Program Overview

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Counterterrorism is designed to provide students with the skills to implement proactive counterterrorism policies and effectively respond to potential or realized acts of terror. This 12-credit program is offered entirely online, allowing students to complete their coursework at their own pace.

Program Details

• The program is geared toward working professionals with a bachelor's degree, particularly those in federal, state, and local emergency management, law enforcement, the military, and the Department of Homeland Security.
• The curriculum focuses on understanding the motives, threats, recruitment strategies, and operational tactics of terrorist organizations, as well as the evolution of counterterrorism in the U.S. and abroad.
• Students will learn to identify factors that promote radicalization, define counterterrorism techniques, and determine patterns of international and domestic terrorism.

Required Courses

• PLSC 569: Counterterrorism (3 credits)
  • Surveys the history, evolution, strategies, techniques, tools, and contemporary issues related to counterterrorism.
• PLSC 836: Root Causes of Terrorism (3 credits)
  • Investigates the role economic, political, and social factors play in determining patterns of international and domestic terrorism.
• PLSC 837: Radicalization, Counter-Radicalization, and De-Radicalization (3 credits)
  • Provides a comprehensive summary of the factors that promote the radicalization process and the theoretical and practical foundations of efforts at counter-radicalization and de-radicalization.
• PLSC 838: Tools and Analysis of Terrorism and Counterterrorism (3 credits)
  • Introduces students to the various resources and analytical techniques available to terrorism and counterterrorism experts.

Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a tertiary degree deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree.
• Post-secondary (undergraduate), junior/senior (last two years) GPA is required.
• Official transcripts from each institution attended.
• Test scores: GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission.
• English proficiency: The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions.
• References: Two professional references are required.

Tuition and Financial Aid

• Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register.
• Tuition rates for the 2025-26 academic year:
  • 11 or fewer credits: $1,037 per credit
  • 12 or more credits: $12,448 per semester
• Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree" and are not eligible for federal student aid.
• Private alternative loans may be an option.
• Penn State offers an installment plan and third-party payments.

Career Opportunities

• The government and private industry are looking for specialists trained to craft, implement, and assess proactive counterterrorism policies.
• Career services are available to help students achieve their career goals, including opportunities to connect with employers, career counselor support, and occupation and salary information.

Faculty

• The program features a faculty of highly regarded experts in the field of counterterrorism, including:
  • Nazli Avdan, associate professor of political science
  • Justin Conrad, associate professor of international affairs
  • James Piazza, liberal arts professor of political science
  • Andrew Vitek, director of the Counterterrorism Option and assistant teaching professor
  • Jason Warner, assistant professor at the Military Academy at West Point
  • Dr. Christopher P. Willis, visiting assistant professor

Program Format

• The program is offered entirely online, allowing students to complete their coursework at their own pace.
• The program can be completed in less than a year, with many students taking one or two courses per semester.