Students

PICT704 – Specialised Research Topic in Security 1

2015 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Julian Droogan
Contact via julian.droogan@mq.edu.au
PICT Offices, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
With PICT901
Unit description Unit description
This unit exposes students to significant issues relating to security studies in one of five identified areas. These five areas - policing, intelligence, counter terrorism, cybersecurity and international security - are central to an understanding of security within a rapidly changing global context. The unit challenges students to test the limits of research in a selected area of study and identify effective research methodologies relevant to this area.

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:

  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Research Essay 50% See iLearn for details
Analytical Report 25% See iLearn for details
Online Quiz 25% Weekly

Research Essay

Due: See iLearn for details
Weighting: 50%

The completion of a research essay is intended to encourage and enable students to develop core disciplinary knowledge, enhance research skills, display effective communication (academic writing) skills and demonstrate originality and critical thinking.

 

Assignments in this unit will be submitted, marked and returned electronically. For further information see the iLearn site.

 

Further detailed assessment criteria is available to all enrolled students through the Unit iLearn site.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Analytical Report

Due: See iLearn for details
Weighting: 25%

Please see the iLearn page for a full description of this assessment.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Online Quiz

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 25%

Please see the iLearn page for a full description of this assessment.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Delivery and Resources

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 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.

Unit Schedule

 

 

Note: The required readings for this Unit are available to all enrolled students through the Unit iLearn site and Macquarie University Library's EReserve site

 

Module 1:    Introduction and Overview

 

Module 2:    Reconceptualising Security in the 21st Century

 

Module 3:    Realism and Neo-realism

 

Module 4:    Liberalism and Neo-liberalism

 

Module 5:    Human Security and the Demise of the State

 

Module 6:    Constructivism and Critical Theory

                               

Module 7:    Securitisation

 

Module 8:    Non-Traditional Security Challenges

 

Module 9:    Health

 

Module 10:  Environmental Security 

                                                             

Module 11:  Security and Identity: Ethnicity, Culture, Religion

 

Module 12:  Security and Gender: Feminism and Emancipation

 

Module 13:  The Future?

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/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

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

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Contrast and explicate a range of theoretical constructs relevant to the field of international security, including their relationship to their historical context
  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Evaluate the importance of of traditional and non-traditional security challenges and how these relate to the drivers of international insecurity
  • Model academic research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise material and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe concepts that are an integral part of conceptualising international security, including ‘security’, ‘critical theory’, ‘globalisation’ and ‘securitisation’, with particular attention to their multiple and contested meanings
  • Showcase higher order communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Analytical Report
  • Online Quiz