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University of Maryland, College Park

Threat Assessment: Anticipating Terrorism & Targeted Attacks

University of Maryland, College Park via Coursera

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Overview

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Threat Assessment: Anticipating Terrorism & Targeted Attacks examines how structured assessment can help identify and mitigate threats before violence occurs. Rather than attempting to predict the future or relying on profiles, this course focuses on systematically evaluating behaviors, vulnerabilities, and risk factors to support informed prevention and intervention. Drawing on real-world cases and evidence-based frameworks, learners explore the foundational concepts of threat, vulnerability, and risk and how these concepts interact across national, homeland, and organizational security contexts. The course examines how to conduct and integrate threat and vulnerability analyses, avoid common assessment pitfalls, and connect assessment findings to organizational strategy. Learners also consider the importance of multidisciplinary teams, structured reporting processes, and coordinated action in preventing harm. Led by Dr. Steve Sin, Director of the Unconventional and Asymmetric Threats Division at the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), this course offers an interdisciplinary approach that connects behavioral threat assessment with broader security and risk analysis. No technical background is required—just curiosity and a desire to better understand how terrorism and targeted violence can be recognized, assessed, and prevented before harm occurs.

Syllabus

  • Module 1: Course Introduction
    • Welcome to the introductory module for the course, "Threat Assessment: Anticipating Terrorism & Targeted Attacks." You will notice that this course is designed a bit differently than many other Coursera courses. In this module, you will first learn how to navigate this new interface. Then you will apply those navigation skills, in order to review the course goals and objectives.
  • Module 2: The Threat Landscape
    • This module lays the foundation for understanding terrorism and targeted violence within broader security contexts. Before threats can be assessed or managed, they must first be clearly defined. Terms such as national security, homeland security, and organizational security are often used interchangeably, yet each carries distinct responsibilities, priorities, and implications for prevention and response. The module begins by defining terrorism and targeted violence, clarifying how these forms of violence differ, and where they overlap. Definitional clarity directly influences how threats are identified, how they are evaluated, and how institutions, agencies, organizations, and communities respond. You will also examine how terrorism and targeted violence affect governments, communities, and organizations. Whether the target is public infrastructure, a workplace, or a specific individual, the consequences can extend far beyond the immediate incident, disrupting operations, eroding public trust, and creating lasting harm.By the end of this module, you will understand the structure of the contemporary threat landscape and why precise definitions are essential for effective threat assessment, prevention, and strategic response.
  • Module 3: From Concepts to Assessments: Anticipating Threats, Protecting Assets
    • In the previous module, we defined terrorism and targeted violence and examined their scope and impact. Now, we turn to the foundational concepts that allow practitioners to assess and manage these threats systematically. Effective threat assessment begins with a shared vocabulary. Terms such as threat, vulnerability, asset, target, and risk are frequently used in security discussions, but they are not interchangeable. These distinctions directly shape how analysts evaluate danger, prioritize resources, and design prevention strategies. In this module, we begin by defining the core concepts of threat, vulnerability, asset, target, and risk. We then introduce the basic methods used in assessment, examine how actor characteristics shape threat, and explore how practitioners assess both threats and vulnerabilities in practice. Finally, we bring these elements together to show how integrated assessment supports risk prioritization and decision-making. Although these terms may seem straightforward at first glance, their precise meaning influences how assessments are conducted and how decisions are made. By the end of this module, you will have a clear conceptual framework that serves as the foundation for applying threat and vulnerability assessment tools in real-world contexts.
  • Module 4: Behavioral Threat Assessment and Prevention
    • In the previous module, we examined how practitioners assess threats, vulnerabilities, and risk using structured frameworks. We focused on identifying who may pose a threat, where vulnerabilities exist, and how those factors combine to shape risk. Although these approaches help us understand what matters, they do not fully answer a critical question - namely, when is a threat moving toward action? Behavioral threat assessment addresses this gap by helping us recognize when an individual may be moving toward violence and what can be done to intervene. This shift is especially important in the context of terrorism and targeted violence. These acts, by definition, are premeditated. They often follow observable patterns of thinking and behavior that develop over time. Through attention to these patterns, practitioners can identify warning signs, assess escalation, and intervene before violence occurs. In this module, we introduce behavioral threat assessment, drawing on approaches developed and refined by the U.S. Secret Service and others. Rather than relying on profiles or static characteristics, this approach emphasizes dynamic, observable behaviors and the pathways individuals follow from grievance to action. You will explore how the Secret Service model reshaped threat assessment by focusing on behavior rather than prediction, and how pathway-to-violence models help practitioners understand how attacks develop over time. You will also learn to recognize key warning behaviors and understand how these frameworks are applied across contexts, including law enforcement, national security, workplaces, and schools. By the end of this module, you will be able to identify behavioral indicators of threat, distinguish between different behavioral modes of violence, and understand how early recognition and intervention strategies can help reduce the likelihood of targeted violence.

Taught by

Steve S. Sin

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