The compulsory textbook is:

Paul D. Williams, (ed.), Security Studies: An Introduction, (London: Routledge, 2013).

Students can purchase either a physical or electronic copy online directly from Routledge (www.routledge.com) or from Amazon (www.amazon.com) or the Book Depository (www.bookdepository.com). Copies are also available from the Macquarie University Co-op bookshop.

All other materials are available through the Macquarie University library.

FURTHER DELIVERY AND RESOURCES

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

• You should spend an average of at least 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to pre-recorded lectures prior to seminar discussions and reading weekly required readings detailed in iLearn.
• Internal students are expected to attend all seminar sessions and external students are expected to contribute to on-line discussions.
• Students are required to submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

• Personal PC 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.
• For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help
• For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

• All assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
• Assessment tasks must be submitted either as a PDF or 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 of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener.  Any requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date for the submission of the assessment task.  Extensions beyond one week are subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html#purpose).

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

• If an assignment is submitted late, 5% of the available mark will be deducted for each day (including weekends) the paper is late.
• For example, if a paper is worth 20 marks, 1 mark will be deducted from the grade given for each day that it is late (i.e. a student given 15/20 who submitted 4 days late will lose 4 marks = 11/20).
• The same principle applies if an extension is granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Stated word limits do not include references, 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 he 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.
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REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

• Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately (http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html). This process involves all assignments submitted for that unit being reassessed. However, in exceptional cases students may request that a single piece of work is reassessed.

Big Question 1: What am I doing here?

Week 1 - What is Security Studies?

Week 2 - Essay Writing

Week 3 - Academic Research

Big Question 2: Is the state the greatest threat to, or best guarantor of, one's security?

Week 4 - State, Society and Nationalism

Week 5 - The State: Too strong or too weak?

Big Question 3: Will the United States and China go to war in our lifetime?

Week 6 - Competing IR paradigms: Realism and Liberalism

Week 7 - Game Theory

Week 8 - Deterrence and Coercive Diplomacy

Big Question 4: Why does the sole remaining superpower keep losing?

Week 9 - Civil Wars and Insurgencies

Week 10 - Intervention and Counterinsurgency

Week 11 - Polarity and US Decline

Big Question 5: What are the greatest threats to humanity?

Week 12 - Nuclear Weapons, Infectious Disease and Climate Change

Week 13 - The Future of Security Studies