GSST 4303 Counter Terrorism & Homeland Security
This course engages students in advanced analysis of Counter Terrorism (CT) and Homeland Security (HS) in the 21st century. Students will trace the evolution of terrorism, analyze its ideological and strategic drivers, and evaluate organizational structures of state and non-state actors. Emphasis is placed on assessing how governments design, implement, and appraise security strategies to prevent, deter, and respond to threats. Key topics include intelligence analysis, critical infrastructure protection, border security, emergency planning, and legal and ethical challenges. Through case studies and simulations, students will synthesize knowledge to critique current CT and HS frameworks and create risk-based strategies for mitigating domestic and international security threats.