DSC 1002 - Domestic & International Terrorism

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2026 (670)

Course Description

This course introduces participants to various aspects of domestic and international terrorist organizations. The student will be introduced to basic principles of terrorist investigations, domestic security threats, and the motivational factors and tactics that drive these organizations. The student will learn techniques for evaluating their own organizations vulnerability against attacks that involve chemical, biological, hazmat, radioactive, or sabotage. Students will learn the roles and responsibilities of state, local and federal agencies in terrorism investigations and responses. The course introduces participants to various aspects of domestic and international terrorist organizations.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of domestic and international terrorism and the motivation of these terrorist organizations by:
    1. defining domestic terrorism and international terrorism.
    2. explaining the common motivational characteristics of the domestic terrorist and the common motivational characteristics of the international terrorist.
    3. describing tactics employed by the domestic and international terrorists.
  2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the basic tenets of an investigation of a terrorist organization by:
    1. identifying the three elements necessary to commit a crime.
    2. describing the unique characteristics of investigating terrorist activity.
    3. describing characteristics of individuals who are terrorists or members of terrorist organizations.
    4. identifying the basic considerations an officer should make when terrorist activity is suspected.
    5. describing basic procedures that should be followed when placed in a situation involving terrorists.
  3. The student will demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of local, state and federal agencies in terrorism investigations and terrorism response by:
    1. defining the duties of the law enforcement officer in terrorist investigations at the local, state and federal levels.
    2. describing appropriate response procedures in group - play situations involving terrorist activity. These response procedures will incorporate the potential response responsibilities of law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services (EMS), private agencies, state agencies and federal response assets.
    3. explaining the basic steps in the terrorism investigation process.
    4. describing proper response protocol in handling weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents.
  4. The student will describe the techniques for assessing an organizations vulnerability to a terrorist attack involving a weapon of mass destruction by:
    1. identifying hazard mapping as a risk assessment tool.
    2. conducting a risk assessment within the community and describing the process for risk reduction program evaluation.
    3. evaluating a risk reduction program.
    4. identifying the steps to modify a risk reduction program.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 3/8/05, BOT 4/19/05, Effective 20051(0355). 3 Year Review 2008. Was DSC 1011, # changed by State FR to DSC 1002, effective 20091. C&I Approval: 03/08/2005, BOT Approval: 04/19/2005, Effective Term: Fall 2005 (355).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2026 (670)

Related Programs

  1. Emergency Administration and Management (EAM-CT) (625) (Active)
  2. Homeland Security (HLS-CT) (625) (Active)
  3. Homeland Security and Emergency Management (EAM-AS) (640) (Active)
  4. Public Safety (CJPSS-AS) (645) (Active)
  5. Public Safety Administration (PSA-TR) (670) (Active)