Countering Terrorism & Extremism, BSc

​​Our shared interest in better understanding – and responding to – terrorism and extremism is what likely led you to choose this degree, and we’re really looking forward to exploring this with you.

Across the course, you’ll be introduced to key theories, practical examples, and a range of domestic and international case studies, many of which sit firmly within a criminal justice context.

​Terrorism and extremism are rarely out of the news. From coverage of the war involving Iran and its wider implications, to ongoing debates in the UK around protests, policing, new legislation, and the balance between security and human rights, these issues intersect closely with criminal justice practice and decision‑making.

What often gets lost, however, is what sits behind the headlines – politically, socially, psychologically, and operationally.

​Drawing on the best available evidence and contemporary research, often conducted by your own lecturers, this course aims to bring those hidden layers to life.

We hope you’ll enjoy engaging with contrasting perspectives and developing a critical understanding of the real complexities involved in terrorism, extremism, and criminal justice responses.​

Welcome Week

​Your welcome and induction will take place from Monday 14 September 2026 to Friday 18 September 2026. We look forward to meeting you then. Welcome Week is an essential part of your transition into university life, therefore your full participation is strongly encouraged.

​​As you embark on your academic journey, you should expect to think analytically and critically about what you hear on the news and in everyday conversations, but also academic topics, as they relate to terrorism and extremism as well as a range of interconnected issues.

In the first year of the course, you will be introduced to a range of different topics related to the criminal justice area, including policing, criminology and politics. You will gain a basic understanding of issues relating to your degree and you will then unpack these in modules which will follow in Years 2 and 3.

Each academic year is divided into two main semesters, allowing you to concentrate on three modules each semester. Semester One runs from September until January and Semester Two runs from the end of January until May.

Pre Arrival Activities

​There are two tasks that we would like for you to complete before you start your degree. These relate to your degree and the aim is for you to start thinking analytically about certain areas that you will be studying.

​1. Conceptual Exploration

​What is terrorism? The answer is rarely as straightforward as it might first appear. Rather than starting with a single, fixed definition, we want you to reflect on what the term terrorism means to you. Begin by considering your own understanding of the word, then explore how it is defined and discussed by others using a range of sources such as media commentary, academic texts, blogs, and Google Scholar. As you do this, think critically about what key features a definition should include—and why. The aim is to move beyond memorising definitions and instead begin engaging with the deeper debates and challenges involved in defining terrorism.

​2. Short Case Scenario

​During a large, initially peaceful protest in a UK city centre, a small group breaks away and blocks major roads, leading to clashes with police and several injuries. One individual is arrested after attempting to force entry into a government building, having previously posted online about “bringing the state to a standstill” and resisting new policing legislation. Police must decide whether this represents serious protest-related disorder or meets the threshold for terrorism‑related investigation.

​Questions for Consideration

• ​How should criminal justice agencies distinguish between protest, serious criminality, and terrorism in cases like this?

• ​What are the implications of using counter‑terrorism powers in protest contexts for civil liberties and public confidence in policing?

• ​How might political pressure, public scrutiny, and media narratives influence early policing and prosecutorial decisions?

• ​What global events impact on the types of protests that take place, the nature of these protests and the state’s response to them?

​Blackboard

​During Welcome Week and the first few weeks of teaching, you will be introduced to Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will use Blackboard to access and engage with lecture slides, recordings, podcasts, videos, articles, and interactive tasks.

​​In order to prepare for this degree, it will be useful to read any texts on the topics of terrorism or extremism.

To start with, you can take a look at the UK's Counter-Terrorism Strategy, known as CONTEST. It is available online via a simple Google search, but do make sure you look for the most recent version, published in 2023:

• ​Home Office (2023) CONTEST: The United Kingdom’s strategy for countering terrorism. London: HM Government.

​Some additional texts, which will also be on the course reading list include:

• ​Bakker, E. (2023) Terrorism and counterterrorism studies: comparing theory and practice. London: Routledge.

• ​LaFree, G. (ed.) (2017) The handbook of the criminology of terrorism. Chichester: Wiley‑Blackwell.

• ​Martin, G. (2018) Understanding terrorism: challenges, perspectives, and issues. 5th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

• ​Parsons, T.F. (2024) Police responses to Islamist violent extremism and terrorism: a critical analysis. London: Routledge.

• ​Silke, A. (ed.) (2020) Routledge handbook of terrorism and counterterrorism. London: Routledge.

​Please also do your own research. We look at a wide range of academic sources, practitioner and committee reports and expert analysis and datasets throughout the course, so familiarising yourself with any of these would be a great idea.

The emphasis in First Year is on the criminal justice system, so any texts on this are also worthwhile reading. ​