Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit is designed to further your knowledge of Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) and Terrorism. Transnational organised crime has grown exponentially throughout the world in the past decades. Criminal groups operate in almost eery country and in varyting capacities. Sophisticated groups adopt a business like, often entrepreneurial approach to their criminal endeavours. Similarly, terrorist organisations operate throughout the world in various forms and use various entrepreneurial ventures to raise needed funds for their activities. Both criminal groups present an ongoing problem for governments and monarchies - globally. While, TOC groups benefit from the misfortune of others within the community, terrorists on the other hand, seek to undermine the fabric of these communities. Transnational organised crime and terrorist groups have existed for hundreds of years; they will continue to provide a focus for intelligence, security and policing operations for many generations to come. This unit seeks to explore ways in which they can examined, targets and destabilised using various analytical techniques and models.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to further your knowledge and understanding of Transnational Organised Crime and Terrorism and the methods and techniques used by law enforcement to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats posed by these groups. This unit will examine several analytical models employed by TOC and Terrorism within the context of contemporary methodologies. One of the methods used to analyse criminal and terrorist groups is referred to as CBAM (Crime Business Analysis Matrix). CBAM is an analytical formula used to profile a crime (or terrorist) group in order to assist in the development of an effective operational targeting strategy. The model examines the history and structure of a particular group, how it is resourced as well as its level of skill and ability. Students should leave the unit with an enhanced knowledge of transnational organised crime and terrorism and the methods used to analyse them more effectively.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to demonstrate:

1. An understanding of the nature and characteristics of transnational organised crime and terrorism.
2. An understanding of the history and structures of key transnational organised crime and terrorist groups.
3. An understanding of the nature of transnational organised crime and terrorist activities.
4. A capacity to critically analyse organised crime issues and demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical thinking.
5. An ability to communicate complex concepts and ideas in written form to the requisite standard of postgraduate studies at this university.

Content

Module 1: Introduction to unit and TOC and terrorism
Module 2: Transnational Organised Crime
Module 3: Transnational Organised Crime Groups
Module 4: The modern face of Terrorism
Module 5: CBAM
Module 6: International Response to TOC and terrorism

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be delivered entirely online. Students will utilise the required text and various selected readings and links to useful websites.

Students will be provided with a sample template that will be used to profile various Transnational Crime Groups and terrorist organisations. This template and all relevant information will be located on the unit blackboard site. Discussion forums will be used along with Eluminate to generate discussion and elicit student engagement with the unit study material.

Assessment

There will be two (2) pieces of assessment for this unit.Marking guides and written feedback will be provided on each assignment for all students.

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: Written assignment (all students). Length: 3000 words.
Relates to objectives: This piece of assessment covers Objectives 1-4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Report
Description: Written assignment (all students). Length: 3000 words.
Relates to objectives: This piece of assessment covers Objectives 1-4.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

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

There is a required text for this unit:

Dean, G, Fahsing, I and Gottschalk, P. (2010), Organised Crime; Policing Illegal Business Entrepreneurialism, Oxford Press, London.

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