Students

PICT3014 – Australian National Security

2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

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
Jennifer Hunt
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 critically examines how the Australian government formulates its national security policy. The unit explores the historical development of Australia's national security policy by surveying the different cultural, political and geographic factors that have helped shape Australia's perceptions of its own security. The unit then pivots to discuss the most pressing national security challenges currently facing Australia. The unit concludes by examining current debates among Australian security scholars, practitioners and commentators on how best to respond to these emerging security threats and challenges. By the end of this unit, students will possess the ability to weigh different national security policy options and argue persuasively for their preferred course of action.

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: Understand the inherent dangers to individual liberty and freedom originating from the security state.
  • ULO2: Explain the historical evolution of Australian national security policy, including the role that culture, politics, race and geography have played in its development.
  • ULO3: Identify the key threats and challenges currently confronting Australian national security policymakers.
  • ULO4: Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government regarding national security policy.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate national security policy options.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Multiple Choice Quiz 30% No Week 4 and Week 10
Opinion Piece 20% No Week 7
Major Essay 40% No Week 12
Participation 10% No Ongoing

Multiple Choice Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 4 and Week 10
Weighting: 30%

Students will complete a multiple choice online quiz that assesses their understanding of the unit's content


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the inherent dangers to individual liberty and freedom originating from the security state.
  • Explain the historical evolution of Australian national security policy, including the role that culture, politics, race and geography have played in its development.
  • Identify the key threats and challenges currently confronting Australian national security policymakers.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government regarding national security policy.

Opinion Piece

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 19 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

Students will complete a short opinion piece that contributes to an on-going debate in Australia's national security


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the inherent dangers to individual liberty and freedom originating from the security state.
  • Explain the historical evolution of Australian national security policy, including the role that culture, politics, race and geography have played in its development.
  • Identify the key threats and challenges currently confronting Australian national security policymakers.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government regarding national security policy.
  • Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate national security policy options.

Major Essay

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

Students will complete a longer research essay.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the inherent dangers to individual liberty and freedom originating from the security state.
  • Explain the historical evolution of Australian national security policy, including the role that culture, politics, race and geography have played in its development.
  • Identify the key threats and challenges currently confronting Australian national security policymakers.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government regarding national security policy.
  • Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate national security policy options.

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%

Students will be expected to be prepared to actively participate in either the tutorials or online forums by completing the weekly reading and attending/watching the lecture


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand the inherent dangers to individual liberty and freedom originating from the security state.
  • Explain the historical evolution of Australian national security policy, including the role that culture, politics, race and geography have played in its development.
  • Identify the key threats and challenges currently confronting Australian national security policymakers.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government regarding national security policy.
  • Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate national security policy options.

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/specialconsideration

 

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

 

STAFF AVAILABILITY

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not 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://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).

Student Code of Conduct

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

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 Enquiry Service

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

Equity 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.

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.

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 2021.02 of the Handbook