Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Roger Huang
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
50cp at 2000 level or above
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines current issues in national and international security. It allows students to investigate the most prominent challenges, dynamics and events that are occurring (sometimes in real time) as the unit is being delivered. This unit is dynamic and fluid with the specific topics varying from year-to-year to reflect the contemporary world; however topics may range from great power strategic competition through to terrorist attacks, civil wars, infectious disease outbreaks and nuclear proliferation. Leading authorities from the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, state and federal government, the think-tank community, the media or other research institutions may be enlisted to deliver expert analysis on these current events. Each week, students will receive an expert brief on different contemporary topics before being asked to critically analyze the issues involved. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Policy Memo | 40% | No | Weekly |
Research Essay | 50% | No | Week 4 |
Tutorial Activities | 10% | No | Week 13 |
Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 40%
The policy memo is a written brief addressed to a high-level policy-maker who is considering how to address a particular security challenge (case study to be chosen from a list discussed in the course). The memo will identify and analyze the political and strategic factors that should inform the policy-maker’s decision, and recommend a particular course of action.
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 50%
The major essay is a demonstration of the student’s ability to research, conceptualise, and communicate a sustained scholarly argument based upon a thesis. Students will be given a list of essay questions related to the unit curriculum and asked to research, prepare, and express a cogent response to one chosen question in a clear, concise, and academically formal manner. The major essay will demonstrate how thoroughly the student has researched the academic literature pertaining to an issue, how well they can use critical thinking and logic to devise an appropriate argument, and how well they can structure and express this argument in a sustained and convincing manner.
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%
A range of tutor-led activities will help develop both individual and collective skills in critical thinking, analysis, and communication. Internal students will demonstrate active engagement in tutorials; external students will demonstrate it by contributing to online activities. Grades are dependent on criteria such as (but not limited to) the quality of the engagement with unit materials, new lines of inquiry posed, the ability to complete tutorial tasks, and engagement with peers and the teaching staff.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
DELIVERY AND RESOURCES
UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
REQUIRED READINGS
TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS
REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER
STAFF AVAILABILITY
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.