Units
Policing in Context
Unit code: JSB284
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit is concerned with the diverse roles, duties, powers and problems of policing in Australia. These issues are explored through three overarching themes: 1) Key policing principles (modules 1-4); 2) Specialisation (modules 5-8); and 3) Key issues in policing (modules 9-12).
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- (from structures - IX41, IX45, IX61, IX76, JS32, LW43)
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit is concerned with the diverse roles, duties, powers and problems of policing in Australia. These issues are explored through three overarching themes: 1) Key policing principles (modules 1-4); 2) Specialisation (modules 5-8); and 3) Key issues in policing (modules 9-12).
The first topic explores historical and current approaches to policing within Australia. The purpose of this section is to provide students with a good foundational knowledge of where policing has come from and how it evolved into what we know as 'policing' today.
The second topic considers the tasks and operations police are expected to engage in as part of their core duties as well as the skills required for successful policing. Amongst other things, we will look at police education and training, police investigations and investigative techniques including interview and interrogation.
The last part of the unit focuses upon key issues in policing, including policing diverse communities, police ethics, policing and technology, terrorism and transnational crime and the future of policing. In particular, we will explore how these various issues have changed the face of policing over time, and will critically evaluate the positive and negative effects of such change.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide the necessary knowledge, understanding, and skills to prepare students to critically examine the diverse roles and functions of police in both the local and global context.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to demonstrate:
1. an appreciation of the principle knowledge needed for understanding policing history, context and structure in Australia and demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical awareness.
2. an understanding of the models and functions of modern police and an understanding of the actual skills, tasks and operations that police are expected to engage in as part of their core skill requirements, thereby demonstrating the graduate attribute of discipline knowledge.
3. an understanding of the new developments in policing and an appreciation of the problems of policing in the early 21st century and demonstrate the graduate attribute of problem solving and critical thinking.
4. an ability to work without close supervision and demonstrate the graduate attribute of working independently.
5. an ability to work well with others and demonstrate the graduate attribute of teamwork (for internal students).
6. the capacity to communicate your ideas clearly and demonstrate the graduate attribute of written (internal and external students) and oral (internal students) communication skills.
Content
The modules to be covered in this unit are:
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit is offered in both internal and external mode.
Internal mode delivery is organised around lectures (2 hour duration) and tutorials (1 hour duration). Lectures will be focused on presenting the material and tutorials upon clarification, critical discussion and reflection.
External mode delivery encourages you to engage with the topics on a weekly basis. Lectures will be audio streamed and available to internal and external students via the Blackboard site.
In both internal and external mode you will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning under the guidance of the teaching team. You are advised to make extensive use of the Blackboard website, which is available through the QUT home page. Tutorial activities, PowerPoint slides and weekly readings are included on this page.
Assessment
All items of assessment must be submitted to a reasonable effort in order to pass this unit. Feedback will be provided in relation to all assessment items. Students should also be aware that penalties for late submission will be enforced (i.e. 5% of the overall weight of the assessment item per day, including weekends and public holidays).Feedback provided.
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Students are required to write three short essays based on the readings and unit material for three of the twelve modules covered in the unit. Each short essay should be approximately 1000 words long (+/- 10%) and should give a critical (not just descriptive) overview of the topic for the week.
Weighting: 30% overall (i.e. 10% per paper)
Due dates: Due on each Thursday (in the tutorials) of weeks 4, 6 and 8
Relates to objectives:
This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Wks 2,4,6,8,11
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Students must undertake independent research to inform a critical essay of approximately 2500 words (+/- 10%). The essay should be based upon the students' choice of one of three essay topics, which will be provided in the first lecture. The three topics will relate to policing issues that are covered in the unit. The essay should present a comprehensive and critical discussion on the students' chosen topic.
Relates to objectives:
This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
External
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
Students will work in groups of four to prepare a short presentation (20 minutes) based on the weekly modules. The presentation will be based on the unit materials, but students should also conduct research beyond the set readings to bring a fresh perspective to the relevant subject area. Students should not simply present an overview of the weekly topic, but should instead engage the class in critical discussion and debate. Students are encouraged to use multimedia and other methods to present their topic and engage the class.
Presentations will begin in week 4 (in tutorials). Presentation groups and dates will be scheduled during the first tutorial in week 2.
Relates to objectives:
This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Begin Week 4
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Students are required to write three short essays based on the readings and unit material for three of the twelve modules covered in the unit. Each short essay should be approximately 1000 words long (+/- 10%) and should give a critical (not just descriptive) overview of the topic for the week.
Weighting: 30% overall (i.e. 10% per paper)
Due dates: Due on each Thursday (in the tutorials) of weeks 4, 6 and 8
Relates to objectives:
This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Wks 4,6,8
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Students must undertake independent research to inform a critical essay of approximately 2500 words (+/- 10%). The essay should be based upon the students' choice of one of three essay topics, which will be provided in the first lecture. The three topics will relate to policing issues that are covered in the unit. The essay should present a comprehensive and critical discussion on the students' chosen topic.
Relates to objectives:
This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 13
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
Prescribed Text (required):
Broadhurst, R & Davies, S. eds. 2008. Policing in Context: An Introduction to Police in Australia. Sydney: University of Oxford Press.
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
