Students

PICT2010 – Intelligence and Counter Intelligence

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

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
Fred Smith
fred.smith@mq.edu.au
Bates Gill
bates.gill@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
50cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an introduction to the fields of intelligence and counterintelligence. It focuses on the tactical, operational and strategic levels of security, as well as the role of intelligence organisations in protecting the state and its citizens from both domestic and foreign threats. Students will gain a deep understanding of the history of intelligence, the key national intelligence agencies in Australia, the intelligence cycle and its application, and the relationship between policing and intelligence in domestic security. Students will engage with key case studies to further understand these issues and dynamics.

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: Identify key agencies and functions in Australia’s national security community.
  • ULO2: Analyze and explain the various public sector law enforcement and intelligence roles which contribute to both domestic and international security.
  • ULO3: Critically assess the integration of surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement in protecting the state from threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrate knowledge of intelligence analytical, collection and production processes.
  • ULO4: Identify and debate challenges to relationship building between sectors relevant to national security at all levels of operations.
  • ULO5: Assess both domestic and international security issues impacting Australia in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and consider their impact on Australia's intelligence agencies, from a governmental, private sector and societal perspective.
  • ULO6: Make judgments on the strategic and operational needs of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in relation to legal, ethical and policy constraints.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Constructive Engagement 5% No Weekly, Weeks 2-13
Analytical Brief 25% No Monday, Week 5
Midterm Exam 20% No End of Week 7
Intelligence Estimate & Issue Paper 30% No Monday, Week 11
Final Exam 20% No End of Week 13

Constructive Engagement

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weekly, Weeks 2-13
Weighting: 5%

 

This assessment task is designed to promote student engagement, not only with the lecture materials and required readings, but through other readings, monitoring world events and in the context of presented questions, constructively engaging in considered and critical discussion with other students, moderated by the lecturer or tutor. Online and in-class discussion broadens student perspectives and value adds to course subject matter.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key agencies and functions in Australia’s national security community.
  • Analyze and explain the various public sector law enforcement and intelligence roles which contribute to both domestic and international security.
  • Critically assess the integration of surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement in protecting the state from threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrate knowledge of intelligence analytical, collection and production processes.
  • Identify and debate challenges to relationship building between sectors relevant to national security at all levels of operations.
  • Assess both domestic and international security issues impacting Australia in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and consider their impact on Australia's intelligence agencies, from a governmental, private sector and societal perspective.

Analytical Brief

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Monday, Week 5
Weighting: 25%

 

This task requires students to build a Microsoft Powerpoint briefing presentation on an assigned analytical topic, employing intelligence research and analysis to evaluate and assess capabilities, vulnerabilities, risks and threats, as well as opportunities and projected future developments or projections (predictive analysis). Students will gain experience in brief preparation, intelligence research and analytical assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically assess the integration of surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement in protecting the state from threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrate knowledge of intelligence analytical, collection and production processes.
  • Assess both domestic and international security issues impacting Australia in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and consider their impact on Australia's intelligence agencies, from a governmental, private sector and societal perspective.
  • Make judgments on the strategic and operational needs of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in relation to legal, ethical and policy constraints.

Midterm Exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: End of Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

This online, non-invigilated, iLearn-based examination will cover lecture and required reading material. All questions will be based on material delivered in both recorded in-class lectures (available on ECHO360 in iLearn) and material contained in required readings for each weekly session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key agencies and functions in Australia’s national security community.
  • Analyze and explain the various public sector law enforcement and intelligence roles which contribute to both domestic and international security.
  • Identify and debate challenges to relationship building between sectors relevant to national security at all levels of operations.

Intelligence Estimate & Issue Paper

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Monday, Week 11
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will prepare an Intelligence Estimate based on a selected subject chosen from a list posted to the iLearn page. From the Intelligence Estimate, prepare a One-Page Issue Paper summarising your assessments in the Intelligence Estimate.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key agencies and functions in Australia’s national security community.
  • Critically assess the integration of surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement in protecting the state from threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrate knowledge of intelligence analytical, collection and production processes.
  • Identify and debate challenges to relationship building between sectors relevant to national security at all levels of operations.
  • Assess both domestic and international security issues impacting Australia in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and consider their impact on Australia's intelligence agencies, from a governmental, private sector and societal perspective.
  • Make judgments on the strategic and operational needs of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in relation to legal, ethical and policy constraints.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 20%

 

This online, non-invigilated, iLearn-based examination will cover lecture and required reading material. All questions will be based on material delivered in both recorded in-class lectures (available on ECHO360 in iLearn) and material contained in required readings for each weekly session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify key agencies and functions in Australia’s national security community.
  • Analyze and explain the various public sector law enforcement and intelligence roles which contribute to both domestic and international security.
  • Critically assess the integration of surveillance, intelligence and law enforcement in protecting the state from threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrate knowledge of intelligence analytical, collection and production processes.
  • Identify and debate challenges to relationship building between sectors relevant to national security at all levels of operations.
  • Assess both domestic and international security issues impacting Australia in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and consider their impact on Australia's intelligence agencies, from a governmental, private sector and societal perspective.

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.

Unit Schedule

Week 1.  Introduction:  Course Administration

Week 2.  What is Intelligence & Why it matters

Week 3.  History of Intelligence:  Part 1

Week 4.  History of Intelligence:  Part 2

Week 5:  The Australian Intelligence Community

Week 6.  The Intelligence Cycle, Analytical Processes

Week 7.  Security Threats:  Australia & the Indo-Asia-Pacific Arena

Week 8.  Case Study:  The Role of Intelligence in Domestic Security -- The Boston Marathon Bombing

Week 9.  Domestic Security:  Policing, Detention & Regulatory Intelligence

Week 10.  Foreign Security:  Military, Counter-Insurgency (COIN) & Counter-Terrorism (CT), Force Protection (FP) & Physical Security Intelligence

Week 11.  Analytical Pitfalls & Structured Analytical Techniques

Week 12.  Maritime Security:  Understanding the Maritime Domain

Week 13.  Counterintelligence, Ethics, Oversight and the Intelligence Community

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

No significant changes.

Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook