Course Title: Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism 

San Diego State University Graduate Program in Homeland Security 

Semester: Spring 2024

Class Day/Time: Thursdays 4:00 pm to 6:40 pm

Class Location: TBA

Professor: Nathanael Hicks

Email: nhicks@sdsu.edu

Office Hours: by appointment

Introduction: 

The focus of this course is violent extremist group ideologies, their origin, their evolution, and their current forms. Students will study, develop, and apply essential critical thinking skills to deconstruct violent extremist doctrines. We will employ these skills to analyze a spectrum of methods used by those seeking to radicalize persons or a group of persons. Students will individually and collectively develop a working definition of extremism and discern how state authorities, extremist associations, and ethnic and religious organizations practice emotional exploitation to forge a narrative through propaganda and rhetoric. Students will learn from guest speakers presently combatting violent extremists who will present real-world perspectives and experiences.

Learning Outcomes: