SHAPE POLICY TO STRATEGICALLY FIGHT GLOBAL TERRORISM

American University’s online Master of Science in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security gives current and future law enforcement and intelligence professionals the interdisciplinary skills and focused expertise to counter today’s increasingly complex terrorist and homeland security threats. Learn how to develop strategic, policy-based solutions at the national, federal, state, and local levels of governments by building expertise in national security, intelligence, domestic and international law and policy, cybersecurity, and theories of political violence.

This flexible online program builds these capabilities and prepares you to make a difference as part of a collaborative entity, focused on keeping the U.S. safe from national and transnational threats. It is unique in its focus on law enforcement as both a national and international entity. This focus naturally leads to an interdisciplinary approach that addresses both law and criminology and offers the flexibility to address emerging trends, such as the nexus between transnational criminal and ideologically motivated organizations.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY ONLINE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNTER- TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY

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SHAPE POLICY TO STRATEGICALLY COUNTER GLOBAL TERRORISMAmerican University’s online MS in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security is designed to prepare you for work and career advancement as a law enforcement and intelligence specialist. It also offers learning concepts few other programs provide: a strong focus on terrorism as a social and psychological phenomenon and assessing and analyzing that threat.

This degree combines the benefits of convenient online learning and a practice-based curriculum with a brief onsite residency in Washington, D.C. This unique opportunity to reside briefly in Washington, D.C. allows students to see and interact with members of the Washington D.C., national security policy world up close and builds on concepts and ideas discussed in the online environment. This supplements the strong grounding in the course curriculum with real-world applications of course concepts as presented by faculty who are leading practitioners in the field.

Upon completion of the program, you will possess the skills to:

WHY CHOOSE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY? IT’S IN THE NUMBERSAt American University, we are committed to offering programs that facilitate the career success of our graduates. As a result, within six months of receiving their degrees, 92 percent of American University graduates with master’s degrees report being employed, continuing further studies, or both.

American University additionally leads all universities in producing graduates who are finalists for the distinguished Presidential Management Fellows program. The flagship two-year leadership development program in the federal government includes leadership training at a federal agency, a developmental assignment, and eligibility for full-time positions upon completion.

Our programs also earn high rankings for educational quality, including:

Analyze and discuss national and homeland security problems through the application of acquired knowledge of criminology, social science, legal systems, policy, terrorism studies, and intelligence analysis

Formulate, evaluate, and communicate public policies and programs related to counter terrorism while using acquired analytic frameworks and methodological skills, including statistics, economics, criminology, and law

Apply empirical and data-driven solutions to analyze domestic threats to US homeland security

Apply acquired skillsets, expertise, and values to real-world policy problems in a collaborative manner

U.S. News & World Report America’s Best Colleges (2018)

• No. 69 Best National University

• No. 35 Best College for Veterans

• No. 61 Best Value School

• Top 20 School of Public Affairs

Princeton Review Best Colleges (2018)

• The Best 382 Colleges

• A Best Northeastern College

• No. 18 of Top 50 Green Colleges

• No. 4 Politically Active Students

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A PROVEN CURRICULUM FROM A LEADER IN HOMELAND SECURITY POLICYTaught by recognized experts in counter-terrorism and homeland security, the MS in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security builds focused knowledge in the field through expertise in the causes of political violence, intelligence analysis and methods, national security law and policy, cybersecurity, research methods, and real-world residency and internship work.

COURSESThe two-year, 36-credit program consists of 12 courses comprising the following:

Core Course Toolkit | Six courses at three credits each

JLC 621 Justice in the Face of Terror

JLC 670 Causes of Terrorism and Political Violence

JLC 674 Domestic Terrorism and Political Violence

JLC 684 Intelligence Analysis

JLC 485 Strategic Intelligence

JLC 685U.S. National Security Law, War Power, and Terrorism — Current Legal Issues

Research Methods | Two courses at three credits each

JLC 680 Introduction to Justice Research I

JLC 681 Introduction to Justice Research II

Residency | One course at three credits

JLC 673 Seminar on National Security Policy

Selected Topics | Three courses at three credits each

JLC 678 Investigating Terrorism

JLC 682 Crime and Conflict Nexus

JLC 683 Cyber Threats and Security

Non-credit internship requirement, completed in your local area.

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COURSES

Justice in the Face of TerrorThis course provides an introduction to the key concepts that you will cover in this program including a high level discussion of defining and understanding terrorism, types of national, international, and transnational threats, and frameworks for legal, intelligence, and community based responses to these threats.

Intelligence AnalysisFirst class of two focused on aspects of intelligence analysis. This course will focus on the role of intelligence in an operational and tactical manner in both the law enforcement and intelligence communities. Students will learn and be able to practice hands on skills with access to recognized analytic software.

Causes of Terrorism and Political Violence An introduction to the study of terrorism and political violence through multiple lenses, including psychology and rational choice theories. Examine why people join violent organizations to further political aims and how tactics are influenced by choices and motivation.

Introduction to Justice Research I First class in a two part series. This course will provide the foundations for understanding social science research as it applies to the study of terrorism and political violence. Course topics will include research design and research methodology including case and observational studies.

U.S. National Security Law, War Power, and Terrorism – Current Legal IssuesIn this course, students will delve into the constitutional, legal, and policy framework to combat threats to the U.S. both at home and abroad, through the use of force, detention, immigration enforcement, and other rule of law issues.

Introduction to Justice Research IISecond in the series. Focus on the ability of students to design, critique, and execute social science research in the terrorism and political violence realm. Apply knowledge of methodology learned in previous class to analysis of data, case studies, and other social science research information sets.

Seminar on National Security PolicyThere is a residency requirement in Washington, D.C. as part of this class. Gain a foundation for understanding how policies related to contemporary security issues are made and executed, with a primary focus on terrorism and insurgency.

Strategic IntelligenceSecond class in a series. This class will focus on the applied use of intelligence in the formulation of national and homeland security policy through a focus on the role of an intelligence analyst in the U.S. government’s policy process.

Domestic Terrorism and Political Violence Investigate the causes and consequences of domestic terrorism and political violence using insights from psychology, political science, economics, history, and other disciplines.

Investigating Terrorism An overview, discussion, and assessment of the legal, sociological, and policy constructs used by federal U.S. law enforcement to detect and investigate terrorism through a study of parameters of identifying, assessing, and surveilling threats.

Crime and Conflict Nexus This course looks at the relationship between criminals and terrorists by examining the nexus of terrorists and criminal networks, their commonalities, affinities, and disparities, along with implications for policy responses.

Cyber Threats and SecurityThis course provides students with the tools necessary to understand the nature of the cyber threat to government and private sectors and to understand and evaluate proposed cybersecurity policies for addressing the threat.

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American University’s online MS in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security prepares law enforcement and intelligence professionals to counter increasingly complex threats related to terrorism and homeland security. Roles in these areas increased substantially after 9/11 and opportunities remain strong today.

The master’s program builds broad, interdisciplinary skills that are applicable to a wide variety of the federal law enforcement and intelligence community jobs available in most federal agencies, though these roles are competitive and may require years to gain entry. The largest number of individuals are employed by the Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury, and Defense Departments. More than 180,000 federal workers are employed by the Department of Homeland Security alone.1

Moving forward, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Protective Service Occupations will grow 4 percent from 2014 to 2024, resulting in about 153,900 new jobs.

Sample jobs graduates may pursue include:

Jobs at federal agencies are highly competitive, and sometimes take years to gain entry. However, a sample of agencies for these careers include:

BUILD A CAREER IN COUNTER-TERRORISM

Law enforcement federal agent, state or local sworn officer, analyst, and support personnel

Intelligence officer, analyst, and support personnel

Homeland Security analyst, and support personnel

Federal Bureau of Investigation

State and Local Police departments

Defense Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Secret Service

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FACULTY HIGHLIGHTSJennifer Gumbrewicz, Program Director Jennifer Gumbrewicz is a successful attorney, experienced professor, and proven leader with a long career in legal practice, research, and communications. Professor Gumbrewicz has represented Fortune 500 corporations as a civil litigator in cases and investigations in areas including construction, antitrust, health care, intellectual property, and insurance. Since 2001, she has lectured and designed in-class and online courses at AU on facets of the American and international legal and political systems. Her areas of focus include national security law, First Amendment and privacy concerns, and criminal law and procedure. She has also served the U.S. Senate in several capacities. For the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, she worked on the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. For the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, she helped draft a report on U. S. programs in response to drug trafficking across the Southwest Border.

Professor Gumbrewicz holds an LLM in National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law from George Washington University, a JD from American University’s Washington College of Law, and a BA in Law and Society and Philosophy from American University’s School of Public Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences.

Joseph K. Young, Associate Professor, Chair Joseph K. Young is an associate professor at American University with a joint appointment in the School of Public Affairs and the School of International Service. His research seeks to understand the cross-national causes and consequences of political violence. Young has published numerous peer-reviewed articles across academic disciplines, including political science, economics, criminology, and international studies. He is also a contributor and editor for the blog, PoliticalViolence@aGlance. Some of his research is supported by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism START, where he is an investigator and research affiliate.

Young earned his PhD in Political Science from Florida State University, an MA in Political Science and International Relations from Ohio University, and a BA in Economics and International Relations from Stetson University.

BUILD YOUR CAREER IN COUNTER-TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY

To learn more about American University’s online Master of Science in

Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security, call 855.725.7614 to speak with an

admissions adviser or visit programs.online.american.edu.