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

* 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.

* Extensions 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 "Disruption to Study" has been granted granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

* Stated word limits include references, but not the 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.

PICT814 – Architecture of Modern Intelligence

This unit examines the role of intelligence in a national security environment and presents a framework for the effective, efficient and rigorous production and utilisation of intelligence analysis product in support of national security.  Students will examine modern-day threats to national security and the intelligence requirements to combat these threats.  Different levels of intelligence will be examined and a more detailed look at modern-day intelligence practices will be undertaken, using case studies to provide real-world scope and understanding. 

Module 1:  Course introduction, learning approach, assessment

Module 2:  Post Cold-War Transformation of Intelligence

Module 3:  Australian Intelligence Community agencies

Module 4:  Intelligence Standard of Performance

Module 5:  Tactical, Operational, Strategic Intelligence

Module 6:  National Security Threats / Assessments

Module 7:  Terrorism

Module 8:  Cyber Threat

Module 9:  Espionage

Module 10:  Transnational Organised Crime

Module 11:  Future Intelligence Challenges

Module 12:  Dynamics of Decision-Making and the Role of Independent Advice

Module 13:  Intelligence Reform and Accountability

Delivery and Resources section updated.