Tools and Analysis of Counterterrorism

Catalog description

This course explores the various resources and analytical techniques available to terrorism and counterterrorism experts today. It gives students an overview of the major sources of data on terrorist groups, terrorist incident reports, risk climates, and legal and criminal justice data surrounding terrorism and counterterrorism. It provides students with critical data gathering and analysis skills useful to practitioners, and engages them in reporting and threat briefing exercises. The course begins with an overview of the resources available to counterterrorism professionals, including information and data on terrorist groups, terrorist incidents, legal and criminal justice data related to terrorism, data on individuals engaged in terrorism, and relevant government documents. The course focuses on how the data can be accessed, norms and practices for analyzing the data and compiling it into reports, and the advantages and limitations of the various bodies of information available.