Students

PICT847 – Supervised Project in Security Studies

2013 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Dalbir Ahlawat
Contact via dalbir.ahlawat@mq.edu.au
Julian Droogan
Contact via julian.droogan@mq.edu.au
PICT Offices, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Karina Guthrie
Contact via karina.guthrie@mq.edu.au
PICT Offices, Level 2, Building Y3A
By appointment
Shanaka Jayasekara
Contact via shanaka.jayasekara@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Karl Roberts
Contact via karl.roberts@mq.edu.au
Clive Williams
Contact via clive.williams@mq.edu.au
Vincent Williams
Contact via vince.williams@mq.edu.au
Y3A 238
As detailed on the iLearn site
James Martin
Contact via james.martin@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MIntSecStud or admission to MPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCompForensics or PGDipCompForensics
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Students enrolled in this unit are expected to research and compose one substantial research project of 5000–6000 words on an approved topic. Students will be supervised in all stages of this task by PICT staff. All enrolled students will undertake a research project on one of a list of approved topics provided by PICT staff at the beginning of each semester. Subject to availability, students will be supervised by the staff member who has nominated the research topic that the student has chosen. Students will be encouraged to thoroughly engage with the existing research on their topic, using it as a stepping stone in developing their own research skills. This research relies on utilising secondary sources and does not require original empirical work. Indeed students are not permitted to conduct interviews or other fieldwork which would normally require ethics approval.

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:

  • ability to develop a relevant research question
  • ability to apply appropriate critical and analytical skills to the topic
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Proposal 10% End of Week 2
Introduction 25% End of week 8 see ilearn
Final report 65% End of session

Proposal

Due: End of Week 2
Weighting: 10%

250 words. See ilearn for hand in date.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • ability to develop a relevant research question

Introduction

Due: End of week 8 see ilearn
Weighting: 25%

see ilearn for hand in date


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • ability to apply appropriate critical and analytical skills to the topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Final report

Due: End of session
Weighting: 65%

5000 words. See ilearn for due date.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • ability to apply appropriate critical and analytical skills to the topic
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Delivery and Resources

IMPORTANT

Students are responsible for finding a suitable supervisor and obtaining the supervisors agreement to supervise them.

 

DELIVERY

There are no formal teaching sessions for this unit. Students should meet regularly with their supervisor who will advise them throughout the unit. 

 

RESOURCES

Please see ilearn for useful resources. There are no specific readings for this unit as students will identify and read material relevant to their specific research question.

 

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

For the final assignment the unit now requires students to write an extended essay based upon their research question. This contrasts with previous offerings of this unit where students were required to carry out a short research project.

Unit Schedule

There will be no specific classes for this unit but students should meet

regularly with their supervisor to discuss their project.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

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

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • ability to develop a relevant research question
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment tasks

  • Proposal
  • Introduction
  • Final report

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • ability to apply appropriate critical and analytical skills to the topic
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment tasks

  • Introduction
  • Final report

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • ability to apply appropriate critical and analytical skills to the topic
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment tasks

  • Introduction
  • Final report

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment tasks

  • Introduction
  • Final report

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • ability to develop a relevant research question
  • ability to critically evaluate academic (as well as relevant professional and other) literature on a research topic
  • ability to write a coherent analytical report concerned with the research question.

Assessment tasks

  • Proposal
  • Introduction
  • Final report