Students

PICT301 – Global and Strategic Issues in Criminology

2014 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Dr James Martin
Contact via 9850 1439
Room 227, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Lecturer, Unit Convenor
Dr Angela Irwin
Contact via 9850 1427
Room 240, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
PICT101 and PICT102 and LAWS250 and SOC226
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit will draw upon knowledge and capacities developed over the course of the major to explore issues of global and strategic significance. Students will undertake an advanced, 300-level analysis of a complex topic from a criminological and policing/regulatory perspective, with proposed topics including immigration and the criminalisation of borders, sex trafficking and trafficking and transnational policing, restorative justice in transitional states, and the global War on Drugs. Successful completion of the unit will provide a pathway to postgraduate study in Policing, Intelligence and Counter-terrorism and related disciplines.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Critique of seminal article 20% 24 August 2014
Research Essay Plan & Outline 20% 7 September 2014
Major Essay 50% 9 November 2014
Tutorial participation 10% Throughout semester

Critique of seminal article

Due: 24 August 2014
Weighting: 20%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Research Essay Plan & Outline

Due: 7 September 2014
Weighting: 20%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Major Essay

Due: 9 November 2014
Weighting: 50%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Tutorial participation

Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 10%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of at least 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to pre-recorded lectures prior to seminar discussions and reading weekly required readings detailed in iLearn.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar sessions and external students are expected to contribute to on-line discussions.
  • Students are required to submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's Library EReserve site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed at the EReserve site.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted either as a PDF or MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener.  Any requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date for the submission of the assessment task.  Extensions beyond one week are subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html#purpose).

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • If an assignment is submitted late, 5% of the available mark will be deducted for each day (including weekends) the paper is late.
  • For example, if a paper is worth 20 marks, 1 mark will be deducted from the grade given for each day that it is late (i.e. a student given 15/20 who submitted 4 days late will lose 4 marks = 11/20).
  • The same principle applies if an extension is granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits do not include references, bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately (http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html). This process involves all assignments submitted for that unit being reassessed. However, in exceptional cases students may request that a single piece of work is reassessed. The Department process for the reassessment of assignments for marking during the semester is as follows:
  • You must consult with the unit convenor - A reassessment will only be granted if you have sought and received feedback about your performance on the assessment from the convenor.
  • Apply to PICT’s Director of Learning and Teaching (or delegated authority) for a reassessment - no more than 7 days after the unit convenor or class tutor has returned the assessment to you. You must make a sound academic case, which demonstrates that you have consulted the unit convenor and as a result of this there is evidence that either the marking criteria were not provided, or there is insufficient feedback to justify the mark given.
  • If appropriate, the Head of Department (or delegated authority) will organise the reassessment of work.
  • The mark determined after reassessment will be the final mark in that assessment task, and this mark can be lower than the original. 

Unit Schedule

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Introduction

Weeks 2, 3 and 4 - Economic and Industrial Crime (Economic Crimes: money laundering, financial fraud and identity theft; Industrial Crimes: foreign economic espionage, foreign corrupt business practices and IP rights/copyright violations)

Weeks 5, 6 and 7 - Organised Crime Groups and Networks (Illicit Goods/Economy: drugs, firearms and  counterfeit goods; People Movement: human trafficking, child sex exploitation, sex trafficking and people smuggling/illegal immigration)

Weeks 8, 9 and 10 - State Crime (war crime, genocide, torture and corruption)

Weeks 11 and 12 - Environmental Crime (dumping/illegal transportation of hazardous waste, proliferation of e-waste, illegal trade in flora and fauna, illegal fishing and logging, bio-piracy)

Week 13 - Wrap up

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Tutorial participation