Course Level: Undergraduate

Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)

Advanced Topics in Law

This course builds upon JLS-101 Introduction to Law. The course examines three broad areas of jurisprudence: U.S. constitutional law; international law; and current topics such as health law, environmental law, and intellectual property law. The pedagogy of the course presumes the student has a basic understanding of judicial review, case law, statutory or regulatory interpretation, federalism, and the federal separation of powers. Prerequisite: JLS-101 or permission of instructor.

Course Level: Undergraduate

Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)

Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Practice

This course examines terrorism and counterterrorism from an empirical perspective, with a heavy focus on case studies. In order to understand terrorism in practice and to address viable counterterrorism solutions, students are encouraged to think like terrorist leaders, would-be recruits, analysts responsible for studying terrorist movements, practitioners charged with combating terrorism, and ruling powers facing a terrorist challenge to their authority or country's security. Key topics include how terrorist groups organize themselves, risk factors for terrorism, terrorism as a political and military strategy, global terrorism and the impact of al-Qaeda, and various approaches to counterterrorism. Case studies, current events and op-ed essays are reviewed to bring the principles to life.

Course Level: Undergraduate

Selected Topics: Non-recurring (1-6)

Theories of Terrorism

This introductory course on terrorism examines the difference between state and oppositional terror and focuses on terrorism by non-state actors such as Al-Qaeda. Students compare different theories about why, how, and when the opposition uses terror tactics to pursue its goals. Various research strategies for studying terrorism are also considered and students develop a project related to increasing scholarly understanding of terrorism. Given that the primary focus of the course is on theories that help explain terrorism, attention is paid to substantive examples of terrorism, including an exploration of the long history of terrorism. The course concludes by examining the ways that states counter terror, as well as the choices and tradeoffs states face when confronting extremist violence.