Students

PICX3012 – Intelligence Policy

2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Allon Uhlmann
allon.uhlmann@mq.edu.au
Jon Cottam
jon.cottam@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 2000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to the challenges of intelligence policy, with a focus on the Australian and allied national intelligence communities. Upon successful completion of the course students will understand some of the dynamics that affect intelligence policy at the national level, and the different mechanisms through which intelligence policy is shaped, formulated and implemented. Moreover, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of coordination, prioritization and evaluation of the intelligence community, and of the dilemmas of and different approaches to integrating intelligence into policy and decision-making. Finally, students will understand the broad social and political ramifications of different intelligence-policy choices.

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:

  • ULO1: Explain intelligence and its roles within policy and decision making.
  • ULO2: Identify key components of intelligence policy, and the different considerations of short-term and long-term policy decisions.
  • ULO3: Identify the challenges posed by the integration of intelligence into policy and decision making, and into government processes more generally.
  • ULO4: Analyse and explain the challenges of coordination, prioritization and evaluation across the intelligence community.
  • ULO5: Critically evaluate broad social and political ramifications of intelligence-policy.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Case Study 30% No Week 9
Book Synopsis 40% No Week 12
Take Home Exam 30% No Week 13

Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will critically analyse three recent intelligence policy recommendations that will be selected by the instructors from the material that was presented during the semester

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain intelligence and its roles within policy and decision making.
  • Identify key components of intelligence policy, and the different considerations of short-term and long-term policy decisions.
  • Identify the challenges posed by the integration of intelligence into policy and decision making, and into government processes more generally.
  • Analyse and explain the challenges of coordination, prioritization and evaluation across the intelligence community.

Book Synopsis

Assessment Type 1: Summary
Indicative Time on Task 2: 38 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will write an analytic synopsis of a chosen monograph that covers the major themes of intelligence policy.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain intelligence and its roles within policy and decision making.
  • Identify key components of intelligence policy, and the different considerations of short-term and long-term policy decisions.
  • Identify the challenges posed by the integration of intelligence into policy and decision making, and into government processes more generally.
  • Analyse and explain the challenges of coordination, prioritization and evaluation across the intelligence community.
  • Critically evaluate broad social and political ramifications of intelligence-policy.

Take Home Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will be asked to answer questions on a range of topics, requiring students to employ materials from the classroom discussions as well as the assigned readings.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain intelligence and its roles within policy and decision making.
  • Identify key components of intelligence policy, and the different considerations of short-term and long-term policy decisions.
  • Identify the challenges posed by the integration of intelligence into policy and decision making, and into government processes more generally.
  • Analyse and explain the challenges of coordination, prioritization and evaluation across the intelligence community.
  • Critically evaluate broad social and political ramifications of intelligence-policy.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

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

  • DELIVERY AND RESOURCES UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS -- You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments. Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities. In most cases students are required to attempt and 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 site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.
  • TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED -- Computer 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. Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/.
  • SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS -- All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. Assessment tasks must be submitted as a 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 is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration.
  • 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 -- Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not 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://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html In accordance with the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading. STAFF AVAILABILITY Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period. Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

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

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 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. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

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.

Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook