| Graduate Program Head | James Piazza |
|---|---|
| Program Code | CNTRTM |
| Campus(es) | World Campus |
The Graduate Credit Certificate in Counterterrorism provides working professionals and others with social science based training to understand and address terrorism and other threats to U.S. homeland security. The Certificate emphasizes the development of core skills such as threat analysis, management, and reporting; basic data usage and presentation; the preparation of counterterrorism briefings and reports; and the assessment of anti-terrorism strategies. Through the Certificate course work, students learn about the motives, threats, recruitment strategies, and operational tactics of terrorist organizations. The courses focus on key elements within counterterrorism, such as diagnosing the root causes of terrorism, identifying and using sources of data, critical data gathering and analysis skills, and radicalization processes. Certificate recipients will develop the capacity to identify conditions likely to encourage terrorism; define, evaluate, and assess counterterrorism techniques and operations; and turn collected data into actionable information. In this way, they will be prepared for leadership and supporting roles in the homeland security professional workforce. The Certificate is based around four courses that in turn form the core requirements for the Counterterrorism option within the online Intercollege Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security.
Effective Semester: Summer 2018
Expiration Semester: Summer 2023
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 General Admissions Standards. International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.
Applicants must submit the following items with their application for admission to the Counterterrorism certificate program:
- official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended;
- resume/CV; and
- one-page statement of purpose or rationale for seeking a Graduate Certificate in Counterterrorism.
Applicants are expected to have a 3.0 or higher GPA in their undergraduate work.
Certificate Requirements
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in Graduate Council policy GCAC-212 Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PLSC 569 | Counterterrorism | 3 |
| PLSC 836 | Root Causes of Terrorism | 3 |
| PLSC 837 | Radicalization, Counter-Radicalization, and De-Radicalization | 3 |
| PLSC 838 | Tools and Analysis of Counterterrorism | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Courses
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
Contact
Certificate Program Head: James Piazza
Primary Program Contact: Allison Haas
Email: ajh38@psu.edu
Telephone: (814) 863-8110
Program Website: Counterterrorism Graduate Certificate