Students

PICT8043 – International Terrorism

2022 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer and Convenor
Andrew Tan
Level 6, Faculty of Arts
Via email, by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrim or MPICT or MCPICT or GradDipPICT or GradDipCPICT or PGCertPICT or GradCertPICT or GradCertCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStud or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or GradDipSecStudCr or GradCertSecStudCr 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 or (10cps at 6000 level or 10cps 8000 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to key issues and challenges of the new global terrorism which emerged after the end of the Cold War. The unit begins by exploring the seminal events of 9-11, the nature and challenge of the new global terrorism and the responses of the United States and other key states to it. The unit then examines the definition, causes and tactics of terrorist groups, as well as various terrorism typologies, which illustrate the diversity and complexity of terrorist groups and motivations. The unit also assesses counter-terrorism strategies as well as international counter-terrorism and policing cooperation. This unit utilizes perspectives and knowledge drawn from history, terrorism studies, foreign policy, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency to examine, in a holistic manner, the phenomenon of contemporary terrorism and how to counter it.

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 familiarity with and the ability to critically evaluate the scholarship on terrorism.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate strong empirical knowledge of the key developments and issues in terrorism.
  • ULO3: Apply independent research skills, critical analysis, and persuasive scholarly writing skills in the analysis of terrorism.

General Assessment Information

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 – 10 marks out of 100 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. 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. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Engagement 5% No On-going
Tests 15% No By 12pm Sat 9 April (Wk 7) and by 12pm Sat 4 June (Wk 13)
Minor Essay 20% No Sunday 27 March (Week 5)
Major Essay 60% No Sunday 15 May (Week 10)

Engagement

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: On-going
Weighting: 5%

 

Marks will be awarded for comprehension of the content under discussion, the ability to use the content to explore an issue, interaction with others through thoughtful and reflective comments and questions, expression and language, and participation in an online test.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and the ability to critically evaluate the scholarship on terrorism.
  • Demonstrate strong empirical knowledge of the key developments and issues in terrorism.

Tests

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: By 12pm Sat 9 April (Wk 7) and by 12pm Sat 4 June (Wk 13)
Weighting: 15%

 

The tests will test student understanding of the lectures and assigned reading material.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate strong empirical knowledge of the key developments and issues in terrorism.

Minor Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Sunday 27 March (Week 5)
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assignment is to help students develop the necessary skills in critically reviewing academic work that they read. The minor essay is a review of an academic article from the designated list of articles.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and the ability to critically evaluate the scholarship on terrorism.
  • Apply independent research skills, critical analysis, and persuasive scholarly writing skills in the analysis of terrorism.

Major Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Sunday 15 May (Week 10)
Weighting: 60%

 

The major essay is a substantive piece of academic work that answers any of the tutorial questions.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and the ability to critically evaluate the scholarship on terrorism.
  • Demonstrate strong empirical knowledge of the key developments and issues in terrorism.
  • Apply independent research skills, critical analysis, and persuasive scholarly writing skills in the analysis of terrorism.

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

1. Weekly seminars are held live on campus for internal students. The lectures (but not the seminar discussions) are recorded and made available to all students (internal, external and OUA) after every seminar. In addition, pre-recorded lectures for OUA students are available (these are meant to assist OUA students in studying more flexibly but all students are welcome to listen to them). All recordings are available in the Echo360/ALP block on the right-side block of iLearn. 

2. Students are expected to read the REQUIRED readings each week as they will be tested on their understanding of both the lectures and these readings in the two online tests. The RECOMMENDED readings for each week are additional readings for further reading.  These readings are available through LEGANTO - click on the link in iLearn to access them.

3. Internal students must engage/participate by attending the weekly seminars on campus. External/OUA students must participate / engage in the weekly online discussion forums which open on Monday and closes on Sunday each week (note that posts after Sunday will not be read as the tutor would have moved on to the next week's discussion). Students are expected to attend/engage in at least 10 seminars/weekly discussions.

4. There are 4 assessments: engagement/participation; 2 multiple-choice tests, a minor essay (consisting of an article review), and a major essay. 

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Introduction

Part 1 Responses to 9-11

Week 2: 9-11 and the US Response

Week 3: US Strategy Against Terrorism and Insurgency

Week 4: Terrorism in the Malay Archipelago

Week 5: Southeast Asia’s Approach to Counter-Terrorism

Part 2 Global Terrorism Studies

Week 6: Definitions, Causes, Tactics and Weapons

Week 7: Ethno-Nationalist and Left / Right-wing Terrorism

Week 8: Religious Terrorism

Week 9: Islamic State

Part 3 Countering Terrorism

Week 10: Counter Terrorism Strategies

Week 11: Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)

Week 12: Local Policing and Counter-Terrorism

Week 13: Global Policing and Counter-Terrorism

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