Students

PICT8001 – Study Tour

2023 – Session 1, In person-fieldwork, Other

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
James Ramsay
james.ramsay@mq.edu.au
Fred Smith
fred.smith@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit offers a unique opportunity for students to participate in an overseas study tour of the United States. The study tour focuses upon the security relationship between the United States and Australia. The study tour is hosted by the University of Maryland, College Park, Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) Department. Students will also visit Washington, D.C. and New York City. The tour allows students to explore, compare and contrast the United States’ national security structure and processes to that of Australia. During this two-week intensive study tour, students will meet, listen and speak with experts from government, academia, and private industry. This will enable students to gain fresh perspectives and insights into contemporary security issues.

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 an in-depth understanding of the U.S. national security and intelligence system and how it is alike and different from the Australian system.
  • ULO2: Evaluate the ‘Five Eyes’ Intelligence sharing relationship, in particular the roles of the U.S. and Australia in that relationship and the breadth and depth of that relationship.
  • ULO3: Apply knowledge learned to connect security and criminology theory to practice in a real-world environment.
  • ULO4: Engage and develop networks with security professionals and academics working in the U.S. system and leverage off those relationships, as well as relationships with your co-study tour participants to enhance knowledge and future collaboration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assessment Task 1 (AT-1) Expression of Interest 15% No Week 1
Assessment Task 2 (AT-2) Comparative Assessment 25% No Due prior to departure.
Assessment Task 3 (AT-3) Reflective Journal 60% No Due upon completion of Study Tour.

Assessment Task 1 (AT-1) Expression of Interest

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 1
Weighting: 15%

 

Students will prepare and post an ‘Expression of Interest’ in the DC Study Tour, a short 500-word memo focused on why the student wishes to participate in the study tour and what they would like to get from the Study Tour.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the U.S. national security and intelligence system and how it is alike and different from the Australian system.
  • Engage and develop networks with security professionals and academics working in the U.S. system and leverage off those relationships, as well as relationships with your co-study tour participants to enhance knowledge and future collaboration.

Assessment Task 2 (AT-2) Comparative Assessment

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Due prior to departure.
Weighting: 25%

Prepare a 1500-word 'Comparative Assessment', comparing and contrasting the US National and State Security system and processes with the Australian National and State Security system and processes.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the U.S. national security and intelligence system and how it is alike and different from the Australian system.
  • Evaluate the ‘Five Eyes’ Intelligence sharing relationship, in particular the roles of the U.S. and Australia in that relationship and the breadth and depth of that relationship.
  • Apply knowledge learned to connect security and criminology theory to practice in a real-world environment.

Assessment Task 3 (AT-3) Reflective Journal

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Due upon completion of Study Tour.
Weighting: 60%

Prepare a 3000-word 'Reflective Journal' at the end of the Study Tour, covering a day-by-day assessment and reflection on Study Tour events.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the U.S. national security and intelligence system and how it is alike and different from the Australian system.
  • Evaluate the ‘Five Eyes’ Intelligence sharing relationship, in particular the roles of the U.S. and Australia in that relationship and the breadth and depth of that relationship.
  • Apply knowledge learned to connect security and criminology theory to practice in a real-world environment.
  • Engage and develop networks with security professionals and academics working in the U.S. system and leverage off those relationships, as well as relationships with your co-study tour participants to enhance knowledge and future collaboration.

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 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.
  • 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 outcomes may result in a new question or topic.
  • 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.

 

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

 

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 2023.04 of the Handbook