expected to read the entirety of the assigned reading and to be ready to discuss the materials for each class period. Course Requirements Exams (50 pts each/100 points total) There will be two (2) essay-based exams for this course. The exams will be administered to gauge student comprehension of the course materials provided via lecture, readings, and any videos shown in class. All material covered in the assigned reading and any additional information provided during class is testable.
Writing Assignments (50 points total/10 pts each) Questions or comments relevant to the topics of the week will be posted on Blackboard. You will be expected to respond to the posted question or statement. For many of us, the best way to think critically through course issues is to write about them. There will be a total of 6 writing assignments, but only your best 5 scores will count toward your grade. You will submit your weekly writing assignments to Blackboard (discussed more in class). Do not submit your weekly writing assignments as emails! Your assignments must be between 250 and 300 words (not including your name, title, subheadings, etc.). Research Assignments (50 points total) There are five (5) research assignments in this course worth 10 points each. While the purpose of each assignment is unique all serve as steps toward completing group term papers. The due dates for each assignment are on the Course Calendar. You will upload each research assignment to Blackboard. More specific directions for each assignment will be provided later in the semester. Assignment 1 Research Topic: Write a 1 page profile of your assigned terrorist event. Assignment 2 Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography: Conduct an extensive review of the literature in order to identity relevant research articles and books. Create an annotated bibliography based on these materials. Assignment 3 Preliminary Outline: Create an outline of each section of your group s paper. For each section, discuss the objective and supporting elements for reaching that objective. Assignment 4 Abstract: Write a 1 page abstract of your group s paper which will ultimately be included in your term paper. The abstract should address the objective of your paper and a description of each major section. Assignment 5 Rough Draft: Complete a first or rough draft of your paper that includes every section of your group s paper. Comments will be provided to be used to improve papers. Group Term Paper (100 pts total) You will be required to complete a term paper in groups of 4-5 students. The research assignments will help you step-by-step to complete your term paper on an assigned homeland security topic. There will be time provided during class to collaboratively complete portions of your term paper, ask questions, and receive feedback. Each student will be assigned to a group early in the semester. There will be no swapping of groups amongst students. More specific information will be provided about term paper expectations and requirements. Below are
some topics that should be included in your papers: 1. Details of assigned terrorist attack and key actors in the attack 2. How the attack fits within social and historical context 3. Why the attack was successful (or unsuccessful) 4. Details of investigation into the attack by law enforcement 5. How media, the public, law enforcement, and other government officials responded 6. The threat of similar attacks Formatting and Other Requirements: Title Page: student names, title of paper, date submitted, on separate page Abstract: ½ page, single space, on separate page Page length: 10-12 pages Spacing: double space Margins: default margins Page Numbers: center, bottom of each page Due Date: 4/27/11 Group Presentations (50 pts total): Groups will be required to present their papers to the class. After spending nearly the entire semester researching and writing their term paper, each group should feel comfortable sharing what they have learned. The content, format, and presentation style will factor into student grades. Formatting and Requirements: Format: Microsoft PowerPoint Number of Slides: 6or less slides (not including title slide) Length: 10-12 minutes *Important: Group papers and presentations are truly meant to be a group effort. In order to facilitate group efforts, class time will be allocated for collaborative work on the term paper and presentation. These classes are referred to as work days in the Course Calendar below. Attendance will be taken each class period. If it is clear that a group member is not contributing equally to the group s effort, she or he will be removed from the group and given alternative assignments to complete. Grades Grades will be based on (2) non-cumulative essay exams, (5) writing assignments, (5) group research assignments, (1) group term paper, and (1) group presentation.
Grade Allocation Assignment Type Total Points Exams (2) 100 Individual Writing Assignments (5) 50 Group Research Assignments (5) 50 Group Term Paper (1) 100 Group Presentations (1) 50 Policies and Expectations Attendance Students are expected to attend every class period. A sign-in sheet will be provided during class. Absences will only be considered excused with proper documentation. If you know that you will need to miss a class it is to your benefit to discuss it with me during office hours or by appointment. Please do not email me regarding unexcused absences. I understand that there are instances where it is not possible to attend. In these situations, it is your responsibility to attain course notes from a classmate. Professionalism Classroom Expectations: The classroom is a place where all students should feel safe to express their thoughts and opinions without fear of reprisal from others. Any disrespect toward others in the class will not be tolerated. Classroom disruptions of any sort will also not be tolerated. Please refrain from reading newspapers, surfing the World Wide Web, chatting with others, etc. Communication: In addition to office hours, the primary way to communicate with me is through Blackboard email. Expectations for respectful behavior extend to email correspondence. All correspondence to the professor should include professional salutations and proper grammar. I will not disclose specific grades or discuss grades in general over email. Make-Up and Late Work There are no makeup opportunities for unexcused absences. Late work may be accepted with penalty on a case-by-case basis. Academic Dishonesty As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study and research in an environment that promotes freedom of inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity prevail. Each University of Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the
University s Academic Integrity Policy which may be found at http://provost.uark.edu/ Students with questions about how these policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor. Students with Disabilities University of Arkansas Academic Policy Series 1520.10 requires that students with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact me privately at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Center for Educational Access (contact 479 575 3104 or visit http://cea.uark.edu for more information on registration procedures). See http://provost.uark.edu/2010_faculty_handbook.pdf Course Schedule Date Topic Assignments Week 1 Jan 17-19 Session 1: Introductions & Course Overview Session 2: Defining and Typifying Terrorism & Counterterrorism Ronczkowski, Chapter 1 Nacos, B.L. (2008). The perennial debate: What is terrorism? (Chapter 2). Terrorism and counterterrorism (2 nd ed.), pp.17-35. New York: Pearson. (provided in class) Week 2 Jan 24-26 Terrorism in Historical Context Ronczkowski, Chapter 2 Nacos, B.L. (2008). Terrorism in the American context (Chapter 3). Terrorism and counterterrorism (2nd ed.), pp.58-81 New York: Pearson. (provided in class) Gottlieb, S. (Chapter 1). Is the new terrorism really new? (provided in class) Week 3 Jan 31- Feb 2 Session 1: Work Day Session 2: Explaining Terrorism Crenshaw, M. (1990). The logic of terrorism: Terrorist behavior as a product of strategic choice. In W. Reich, (Ed.), Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind (pp. 7-24). Washington, D.C. Woodrow Wilson Center Press. Post, J.M. (1990). Terrorist psycho-logic: Terrorist behavior as a product of psychological forces. In Reich, W. (Ed.), Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind (pp. 25-42). Washington, D.C. Woodrow Wilson Center Press.
Group Research Assignment 1 Due Friday Feb 3 rd at 5pm Week 4 Feb 7-9 Session 1: Introduction to Homeland Security and Intelligence Session 2: Meet in Library Ronczkowski, Chapters 3 & 4 Silke, A. (2004). The devil you know: Continuing problems with research on terrorism. Research on terrorism: Trends, achievements and failures (57-71). London: Frank Cass. (provided in class) Writing Assignment 2 Due Feb 10 th at 5pm Week 5 Feb 14-16 Week 6 Feb 21-23 Session 1: Types of Intelligence Session 2: Process of Gathering Intelligence Developing Intelligence, Threat Assessment, and Profiling Targets Ronczkowski, Chapters 5 & 6 McGarrell, E., Freilich, J., & Chermak, S. (2011). Intelligence-led policing as a framework for responding to terrorism. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 23(2), 142-158. (provided in class) Group Research Assignment 2 Due Friday Feb 17 th at 5pm Ronczkowski, Chapters 7 & 8 Writing Assignment 3 Due Feb 24 th at 5pm Week 7 Feb 28- Mar 1 Session 1: Exam 1 Review Session 2: Exam 1 Exam 1 Week 8 Mar 6-8 9/11, The Threat of Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad Hoffman, B. (2003). Al Qaeda, trends in terrorism and future potentialities: An assessment. Santa Monica, CA: RAND. http://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/p8078/p8078.pdf Gottlieb, Chapter 4 (provided in class) Group Research Assignment 3 Due Friday Mar 9th at 5pm Week 9 Mar 13-15 Media and Counterterrorism Canadian Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies, Al Qaeda propaganda and media strategy. The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. http://www.itac.gc.ca/pblctns/tc_prsnts/2007-2-eng.pdf
Nacos, B.L. (2009). Post 9-11 terrorism threats, news coverage, and public perceptions in the United States. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 1(2), 105-126. Available at http://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/view/10/10 Writing Assignment 4 Due March 16 th at 5pm Week 10 Mar 19-23 Week 11 Mar 27-29 None National Counterterrorism Strategies None Gottlieb, S. (Chapter 7). Counterterrorism Strategies: Do we need bombs over bridges? (provided in class) Perl, R.F. (2001). Terrorism, the future, and U.S. foreign policy. Congressional Research Service. Library of Congress. Writing Assignment 5 Due March 30 th at 5pm Group Research Assignment 4 Due Friday Mar 30th at 5pm Week 12 Apr 3-5 Session 1: WMDs and Biological Terrorism Session 2: Lone Wolf Terrorism Parachini, J. (2003). Putting WMD terrorism into perspective. The Washington Quarterly, 26, 37-50. Spaaij, R. (2010). The enigma of lone wolf terrorism: An assessment. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 33, 854-870. (provided in class) Mowatt-Larseen, R. (2010). Al Qaeda weapons of mass destruction threat: Hype or reality? Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. (provided in class) Edwin Bakker and Beatrice de Graaf, (2010). Lone Wolves: How to Prevent this Phenomenon? International Centre for Counter- Terrorism-The Hague (provided in class) Week 13 Apr 10-12 Countering Emerging Threats: Cyberterrorism Cilluffo, F., & Pattak, P.B. (2006) Cyber threats: Ten issues to consider. In Howard, R., Forest, J., & Moore, J. Homeland security and terrorism. Readings and Interpretations (pp.167-175).ny: McGraw Hill.
Weimann, G. (2005). Cyberterrorism: The sum of all fears? Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 28, 129-149. Work Day and Meet with Professor 4/12 Group Research Assignment 5 Due Friday April 13th at 5pm Week 14 Apr 17-19 Homeland Security & Civil Liberties Gottlieb, S. (Chapter 11). Counterterrorism and the constitution: Does providing security require a trade-off with civil liberties? (provided in class) Chang, N. (2006) The USA Patriot Act: What s so patriotic about trampling on the Bill of Rights? In Howard, R., Forest, J., & Moore, J. Homeland security and terrorism. Readings and Interpretations (pp.369-383).ny: McGraw Hill. Writing Assignment 6 Due April 20 th at 5pm Week 15 Apr 24-26 Homeland Security & Guantanamo Bay Gottlieb, S. (Chapter 10). Is an outright ban the best way to eliminate or constrain torture? (provided in class) Tashimi, A.W. Play it again, Sam. Law and Contemporary Problems, 69(7), 7-14. (provided in class) Final Papers Due April 27 th at 5pm Week 16 May 1-3 Week 17 May 8 Group Paper Presentations Final Exam 10:15-12:15 Group Paper Presentations (Both Days) Exam 2 *Note: The instructor reserves the right to make changes or updates to the syllabus at any point during the semester.