Units
National Security and Intelligence
Unit code: JSN178
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
In National Security and Intelligence you will develop knowledge of how security is understood and conceptualised, which will enable you to critically reflect on how security priorities are made in national, regional and international settings. The unit aims to encourage you to develop your knowledge of how states prioritise security threats, as well as how intelligence agencies and staff support these efforts. The unit will develop your skills in critical analysis, problem solving, research, and writing.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Intelligence is used by government departments and agencies to develop national security priorites, allocate resources, and plan operations. In order to provide effective support to national security customers, intelligence staff require an understanding of how security is conceptualised from both a theoretical and practical perspective. While traditional security threats continue to dominate national security considerations, non-traditional security threats are becoming increasingly important. As the approach to national security changes, there is a concurrent debate over how to defnine 'national security'. Globalisation continues to impact on national security and this is resulting in an increased reliance on global, regional, and national approaches to meet ever-changing security challenges.
Aims
In National Security and Intelligence you will develop knowledge of how security is understood and conceptualised, which will enable you to critically reflect on how security priorities are made in national, regional and international settings. The unit aims to encourage you to develop your knowledge of how states prioritise security threats, as well as how intelligence agencies and staff support these efforts. The unit will develop your skills in critical analysis, problem solving, research, and writing.
Objectives
Once you have completed this unit you should be able to demonstrate:
1. An understanding of security and intelligence concepts and demonstrate this through the postgraduate attribute of reflective practice;
2. The capacity to explain how security issues are prioritised at the national, regional and international level and demonstrate the postgraduate attributes of critical thinking and written communication;
3. The ability to analyse traditional and non-traditional threats from the individual, state and international perspective. This ability demonstrates the postgraduate attributes of problem solving and critical awareness;
4. A capacity to research the contemporary issues that concern intelligence collection, analysis, and assessment operations. This demonstrates the postgraduate attributes of informational literacy and research; and
5. An understanding of the strategies used to identify security threats and trace how intelligence operations responds to the identification of such threats. This objective relates to the postgraduate attributes of multidisciplinary knowledge and self-directed learning.
Content
This course approaches National Security and Intelligence from a broad perspective. Topics to be covered include:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The teaching in this unit is based on the best use of on-line technology and print options. The learning experience of students will be enhanced by, amongst other things, improved on-line support and lecturer and peer interaction to establish a positive and supportive learning environment. Unit aims and objectives will be supported by more effective use of formative assessment strategies. The unit may utilise:
- Web-based study guides;
- other module content in both print and electronic form (eg, readings, links to Web sites);
- a Web board for class announcements;
- a whole-of-class electronic forum and separate forum for collaborative groups; and
- online telephony applications, such as Skype and GoogleTalk, for individual and conference voice communications.
Assessment
There are two pieces of assessment for this course: an investigative paper and an academic paper.Assessment is to assist your learning. It is expected that feedback from the two assessment items will support your learning and assist you to improve your work in both this and later units. In addition you will receive opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback from teachers and fellow students via the online discussion forum as well as informal opportunities to receive feedback on your approach to unit work.
Assessment name:
Investigative Paper
Description:
The Investigative paper will focus on changes to national security priorties since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the emergence of non-traditional security threats. Students will be required to analyse major policy documents and changes to national intelligence arrangements. Word length: 2500 words.
Relates to objectives:
This piece of assessment relates to objectives 1-5 of the unit.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 5
Assessment name:
Academic Paper
Description:
The Investigative paper will focus on changes to national security priorties since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the emergence of non-traditional security threats. Students will be required to analyse major policy documents and changes to national intelligence arrangements. Word length: 2500 words.
Relates to objectives:
This piece of assessment relates to objectives 1-5 of the unit.
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
A collection of readings has been prepared and is available on the unit's QUT Blackboard site.
Suggested texts for the unit are:
- Understanding Global Security, Peter Hough. Routledge, 2006.
- Strategy in the Contemporary World - An Introduction to Strategic Studies,
2nd Edn, Edited by John Baylis, James J. Wirtz, Eliot A. Cohen and Colin S. Gray. Oxford University
Press, 2006.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 07-Aug-2012
