Students

PICT8016 – Internship

2025 – Session 2, In person-placement, Other

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Mariam Farida
mariam.farida@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
[Admission to MCrim or MPICT or MCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStud or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or admission to BSecStudMCTerrorism or BSecStudMCrim or BSecStudMCyberSecAnalysis or BSecStudMIntell or BSecStudMSecStrategicStud] and permission by special approval and 30cp at 8000 level.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The Department of Security Studies and Criminology (SSC) offers a unique opportunity for students to complete a security industry-focused internship as part of their Masters degree. There are a number of companies and organisations that host SSC post-graduate interns, including multinational consulting and insurance firms, think tanks, non-government organisations (NGO), defence contractors, and both public service regulatory and policing organisations. Expressions of Interest must be submitted to the course convenor. The timeline for submission is: for Session 2 participation by 15 April each year; for Session 1 participation by 15 September each year. Internship placements are made by matching student interests and study stream specialties as much as possible, but student flexibility is required due to the limited number of partnering agencies. Students are able to experience real-world, professional settings in a security organisation's workplace. SSC cannot guarantee any particular workplace and placements are made through a competitive selection process; a minimum grade point average of 70% is required to apply. Students may nominate their own internship placements in a relevant security organisation upon unit convenor 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:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • ULO2: Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • ULO3: Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Placement Report 25% No Week 12
Workplace Supervisor's Report 50% No Week 13
Organisational Review 25% No Week 6

Placement Report

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 25%

 

The placement report is a discussion piece about the student’s own role within the host organisation. The first section of the report should include a broad description of the projects and functions the student has undertaken, a description of key events and outline competencies acquired during the internship. The second part of the report should examine how the practical realities of the workplace either differed to or consolidated the more theoretical knowledge gained during the student’s degree. Importantly, the report should provide an in-depth and honest self-assessment of the student’s performance during their placement.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Workplace Supervisor's Report

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

The workplace supervisor’s report will be completed by the student’s supervisor at the host organisation on completion of their internship. The report is based on the supervisor’s assessment of the student’s performance during the internship.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Organisational Review

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 25%

 

The organisational review is a discussion piece situating the host organisation within the broader Australian national security framework. It should give consideration to both national and organisational history and context and the function of the host organisation. It should demonstrate awareness of and engagement with the national or international security issues or trends that form the primary focus of the organisation’s activities.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.

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

All resources will be available on iLearn

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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 2025.02 of the Handbook