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Rationale for a Minor in Terrorism Studies
Studying terrorism requires an inter-disciplinary approach; the
nation needs knowledgeable leaders in the discipline from both
humanities and science backgrounds. This program is
interdisciplinary, with emphasis on political science and
comparative politics, developed as a component of the
newly-dedicated General Wayne A. Downing Terrorism Studies Program.
As various departments develop new courses, they may be included on
the list of electives available to fulfill the Minor on Terrorism
Studies, broadening cadets’ exposure to the diverse and complex
issues within the new national security environment.
About the Combating Terrorism Center at
West Point
The Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point endeavors to
develop an internationally recognized center for terrorism studies
to understand better the foreign and domestic terrorist threats to
security, to educate future leaders who will have responsibilities
to counter terrorism, and to provide policy analysis and assistance
to leaders dealing with the current and future terrorist threat. For
more information, please visit the CTC website at
http://ctc.usma.edu
Prerequisite – SS307: International
Relations
The core course in international relations (SS307) is a required
prerequisite, providing cadets with a basic theoretical framework.
This prerequisite and five-course sequence will expose cadets to the
wider national security context, and provide them with a solid
grounding in terrorism studies for their careers working in the new
national security environment.
Because SS307 provides the foundations for thinking critically about
security issues, cadets should not begin the minor until they are
able to concurrently enroll in SS307. Cadets can enroll in selected
electives concurrently with SS307, but can only begin taking other
required and elective Social Science courses after completing SS307.
Course Requirements for a Minor in Terrorism Studies
The terrorism studies minor consists of two required courses (SS474:
Terrorism and Counterterrorism and SS464: Homeland Security), and
three electives, fitting within the cadet’s 8TAP, with no double
counting of course work.
Required Courses – SS474 and SS464
SS474: Terrorism and Counterterrorism. The cornerstone of the Minor
in Terrorism Studies is SS474. This course uses an interdisciplinary
approach to address the challenges of terrorism in the current and
future global security environment. Cadets analyze the differing
perspectives of terrorism given a variety of political and strategic
contexts to better understand terrorist motivations, strategies,
means and ends. The course examines the unique challenge terrorism
poses to liberal democratic states, policymakers and military
professionals, and explores how a liberal democratic state can best
fight terrorism in this new threat environment.
SS464: Homeland Security. SS464 provides future leaders with a broad
understanding of the homeland security challenge. Cadets will learn
about the major policy and institutional reforms underway in the
homeland security policy area, examine whether these changes are
improving or will improve U.S. security, and develop their own views
on the direction of national homeland security policy. By the end of
the course, students will gain a solid intellectual foundation to
think critically and creatively about America’s efforts to prevent
terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce our vulnerability
to terrorist attack, and minimize the damage and recover from
attacks that may occur.
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Required Electives
Cadets may pursue
two tracks in the terrorism studies minor: the Strategic Track, or
the Regional/Cultural Track. For the Strategic Track, cadets
choose two strategic electives and one regional/cultural elective.
For the Regional/Cultural Track, cadets choose two regional/cultural
electives, and one strategic elective.
Cadets may choose from an extensive, flexible,
interdisciplinary list of possible electives (see following page),
thus designing their program to complement their other coursework.
Cadets will gain exposure to both strategic terrorism-related
courses and regional/cultural application by choosing one elective
from each category. Cadets can then essentially focus slightly more
on strategic issues, or on regional/cultural issues, by choosing
their third elective from either category. This provides cadets with
the ability to focus their studies according to their interests. As
departments develop or delete courses offered, the list of electives
will change. The Combating Terrorism Center will work closely with
Department DACs to regularly update the list of courses that can be
counted toward a Minor in Terrorism Studies.
Cadets may also choose from a variety of seminars, colloquia,
summer AIADs for credit, and independent studies in any department,
when topics are offered that are relevant to the Terrorism Studies
Minor. Approval authority for inclusion of these courses is
the Terrorism Studies DAC in the Department of Social Sciences, who
will coordinate with the offering department.
Strategic Electives
CS482
Information Assurance
EV487
Environmental Security
HI381
History Of Unconventional Warfare
HI383
Middle Eastern Warfare
IT460
Information Warfare
LW482
National Security Law
MS360
Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict
NE456
Nuclear Weapons & Weapons Effects
PL383
Social Psychology
SS476
Conflict & Negotiation
SS478
Bradley Professor Course
SS483
National Security Seminar
SS486
International Security Seminar
SS491
Advanced Terrorism Studies
Regional/Cultural Electives
EV372
Geography Of Asia
EV373
Geography Of Latin America
EV374
Geography Of Middle East & Africa
HI374
History Of Africa
HI379
History Of Latin America
HI380
History Of The Middle East
HI391
History Of World Religions
LW410
Comparative Legal Systems
MS455
Comparative Military Systems
PL371
Introductory Sociology
PL384
Sociological Theory
ss366
Comparative Politics
SS372
Politics & Govt Of China
SS374
Politics & Govt Of The Koreas & Japan
SS381
Cultural And Political Anthropology
SS383
Politics & Governments Of The Middle East
SS384
Politics & Governments Of Latin America
SS475
Democratization
SS485
Politics & Development Of Sub-Saharan Africa
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