Introduction to Terrorism Studies

Module title	Introduction to Terrorism Studies
Module code	CRI3015
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Professor Katharine Boyd (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	30

Module description

This module will expose you to the controversial topic of terrorism and how research is conducted on this subject. You will learn about the history of political and religiously motivated violence, the subjective and debated definition of terrorism, as well as rates and trends of terrorism. You will learn about major data sources used to analyse the subject. You will be taught basic statistical analysis with terrorism data.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is an introduction to terrorism studies. We will discuss the major data sources used to empirically examine terrorism, the rates and trends in terrorism cross-nationally, whether groups differ in how they operate, the geopolitical factors that influence terrorism, as well as policy implications

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate good knowledge of terrorism: the history, as well as rates and trends over time
2. Critically assess data sources used to study terrorism
3. Critically assess how rates of terrorism differ among groups and across countries

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of key concepts pertaining to political and religiously motivated violence
5. Demonstrate detailed understanding of theories and arguments in the field
6. Demonstrate the different methods of research in the field and their implications for relevant policy

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Engage in group work to prepare presentations for class discussion
8. Analyze quantitative data using statistical tools
9. Demonstrate written analytical skills by producing an essay on deadline

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:

Definition debate
History of modern terrorism
Collecting data on terrorism
Analysing terrorism data
Theoretical explanations for terrorism
Radicalisation
Terrorist groups
Brief case study: Waves of Al Qaeda
Geopolitical factors
Research methods for the study of terrorism
Terrorism incident databases
Terrorism rates and trends
Counterterrorism implications
ISIS case study: group history, propaganda, violence trajectory

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
44	256	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	22	22 x 1 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	22	11 x 2 hour tutorials
Guided independent study	90	Reading assignments
Guided independent study	48	Preparing for seminars
Guided independent study	118	Preparation for essays

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Presentation	5 minutes	1, 3-5, 7, 8	Written
Poster presentation	1 poster of statistical analysis for essay preparation	2, 3, 6, 8	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
ELE test	30	1 hour	1, 4-6, 8, 9	Written
Essay	40	2,500 words	3-5, 8, 9	Written
Data Assignment	30	2,000 words	1, 2, 4, 9	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
ELE test (1 hour)	ELE test (1 hour)	1, 4-6, 8, 9	Referral / Deferral period
Essay (2,500 words)	Essay (2,500 words)	3-5, 8, 9	Referral / Deferral period
Data Assignment (2,000 words)	Data Assignment (2,000 words)	1, 2, 4, 9	Referral / Deferral period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Andrew Silke. (2004). Research on Terrorism: Trends, Achievements and Failures. Routledge Press.
Brian Forst. (2008). Terrorism, Crime, and Public Policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Clark McCauley and Sophia Moskalenco. (2011). Friction: How radicalization happens to them and us . New York: Oxford University Press.
Gary LaFree and Laura Dugan (2007). Introducing the Global Terrorism Database. Terrorism and Political Violence. 19:181-204.
Jessica Stern and J.M. Berger (2015). ISIS: The State of Terror. Harper Collins Publisher.
Marc Sageman. (2008). Leaderless Jihad . University of Pennsylvania Press
Robert Pape. (2003). The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism . American Political Science Review 97 (3): 343-361.
Steven M. Chermak, Joshua D. Freilich, William Parkin, and James P. Lynch. (2012). American terrorism and extremist crime data sources and selectivity bias: An investigation focusing on homicide events committed by far-right extremists. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 28(1): 191-218.
Victor Asal and J. Wilkenfeld (2013). Ethnic conflict: An organizational perspective. Penn State Journal of Law and International Affairs 2(1): 91-102.

Key words search

Quantitative methods, terrorism

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	Cannot have taken CRI2015
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	23/01/2018
Last revision date	30/12/2021