START's Global Terrorism Studies Minor was recently recognized for its rigorous coursework and educational enrichment opportunities by the Provost's Committee on Living-Learning and Other Special Programs. Housed in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Global Terrorism Studies Minor is designed to train the next generation of terrorism analysts. The minor program seeks to explore the origins and motivations of terrorism based on the theoretical understanding of individual and group behavior. Students in the minor program also explore the effects the threat of terrorism has on individuals and communities as well as strategies for preventing, deterring, mitigating and responding to terrorist threats. START's Global Terrorism Minor enrolled 69 students in the 2012 academic year.
It boasts a diverse array of students from across 22 undergraduate majors on campus, including Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Journalism, and the two biggest pulls, Criminology and Criminal Justice and Government and Politics, each with 21 students in the minor. In addition to classroom work, START's Terrorism Minor offers a wide portfolio of enrichment activities designed to help students navigate post-graduation plans. Opportunities include:
- Career Profile Sessions with distinguished homeland security practitioners, such as the National Counterterrorism Center's Brian King and Kurtis Michaud, from the Department of Homeland Security Emergency Services Sector.
- Research Roundtables in which scholars discuss, and often offer a first look at, findings from large-scale research projects. Past presenters included global security expert Jennifer Giroux, senior scholar Jyoti Belur and Global Terrorism Database researcher Jaime Shoemaker.
- High-profile lectures, including the "On the Move" Lecture Series, which was held in partnership with other Global Studies minors.
To complete the minor, students must earn 17 credits, which include courses analyzing the motivations and behaviors of terrorists, responses to terrorism, the practice of terrorism studies, research methodologies, and an interdisciplinary Global Studies Signature Course. Graduates from the Global Terrorism Minor highlight the success of the program. Recent alumni are drawing from their START experience and education in high profile careers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security and in high ranking graduate programs in the United States and abroad. Individuals interested in applying for the Global Terrorism Minor should plan on attending one of the upcoming minor information sessions:
- 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec.3 in Symons 3121
- Noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 in Symons 3307