Students

PICT3015 – Security Policy Analysis: Current and Emerging Issues

2023 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Roger Huang
roger.huang@mq.edu.au
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 examines current issues in national and international security. It allows students to investigate the most prominent challenges, dynamics and events that are occurring (sometimes in real time) as the unit is being delivered. This unit is dynamic and fluid with the specific topics varying from year-to-year to reflect the contemporary world; however topics may range from great power strategic competition through to terrorist attacks, civil wars, infectious disease outbreaks and nuclear proliferation. Leading authorities from the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, state and federal government, the think-tank community, the media or other research institutions may be enlisted to deliver expert analysis on these current events. Each week, students will receive an expert brief on different contemporary topics before being asked to critically analyze the issues involved.

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 current security challenges within their broader historical, cultural, political and geographic contexts.
  • ULO2: Explain the motivations and objectives of both sides within a conflict and be able to identify their strategic options.
  • ULO3: Critically evaluate the quality of news reporting on current security-related issues.
  • ULO4: Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government and the international community towards current security issues and challenges.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate policy options.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Policy Memo 40% No Week 7
Tutorial Activities 10% No Weekly
Research Essay 50% No Week 12

Policy Memo

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 40%

 

The policy memo is a written brief addressed to a high-level policy-maker who is considering how to address a particular security challenge (case study to be chosen from a list discussed in the course). The memo will identify and analyze the political and strategic factors that should inform the policy-maker’s decision, and recommend a particular course of action.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand current security challenges within their broader historical, cultural, political and geographic contexts.
  • Explain the motivations and objectives of both sides within a conflict and be able to identify their strategic options.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government and the international community towards current security issues and challenges.
  • Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate policy options.

Tutorial Activities

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

A range of tutor-led activities will help develop both individual and collective skills in critical thinking, analysis, and communication. Internal students will demonstrate active engagement in tutorials; external students will demonstrate it by contributing to online activities. Grades are dependent on criteria such as (but not limited to) the quality of the engagement with unit materials, new lines of inquiry posed, the ability to complete tutorial tasks, and engagement with peers and the teaching staff.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand current security challenges within their broader historical, cultural, political and geographic contexts.
  • Explain the motivations and objectives of both sides within a conflict and be able to identify their strategic options.
  • Critically evaluate the quality of news reporting on current security-related issues.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government and the international community towards current security issues and challenges.
  • Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate policy options.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%

 

The major essay is a demonstration of the student’s ability to research, conceptualise, and communicate a sustained scholarly argument based upon a thesis. Students will be given a list of essay questions related to the unit curriculum and asked to research, prepare, and express a cogent response to one chosen question in a clear, concise, and academically formal manner. The major essay will demonstrate how thoroughly the student has researched the academic literature pertaining to an issue, how well they can use critical thinking and logic to devise an appropriate argument, and how well they can structure and express this argument in a sustained and convincing manner.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand current security challenges within their broader historical, cultural, political and geographic contexts.
  • Explain the motivations and objectives of both sides within a conflict and be able to identify their strategic options.
  • Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government and the international community towards current security issues and challenges.

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 non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic 

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 deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from 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 Final Grade Appeal procedure as part of the Assessment policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=277 

  • In accordance with the Grade Appeal procedure, 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.

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 2023.01R of the Handbook