Course Syllabus

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DSC 4012-0W61: Terrorism

Criminal Justice, CCIE

3 Credit Hours

Table of Contents

 

Instructor Information 

  • Instructor: James G. Rhodes
  • Office Location: Online
  • Office Hours: By phone, Monday 6p-8p, Wednesday 7p-8p, Sunday 6p-8p. If outside these times, call, leave a vm, or text anyway.
  • Phone: 407-448-0101
  • Digital Contact: james.rhodes@ucf.edu

Course Information

  • Term: Spring 2022
  • Course Number & Section: DSC 4012-0W61
  • Course Name: Terrorism
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Class Meeting Days: N/A, on-line
  • Class Meeting Time: N/A, on-line 
  • Class Location: On-line
  • Course Modality: W

Enrollment Requirements 

Course Prerequisites (if applicable): Sophomore standing and ENC 1102

Course Description

An examination of competing ideologies of a variety of social and political conflicts (both international and domestic) that give rise to terrorism and of the implications for the criminal justice system. An analysis of groups' challenge/response cycle to better understand their motivations to conduct terror acts. Occasional.

Course Materials and Resources

Required Materials/Resources

  • Homeland Security and Terrorism 2nd Edition, Larry Gaines, Janine Kremling, and Victor Kappeler, Pearson Publishing, ISBN-9780134549170 (See First Day Inclusive Access Program details below)
  • A Practitioner’s Way Forward: Terrorism Analysis, Brannen, Darken, and Strindberg, Agile Press, ISBN-0983074569 or 978-0983074564

Optional Materials/Resources

  • None

Third-Party Accessibility and Privacy Statements

N/A

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Define and explain the importance of terrorism
  • Discuss major international terrorist groups and issues associated with their causes
  • Examine major terrorist groups in the world today and the threat they pose to the US
  • Identify and describe the major issues associated with domestic terrorist groups
  • Examine various terrorist groups and challenges they pose for the criminal justice system
  • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses with strategies and tactics used to counter terrorism
  • Discuss how terrorists, security forces, and governments try to use the media as a weapon
  • Analyze terrorist groups using analytical markers/traits to explain why they conduct attacks and/or exist

Course Activities

  • Check on learning activities such as matching exercises will be used throughout the course to assess learning and highlight information that may be included on the exams.
  • Power Point (PP) presentations are attached to each module. Most slides have notes on them that can be viewed when the PP is downloaded (I suggest downloading them to your computer). Slides also have audio attached if you prefer listening over reading, or do both. The notes cover what I feel is the more important information from each chapter. 
  • Weekly discussions will be graded for participation and content. The discussions may be about the assigned readings, videos, case studies, or current events. A significant current event will become the priority of discussions. Students are expected to read other discussion posts in order to understand the discussion as well as not post information that has been debunked. Although personal emotions are understandable, discussions based on facts and legal point of view is more relevant. I will debunk bad information that is posted as fact. Be respectful of other's point of view and approach the discussion with an open mind. 
  • Weekly exercises will be graded for participation as a "check on learning" and to reinforce certain topics, terms, or definitions. 
  • Weekly quizzes/exams will be graded to assess knowledge from the assigned texts and other pertinent information delivered via Power Point (Download the PP's prior to the Modules and read the notes).
  • A written paper analyzing a terrorist organization utilizing the analytical markers discussed in class is required. The paper will be the culminating assessment of the class objectives. 
  • There are no Extra Credit assignments in this course.
  • Students should have regular access to the Internet and plan on logging on 3-4 times a week. Reading the chapters and case studies are required to pass the quizzes and exams. Plan on approximately 5 hours of weekly work to keep up on readings, assignments, and steadily working on your paper. 

Written Paper (see Module 12 for additional instructions)

A minimum of 1500 word paper analyzing a terrorist organization using the Social Identity Theory to put yourself in their shoes to identify, explain, and provide examples of the analytical cultural markers (honor/shame, challenge/response, patron/client and limited good).

  • Use Times New Roman, Font 12, 1-inch margins, double spaced.
  • Papers will be submitted in Word format.
  • Footnotes will be used for citations with an included Reference page (Footnotes and References do not count as word count. References are everything you looked at while researching, and Footnotes is only what you cited in the paper).
  • If Footnotes are not included there will be a deduction of 20 points to start.
  • Paper MUST have a minimum of 1500 words and no more than 2000 words of content. If under 1500 words, or more than 2000, 20 points will automatically be deducted to start.
  • You should have roughly 300 words per marker, with the other 300 for intro and conclusion. DO NOT include an Abstract or Executive Summary.
  • Paper is due April 16, 2021 by 11:59 PM. NO papers will be accepted after this date. Without this paper, the best grade you can get in this class is a 61.5%, if you received full credit for all other assignments.
  • Once a paper is submitted, it is considered ready to be graded, even if turned in before the due date(s). 
  • The first version, turned in by April 16, 2021 by 11:59 PM, will be graded and/or returned by April 20, 2021 by 11:59 PM.
  • Papers returned due to a lack of understanding of the topic will have 31 points deducted. Returned papers are to be resubmitted by April 25, 2021 at 11:59 PM. Papers will be returned only 1 time. Only 2 submissions are allowed. If paper is returned and you choose not to update by April 25th, it will be graded as is starting with a 31 point deduction. Updated papers will also have 31 points deducted to start.
  • Returned papers will be graded upon turn in, not necessarily the new due date.
  • For papers that have the proper word count and include foot notes, each marker is worth 60 points, equaling 240 points. The remaining 60 points is for grammar, format, and proper references.

20 Points

Grammar, format

20 Points

Less than 1500 words, or more than 2000 words

60 Points

Honor/Shame Paradigm

60 Points

Patron/Client Relationships

60 Points

Limited Good

60 Points

Challenge/Response Cycle

10 Point

Citations (Foot Notes)

10 Points

Reference Page

Your first submission will be returned if it appears your first submission score will drop you 2 letter grades overall, or to a D or F. If you fail to resubmit, then the grade will stand.

Activity Submissions

Assignments will be submitted through canvas. Guidelines for submitting the final paper will be provided separately with a rubric. Discussion post instructions will be included in each module. 

Attendance/Participation

Participation is required to pass the course. Activities, quizzes, and discussions will only be available for specified times. Once they are closed you will not be allowed to complete except for acceptable absences (see below). All module activities will be open for at least 9 days, allowing plenty of time for completion.

  • Athletes are expected to provide documentation of schedule conflicts prior to the conflict arising.
  • Requests for excused absences need to requested prior to 48 hours before the due date/time. You can email, text, or call me. Waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment is unacceptable.
  • Participation points are accumulated by completing discussion posts, exercises, and quizzes within each module. Instructions for each discussion post will be outline in each module. 

The Undergraduate Catalog states, “Reasons for acceptable absences may include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligations, severe weather conditions, and religious holidays.”

First Day® Inclusive Access Program

The link is provided in the Course Materials tab to the left.

To enhance your learning experience and provide affordable access to the right course material, this course is part of an inclusive access model called First Day™. You can easily access Homeland Security and Terrorism 2nd Edition, Larry Gaines, Janine Kremling, and Victor Kappeler, Pearson Publishing, ISBN-9780134549170 for this course at a discounted price, and benefit from single sign-on access with no codes required in UCF Webcourses.

UCF Student Accounts will bill you at the discounted price as a course charge for this course.

It is recommended that you Opt-In as this material is required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt-In on the first day of class, right within Canvas. Be sure to Opt-In before the Add/Drop deadline to have access to your course materials at the discounted price. 

Opt-In Deadline: January 16, 2022

First Day charges will post to UCF Student Account as “Digital Course Material” fee: January 18, 2022

By placing your digital course materials on Webcourses@UCF, the UCF Campus Store and the publisher of your textbook has discounted your course material to bring you the lowest price available.  To take advantage of this discounted rate, you will need to Opt-In to have the cost of this material billed to your UCF Student Account under a fee called “Digital Course Materials”.  This means you can access the course material today, and will not have to pay for them until the UCF fee payment deadline on your UCF Student Account.   

It is recommended that you Opt-In as this material is required to complete the course. You can choose to Opt-In on the first day of class, right within UCF Webcourses. Be sure to Opt-In before the deadline term deadline to have access to your course material at the discounted price.  If you do not Opt-In or miss the deadline, you will have to purchase your material at the UCF Campus Store or other vendor at a significantly higher rate.

Spring 2022

Opt-In Deadline: January 16

First Day charges will post to UCF Student Account as “Digital Course Material” fee: January 18

If you are still deciding, you can Opt-In or Opt-out as many times as you like during the Add/Drop period, but once the deadline passes, the Opt-In option is removed and students are directed to purchase in-store or at ucf.bncollege.com and the retail price.  We cannot add you back into the program once the deadline closes.  After the Opt-In deadline passes, all sales are final.  Refunds are not available on First Day course materials.

Most financial aid sources will cover First Day Digital Course Materials, but please check with your provider to ensure these fees will be covered by your financial aid before Opt-ing In.  If you are unsure, please Opt-Out and obtain your course materials from the UCF Campus Store.  If you Opt-In and your financial aid does not cover Digital Course Materials, you will be responsible for paying your UCF Student Account. 

If you are paying for tuition/books with a Veteran Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation, Dual Enrollment, Division of Blind Services or other third-party voucher, you will need to obtain your course materials from the UCF Campus Store.  Do not Opt-In for the First Day program.

Please keep in mind, that while the two programs sound similar, the First Day program is separate from the Textbook Purchase Program.  Textbook Purchase Program funds do not cover the First Day Inclusive Access program and will be a separate fee.

If you are a self-pay student, you will pay for this fee on your UCF Student Account how you would normally pay for tuition and fees.

The First Day Digital Course Materials charge will be placed on your account during the second week of class, so even if you Opt-In today, you will not see the charge until after the Add/Drop period.

As part of the First Day program, the publisher content will be available for everyone during the first week of class.  If you do not take any action to Opt-In or you choose to Opt-Out, your access will be cut off by the second week of class.  Please do not think you have Opt-In if you access the publisher content first during this period without clicking on “Course Materials” and selecting to Opt-In.  

If you are using Pearson courseware, your course materials will be loaded into the Modules.  Safari is not compatible.

Compatible web browsers:  Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer.  Safari is NOT compatible.

For more information and FAQs go to customercare.bncollege.com.

Student Experience Video: https://youtu.be/bNhSdKueifU

In-Class Recording Policy

Students may, without prior notice, record video or audio of a class lecture for a class in which the student is enrolled for their own personal educational use. A class lecture is defined as a formal or methodical oral presentation as part of a university course intended to present information or teach enrolled students about a particular subject. Recording class activities other than class lectures, including but not limited to lab sessions, student presentations (whether individually or part of a group), class discussion (except when incidental to and incorporated within a class lecture), clinical presentations such as patient history, academic exercises involving student participation, test or examination administrations, field trips, private conversations between students in the class or between a student and the faculty member, and invited guest speakers is prohibited. Recordings may not be used as a substitute for class participation and/or class attendance and may not be published or shared without the written consent of the faculty member. Failure to adhere to these requirements may constitute a violation of the University’s Student Code of Conduct as described in the Golden Rule.

Make-up Exams and Assignments

Per university policy, you are allowed to submit make-up work (or an equivalent, alternate assignment) for authorized university-sponsored activities, religious observances, or legal obligations (such as jury duty). If this participation conflicts with your course assignments, I will offer a reasonable opportunity for you to complete missed assignments and/or exams. The make-up assignment and grading scale will be equivalent to the missed assignment and its grading scale. In the case of an authorized university activity, it is your responsibility to show me a signed copy of the Program Verification Form for which you will be absent, prior to the class in which the absence occurs. In any of these cases, please contact me ahead of time to notify me of upcoming needs.

Title IX

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex that interferes with educational opportunities is unlawful.  If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find resources available to support the victim, including confidential resources, and information concerning reporting options at https://letsbeclear.ucf.edu/ Perpetrators are subject to expulsion or termination and may also be subject to criminal penalties.

COVID 19

During the Fall 2021 term, UCF started offering more of the in-person classes, services and experiences that contribute so much to student success. We want this to be a good and successful experience for you, and we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible if you have not done so already. Doing so is critical for your health and for the good of our campus community.

Doctors and scientists – including UCF alumnus Darin Edwards, director of immunology at Moderna – spent nearly a year developing three vaccines that are proven to be effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. 

Vaccines are safe, effective and readily available at no cost and by appointment or walk-up at Student Health Services or a location in your community or close to home. There is a vaccine waiting to be administered to you. 

Because vaccines are widely available and extremely effective, UCF will not offer special considerations or extended online alternatives to in-person instruction this fall. UCF has long provided a blend of online, hybrid and in-person courses as part of our instruction, and we will continue to do so. However, courses that transitioned to remote learning this past year will return to their traditional settings with in-person instruction starting with the fall term. 

Current CDC guidelines call for individuals who have not been vaccinated to quarantine following a positive test or exposure to an infected individual. This will mean that unvaccinated students who contract or are exposed to the virus will have to quarantine or isolate and may have to leave campus for that period. In this circumstance, the student will be expected to make up classwork, the same as a student who falls ill from the flu or other illness, for example. 

Those who choose not to be vaccinated assume the risks of contracting COVID-19 and its impact on their studies, work and other activities. 

Orlando joins communities around the nation in seeing a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, nearly entirely among the unvaccinated, sparked by the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. This increase is why each of us must get fully vaccinated to protect ourselves and help keep our campus fully operational. 

 UCF is continuing to monitor the pandemic in consultation with local, state and national public health officials. Pandemic precautions such as the COVID Line, contact tracing, wastewater testing, genomic surveillance and the optional COVID Self-Checker will remain in effect through the fall. Masks are optional and everyone is encouraged to follow the latest CDC guidance regarding wearing masks in public spaces. Vaccines will continue to be available at Student Health Services. For additional information on UCF's policy regarding COVID, click here.

Assessment and Grading Procedures

The table shows points assigned to each Module.

Assignment

Points

Module 0

16

Module 1

49

Module 2

49

Module 3

34

Module 4

34

Module 5

34

Module 6

34

Module 7

34

Module 8

34

Module 9

34

Module 10

34

Module 11

34

Module 12/Outline

50

Module 12/Analysis Paper

300

Total

770

 

Letter Grade

Points

A

693-770

B

616-692

C

539-615

D

462-538

F

0-461

Consult the latest Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for regulations and procedures regarding grading such as Incomplete grades, grade changes, and grade forgiveness.

Course Schedule

Click above for the Course Schedule.

 

 

University Services and Resources

Academic Services and Resources

A list of available academic support and learning services is available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Academic Support and Learning Services" on the right-hand side to filter.  

Non-Academic Services and Resources

A list of non-academic support and services is also available at UCF Student Services. Click on "Support" on the right-hand side to filter.  

If you are a UCF Online student, please consult the UCF Online Student Guidelines for more information about your access to non-academic services.

Policy Statements

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due