Course Syllabus

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DSC 4012-0W61: Terrorism

Department of Criminal Justice, College of Community Innovation and Education

3 Credit Hours

Table of Contents

General Course Information
Course Description
Course Materials and Resources
Student Learning Outcomes
Course Activities
Grading Information
Course Schedule
Policy Statements

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: Fall 2023
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).
An outline analyzing a terrorist organization utilizing the analytical markers discussed in class is required.
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 outline.

Written Outline (see Module 12 for additional instructions)

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: August 27, 2023

First Day charges will post to UCF Student Account as “Digital Course Material” fee: August 29, 2023

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.

Fall 2023

Opt-In Deadline: August 27

First Day charges will post to UCF Student Account as “Digital Course Material” fee: August 29

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.

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
Final Exam	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

Academic Integrity

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, "Academic Misconduct," students are prohibited from engaging in:

Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
Helping another violate academic behavior standards.

For more information about Academic Integrity, students may consult The Center for Academic Integrity.

For more information about plagiarism and misuse of sources, see “Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices”.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule . UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to academic misconduct. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student’s official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade.

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need specific access in this course, such as accommodations, should contact the professor as soon as possible to discuss various access options. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons, 7F, Room 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable.

Campus Safety Statement

Fully online course sections (W, V)

Though most emergency situations are primarily relevant to courses that meet in person, such incidents can also impact online students, either when they are on or near campus to participate in other courses or activities or when their course work is affected by off-campus emergencies. The following policies apply to courses in online modalities.

To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to <https://my.ucf.eduLinks to an external site.> and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.

Sections with face-to-face components (M, RA, RV)

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Students should make a note of the guide’s physical location and review the online version at <http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.htmlLinks to an external site.>.
Students should know the evacuation routes from each of their classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency.
If there is a medical emergency during class, students may need to access a first-aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those are located, see <http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/AEDlocations-UCFLinks to an external site.> (click on link from menu on left).
To stay informed about emergency situations, students can sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to <https://my.ucf.eduLinks to an external site.> and logging in. Click on “Student Self Service” located on the left side of the screen in the toolbar, scroll down to the blue “Personal Information” heading on the Student Center screen, click on “UCF Alert”, fill out the information, including e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click “Apply” to save the changes, and then click “OK.”
Students with special needs related to emergency situations should speak with their instructors outside of class.
To learn about how to manage an active-shooter situation on campus or elsewhere, consider viewing this video You CAN Survive an Active Shooter

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

Third-Party Software and FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date	Details	Due

December 2025

Calendar
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