The Northwest University of Political Science and Law (NWUPL), one of the top law schools in northwest China, announced the establishment of an anti-terror school on the first day of 2016—the same day that China's counter-terrorism law came into effect.

Officially beginning in the spring of 2016, the school will have a yearly recruitment of about two classes of freshmen and sophomores, at least 30 postgraduate students and six PhD students, according to professor Zhang Jinping from NWUPL, who is in charge of preparation for the new school.

Zhang also said that students in the program will not only learn about subjects related to counter-terrorism, but will also take courses from more traditional majors, such as jurisprudence, ethnology, politics, economics, languages and so forth.

Textbooks for the anti-terrorism major will include both existing monographs as well as newly published materials by the school itself, he added.

After graduation, the students will engage in various jobs related to counter-terrorism in ethnic and religious departments, public institutions, anti-terrorism justice departments and anti-terrorism research organizations.

Besides NWUPL, the People's Public Security University of China, Yunnan Police Officer Academy and Xinjiang Police College also offer anti-terrorism majors.