Course Syllabus

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Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Analysis

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:

Legal Studies, International Relations, Political Science
Faculty Members:

Søren Hove and Nis Mathiesen
Program Director:

Neringa Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk 
Program Assistant:

Julia Magnuson - jma@dis.dk 
Time & Place:

Tuesdays and Fridays, 14:50-17:45, ST3-21

 

Please note that this is a double block class, meaning it will meet on average once a week, either on Tuesday or Friday afternoon. 

Description of Course

Using a hands-on approach, you learn how intelligence analysis works. Dealing with threats of terrorists from Al-Qaeda, ISIL, and European right-wing extremists, this course teaches you the essentials of analyzing, writing, and delivering intelligence briefings. Through well-crafted simulations and studies of present-day threats, the course offers a broad introduction to the methodology of intelligence analysis as well as an opportunity to try it out yourself. Through workshops, we apply intelligence analysis to both fictitious and primary source material. The course teaches you how to analyze complicated and often incomplete data and present it – skills useful for any career inside or outside the intelligence community.

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the semester, all students will:

  • Understand the principles of how intelligence organisations work
  • Understand how to understand and describe threats from terrorist organisations
  • Know different approaches to analyzing sources and working with intelligence

Faculty

Søren Hove, Ph.D.

Søren Hove (Ph.D in Middle East Studies, 2009) is working as a Chief Consultant at the Danish Defense and has been research fellow at the Centre for Contemporary Middle East Studies (University of Southern Denmark) and the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS, Copenhagen). Søren has expertise in the terrorism and Islamist militancy in the Middle East. With DIS since 2011.

Nis L. Mathiesen, MA

Cand.Mag. (MA) in Rhetoric (University of Copenhagen, 2006), MA in Intelligence and International Security (King's College London, 2005). Nis has been working as a Chief Analyst with the private intelligence company Risk Intelligence, specializing in maritime security. With DIS since 2007.

Readings

Please note there is a course compendium (which you will return at the end of the semester) to be picked up during the Arrivals Workshop.

To be communicated.

 

Field Studies

  • 19 February: 13.00-17.00
  • 29 April: 8.30-12.30

Expectations of the Students

It is expected that all students actively participate in class: do the reading for each class; share thoughts and ask questions for the instructor and other students; actively and responsibly participate in their project groups.

Please notice that some classes will be held on Friday afternoons - that's tough!

Grading

Students will be evaluated as follows:

Assignment

Percent
Individual Test 1

10%

 

Individual Test 2

10%

 

Workshop 1 (written in groups, 1 page per person)

20%

Workshop 2 (written in groups, 1 page per person)

35%

Participation 

25%

 

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

 

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due