GENERAL INFORMATION

All assessment tasks will be submitted, marked and returned electronically through iLearn.

Assessment tasks must be submitted either as a PDF or MS Word document by the due date.

All assessment tasks will automatically be processed through Turnitin during the submission process. During this process your submission will undergo electronic detection for plagiarism.

By submitting your assignment through Turnitin, you are agreeing the work is entirely your own, except where you have given fully documented references to the work of others; that you understand that using the work of another person without acknowledging the source is an act of plagiarism, which is regarded seriously by the University. You also agree that the work has not previously, in part or in whole, been submitted for assessment in any formal course of study.

REFERENCING

Referencing is to follow the Oxford Style system, using the traditional format, inclusive of Latin citations. Please make sure you follow the guidelines for the referencing style closely.

EXTENSIONS

The granting of extensions of up to one week is at the discretion of the unit convenor. 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 formal special consideration procedures detailed under 'Policy and Procedures' in the Unit Guide.

Detailed information about individual assessment tasks, including the submission portals for each assessment item can be found in the itemised tabs below.

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

There is a penalty for the late submission of assessment tasks. If an assignment is submitted late it will initially be marked as if it had been submitted on time. However 5% of the weighting allocated for the assignment will then be deducted from the mark the student initially achieves in the assessment task for each day it is late. For example, if the assessment task's weighting is 20, 1.00 mark per day will be deducted from the initial mark given per day it is late. That is, a task given 15/20 but which is submitted four days late will lose 4 x 1.00 marks and will therefore receive a final mark of 11/20 which will be recorded in Gradebook.

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

• Personal PC and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
• This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
• Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
• For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help
• For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

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 he 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

PICT905: Weapons of Mass Destruction: Proliferation and Control

Week 1: Introduction/Unit Overview and Objectives; Key Definitions and Concepts.

Week 2: History of WMD Proliferation

Week 3: From the Truman Doctrine to Contemporary Proliferation and Control Measures

Week 4: WMD - The Nuclear and Radioactive Dimension

Week 5: WMD – The Chemical and Biological Dimension

Week 6: WMD – The Non-State Dimension & Emergency Management

Week 7: Case Study – AQ Khan and PSI

Week 8: Case Study – Iran, Israel and the debate on rationality of proliferation

Week 9: Case Study – North Korea: Nuclear Diplomacy

Week 10: Case Study – The Subcontinent and the Nuclear Arms Race

Week 11: Case Study – Syria and the use of Chemical Weapons

Week 12: Practitioner Insights into the Control of WMD

Week 13: Success Stories and The Future