Students

PICX8013 – History of Intelligence

2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Brian Cuddy
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or GradCertIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or GradDipSecStudCr or GradCertSecStudCr or MIntell or MSecStrategicStud or MCrim or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or (10cps at 6000 level or 10cps 8000 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit considers how and why the practices of intelligence professionals and the organisations in which those professionals work have changed over time. It covers both ancient and modern intelligence, but focuses mostly on the post-World War II era. In surveying this history of intelligence as part of the broader development of national security policies and institutions, the unit provides context for some of the debates and discussions around intelligence today. In closely examining selected case studies of intelligence success and failure, students will develop their own skills in historical and analytical thinking—skills that are integral elements of intelligence tradecraft. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

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: Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of intelligence practices and organisations.
  • ULO2: Synthesize complex information relating to significant episodes of intelligence history, and weigh the merits of competing interpretations of those episodes.
  • ULO3: Assess the significance of particular concepts and debates within the academic field of Intelligence Studies, and evaluate their applicability to historical and contemporary intelligence practice.
  • ULO4: Develop compelling and original arguments regarding intelligence practice, and clearly communicate those arguments in writing.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Disruption to Studies request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply—10 marks of credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date—and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quizzes 30% No 18:00, Tuesday, 17/8, 31/8, 7/9, 28/9, 12/10, 19/10, 26/10
Discussion Essay 30% No Variable
Final Essay 40% No 23:59 07/11/2021

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 60 hours
Due: 18:00, Tuesday, 17/8, 31/8, 7/9, 28/9, 12/10, 19/10, 26/10
Weighting: 30%

 

You will complete a number of quizzes across the course of the unit. Each quiz will be conducted online via the unit’s iLearn space, and will test your knowledge and understanding of the unit readings. All of the readings will be available electronically via Leganto, which in turn can be accessed via the unit’s iLearn space. Each quiz will consist of a mixture of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions (e.g., match a thesis statement to its likely author). The quizzes are open book, i.e., you may refer to the unit materials and your notes as you take the quizzes. But you may not consult with any person (except the teaching staff, if necessary) about the quizzes. Quiz due dates will be listed on the unit’s iLearn space.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of intelligence practices and organisations.

Discussion Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Variable
Weighting: 30%

 

You will write one discussion essay over the course of the unit on an assigned topic relating to a particular week’s readings. Discussion essay question assignments and due dates will be listed on the unit’s iLearn space. Your essay should be based on deep engagement with your assigned week’s readings. This is not a research essay and you are not expected to find any additional sources. It is designed to develop and test your analytical and writing skills. You will be assessed on your ability to articulate and develop a clear, coherent, and persuasive argument; your understanding of the provided readings; and the structure and style of your writing. Discussion essays may be shared with other students in your cohort in order to frame the class discussion and spark class debate on the topic. Your discussion essay should be 1,500 words in length (give or take 150 words), and should be submitted via the relevant Turnitin dropbox on the unit’s iLearn space.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesize complex information relating to significant episodes of intelligence history, and weigh the merits of competing interpretations of those episodes.
  • Assess the significance of particular concepts and debates within the academic field of Intelligence Studies, and evaluate their applicability to historical and contemporary intelligence practice.
  • Develop compelling and original arguments regarding intelligence practice, and clearly communicate those arguments in writing.

Final Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 32 hours
Due: 23:59 07/11/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

You will write a final essay towards the end of the unit. Final essay questions and due date will be listed on the unit’s iLearn space. Your final essay assignment will require you to collate and synthesize information and concepts from across a number of the case studies covered in the unit. It should be based on deep engagement with the unit readings. This is not a research essay and you are not expected to find any additional sources. It is designed to develop and test your analytical and writing skills. You will be assessed on your ability to articulate and develop a clear, coherent, and persuasive argument; your understanding of the provided readings; and the structure and style of your writing. Your essay should be 2,000 words in length (give or take 200 words), and should be submitted via the relevant Turnitin dropbox on the unit’s iLearn space.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesize complex information relating to significant episodes of intelligence history, and weigh the merits of competing interpretations of those episodes.
  • Assess the significance of particular concepts and debates within the academic field of Intelligence Studies, and evaluate their applicability to historical and contemporary intelligence practice.
  • Develop compelling and original arguments regarding intelligence practice, and clearly communicate those arguments in writing.

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

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 Disruption to Studies request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply—10 marks of credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date—and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.

 

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

 

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 2021.01R of the Handbook