Students

PICT8013 – History of Intelligence

2022 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

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 ((Admission to BSecStudMCTerrorism or BSecStudMCrim or BSecStudMCyberSecAnalysis or BSecStudMIntell or BSecStudMSecStrategicStud) and (50 cp at 2000 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.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quizzes 40% No 16:00 Thursdays
Essay 1 25% No Variable
Essay 2 25% No Variable
Discussion Leadership 10% No Variable

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 16:00 Thursdays
Weighting: 40%

 

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.

Essay 1

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Variable
Weighting: 25%

 

You will be assigned a topic relating to a particular week’s readings on which to write an essay. Topic 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. 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.

Essay 2

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Variable
Weighting: 25%

 

You will be assigned a topic relating to a particular week’s readings on which to write an essay. Topic 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. 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.

Discussion Leadership

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Variable
Weighting: 10%

 

You will help to lead the class discussion in each of the two weeks you are assigned to write an essay. In performing this role, you should use the knowledge gained and insights developed in writing your essay to help frame the class discussion, identify pertinent questions that arise from the readings, and spark class debate on that week’s topic.

 


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

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 Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of “0” (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.   
  • This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs) will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. 

  

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2022.03 of the Handbook