Students

PICT301 – Global and Strategic Issues in Criminology

2018 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Rolando Ochoa
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
((PICT102 or PICT202) and (SOC126 or SOC226) and (PICT101 or PICT103) and LAWS250) or (admission to BSecStud and 48cp at 100 level or above including PICT103 and PICT202)
Corequisites Corequisites
PICT320 or SOC311
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit draws upon the knowledge and capacities developed over the course of the criminology major to explore issues of global and strategic significance. Students will undertake an advanced analysis of a complex topic from a criminological and policing/regulatory perspective, with topics including immigration and the criminalisation of borders, transnational policing of sex trafficking and trafficking, restorative justice in transitional states, and the global ‘War on Drugs’. Successful completion of the unit will provide a pathway to postgraduate study in Criminology and related disciplines such as Security Studies, Policing, Intelligence, Cyber Security or Counter Terrorism.

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:

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Critique of seminal article 20% No Week 3
Research Essay Plan & Outline 20% No Week 5
Major Essay 50% No Week 12
Unit participation 10% No Throughout semester

Critique of seminal article

Due: Week 3
Weighting: 20%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Research Essay Plan & Outline

Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%

Refer to unit iLearn page. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Major Essay

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 50%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology

Unit participation

Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 10%

Refer to unit iLearn page.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY AND RESOURCES

THE UNIT CONSISTS OF 13 ONE-HOUR LECTURES AS WELL AS TUTORIALS. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE LECTURE AS THE SECOND HOUR OF SAID LECTURE WILL BE USED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. PARTICIPATION IS EXPECTED OF ALL STUDENTS IN LECTURES AND TUTORIALS.

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, 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.

 

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 of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener or nominated delegate such as a tutor.  Any requests for extensions must be before the due date for the submission of the assessment task.  Extensions beyond one week are subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy

 

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 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 exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the 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.

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately 

Unit Schedule

Week 1 - Introduction

Weeks 2, 3 and 4 - Economic and Industrial Crime (Economic Crimes: money laundering, financial fraud and identity theft; Industrial Crimes: foreign economic espionage, foreign corrupt business practices and IP rights/copyright violations)

Weeks 5, 6 and 7 - Organised Crime Groups and Networks (Illicit Goods/Economy: drugs, firearms and counterfeit goods; People Movement: human trafficking, child sex exploitation, sex trafficking and people smuggling/illegal immigration)

Weeks 8, 9 and 10 - State Crime (war crime, genocide, torture and corruption)

Weeks 11 and 12 - Environmental Crime (dumping/illegal transportation of hazardous waste, proliferation of e-waste, illegal trade in flora and fauna, illegal fishing and logging, bio-piracy)

Week 13 - Wrap up

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

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

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and synthesise global and strategic issues drawing on knowledge from criminology, law and sociology
  • Assemble and critique scholarly literature in criminology
  • Propose and effectively communicate an alternative policy response to a topic of global and strategic significance

Assessment tasks

  • Critique of seminal article
  • Research Essay Plan & Outline
  • Major Essay
  • Unit participation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Evaluate and assess existing government policy (local and foreign) regarding a topic of global and strategic significance