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Understanding Terrorism and the Terrorist Threat | MOOC Free Course

30.01.2014
Americké centrum, Tržiště 13, Praha 1
Fee: Please submit a statement of why you are interested in participating and sign up at acprague@state.gov by Jan 29

About the Event

Take an online course from the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) Terrorism Studies Department. WE ARE STARTING ON JANUARY 30, 2014 at 4 pm at the American Center, Trziste 13, Praha 1.
Please submit a statement of why you are interested in participating and sign up at acprague@state.gov by Jan 29 (see section 7)

1. What is this?

The course “Understanding Terrorism and the Terrorist Threat” is offered by the University of Maryland via Coursera, a Massive Open Online Course platform. At the same time, the American Center will serve as a MeetUp place where you can discuss the topics covered in the course with American diplomats, scholars, experts as well as other students.

Not only will you earn a certificate from Coursera, but if you participate regularly, you can also earn a Certificate of Accomplishment from the American Center and the U.S. Embassy in Prague during a formal graduation ceremony.

No experience with Coursera? Never mind! We will show you around!

SIGNATURE TRACK FOR FREE!

Coursera Offers Free Signature Track to Embassies: Coursera has offered fee waivers for any student in the American Center’s MeetUp who would like to get a verified certificate (normally a $50 USD fee).

What is Signature track?

Signature track is an official recognition for your achievement. It is a certificate that can be verified.

The first meeting to discuss the course content, the first video series will take place at the American Center on January 30, 2014 at 4 pm. We will meet every Thursday for 7 weeks.

2. More About the Course:

The online course “Understanding Terrorism and the Terrorist Threat” starts on January 27, 2014.

Terrorism Studies does not fall within any one traditional academic discipline, and it is often plagued by subjectivity and a lack of empirical data. The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence housed at the University of Maryland, will apply its multi-disciplinary and mixed-method approach to research in this course, utilizing theory and quantitative and qualitative research from a range of the social and behavioral sciences including Criminology, Psychology, Political Science and Communications Studies.

The course will begin with a unit looking at widely held myths about terrorism and utilizing empirical data to discuss the realities of broad trends and patterns in terrorist attacks over time. The course will then review the psychological factors at play in individual radicalization and recruitment into terrorism, followed by an analysis of terrorist group dynamics. The course will next look to factors that allow terrorist groups to successfully carry out attacks, such as propaganda, use of media, financing, recruitment, and training. The course will conclude by looking at the factors that drive terrorist group persistence/endurance versus terrorist group desistance, and will bring the varied course concepts together through a detailed look at the case of al-Qa’ida, including the group’s successes, failures, tactics, and strategies. Throughout the course, students will work with the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database (GTD), the largest database of terrorist incidents in the world, learning its capabilities and developing basic skills in searching and displaying appropriate and accurate sets of terrorism data.

3. Course Syllabus

  • Week One: WHAT: Dispelling Myths about Terrorism
  • Week Two: WHAT: The Global Terrorism Database and Visualizing Terrorism Data
  • Week Three: WHO, WHY: Individual Radicalization
  • Week Four: WHO, WHY: Terrorist Group Dynamics
  • Week Five: WHAT: Behaviors that Enable the Next Terrorist Attack
  • Week Six: Putting it all together: Al-Qa’ida Case Study

4. About the Instructors

5. Recommended Background

No background knowledge is required; however both new and advanced learners will be able to cater the course to their needs with additional optional readings for those more versed in terrorism studies.

6. Course Format

The subject matter will be presented to participants through a series of lectures, including guest segments featuring the researchers from START’s extensive consortium of 52 universities nation-wide. There will also be interactive assignments and quizzes (approximately 1 per week) embedded throughout the course for students to put new knowledge and data visualization and analysis to test. This will require about 2-3 hours of your time per week.

< 7. MeetUp at the American Center

At the American Center, we will discuss the issues elaborate in the videos in more detail with Embassy staff, invited experts and scholars. We will meet on weekly basis on Thursdays at 4 pm.

8. Who qualifies?

• Anybody who speaks English
• Anybody who is interested in foreign policy of the United States
• Anybody who is willing to learn more

9. FAQ

Will I get a Statement of Accomplishment after completing this class?

Yes. Students who successfully complete the class with a 70% or higher will receive a Coursera’s Statement of Accomplishment signed by the instructor. Also, if you attend at least 6 meetings at the American Center and participate in discussions, you will also qualify for a Certificate of Accomplishment from the U.S. Embassy in Prague and will be invited in formal graduation.

What resources will I need for this class?

For this course, all you need is an Internet connection, copies of the texts (all of which can be obtained for free online), and the time to read, write, discuss, and enjoy some cutting-edge research.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES, PLEASE, REACH OUT TO THE AMERICAN CENTER AT acprague@state.gov.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the American Center!!!!


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