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START offers fully online summer and winter courses each year which are open to any current degree seeking student or non-degree seeking individual, either at the graduate or undergraduate level. Current University of Maryland students may register through Testudo. Non-University of Maryland students must apply as non-degree seeking students, visiting students, or students with Golden ID Cardholder Status through the University of Maryland’s Extended Studies. |
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Winter Session 2025
Special Topics in Terrorism Studies: Misinformation, Conspiracy Theories, and the Radicalization of Modern Societies
A comprehensive exploration into belief in mis/disinformation and conspiracy theories that is instrumental in understanding radicalization in modern societies.
Instructor: Max Erdemandi
- Credits: Credits: 3
- Course Code: BSST338A
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Special Topics in Terrorism Studies: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and Global Jihadist Movement
This course provides a comprehensive look at global jihadist movements, with specific focus on the groups Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. At the completion of this course, students will have an in-depth understanding of historical and contemporary jihadist movements and a better understanding of tools to counter such groups.
Instructor: Jason Blazakis
- Credits: Credits: 3
- Course Code: BSST338V
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Individual Study in Terrorism Studies: Social Network Analysis for Terrorism
Social networks are connections between nodes (actors) and links (connections between nodes). Social network analysis (SNA) is a process of studying those nodes and links with a systematic, quantitative approach to better understand how networks are constructed, what networks are capable of, and how networks can be disrupted. This course covers SNA using UCINET, a popular SNA tool to systematically understand terrorist connections in such way that allows for informed decisions on terrorist network disruption.
Instructor: Michael Egnoto
- Credits: Credits: 1
- Course Code: BSST399N
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Summer Session 2025
Special Topics in Terrorism Studies: School Shooter and Spree Killers
Understanding the costs and consequences of school shooters and spree killer incidents how these bridge terrorism, communication, and criminology with consequences that affect us all. This course looks at the current state of the field with attention to spree killer profiles, research, and response from social science perspectives.
Instructor: Michael Egnoto
- Credits: Credits: 3
- Course Code: BSST338O
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Analyzing Terrorism: Simulations, Wargaming, and Strategies of Security
Introduces students to novel, applied methods to study terrorism and security, including simulations, wargaming exercises, and red teaming. This course assumes no prior experience with these methods. Throughout the course, students will complete activities to understand the behavior of militant groups and develop security strategies to counter violent non-state actors.
Instructor: Thomas Guarrieri
- Credits: Credits: 3
- Course Code: BSST373
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Violent Non-State Actors in Latin America: Terrorism, Cartels, and Crime
Examines why non-state actors resort to violence and crime, what tactics and strategies they use, how they fund their existence, and what can be done to counter them. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to many different types of violent non-state actors, including terrorist organizations and criminal organizations. This will all be done in the context of Latin America and students will gain an in-depth understanding of the problems that plague individual countries, as well as which issues afflict the region as a whole.
Instructor: Bryan Arva
- Credits: Credits: 3
- Course Code: BSST375
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Experiential Learning in Terrorism Studies
This course will supplement student's experiential learning experience, or internship in the field of terrorism studies and homeland security with guided reflection on their experiences.
Instructor: Liberty Day
- Credits: Credits: 1-5
- Course Code: BSST386
- Meeting Times: Details on ELMS
Contact the Education Team at education-start@umd.edu for assistance.
2025 Malaysia Summer Session Trip: In Development
In January 2024, START's education team took a delegation of UMD students to Malaysia for a winter session course. This course was a culturally immersive experience focused on counterterrorism (CT) and countering violent extremism (CVE). Our partner university for the course, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), produced the below highlight video from the trip. START is currently exploring adding this course to the summer 2025 course offerings. More details will be released during the fall of 2024.
