Course results for Macquarie University Security & counter terrorism Subjects

Canvas the major ethical, moral and legal paradigms of thought within security studies. Evaluate the ethics of the recourse to war, humanitarian intervention, wartime conduct, interrogation and torture, weapons, intelligence and surveillance

Understand how the Australian government formulates national security policy. Examine the strategic challenges facing Australia—the rise of China, U.S. pivot to Asia, military modernisation of our neighbours, and threats from weak and failing states.

Explore the reason why internal sources of armed conflict have become the most important foreign policy challenges in the world today. Learn how to explain key concepts of strategy, negotiation, terrorism and political coercion.

Look at the motives and perpetrators of cybercrime. Explore how individuals and organisations face specific threats and examine the security measures to protect physical and digital access through people, infrastructure and computer systems. 

Explore the range of law enforcement and societal response options available to governments. Understand terrorism as a strategy and as a tactic, recruitment and group dynamics, narratives and the role of global media, and cyber terrorism.

Determine the threats to, and vulnerabilities of, critical national infrastructure. Evaluate coordination efficacy between levels of government and public and private organisations in relation to natural disasters, chemical incidents and epidemics.

Investigate the operational dynamics of modern warfare—how can force be applied, what can it achieve, and its limitations. Probe the intersection of politics and warfare, identify logistics issues, and the influence of technology on major combat. 

Learn to identify the key agencies in Australia’s national security community. Articulate the relationship between public and private sector law enforcement and intelligence organisations in protecting the state from domestic and foreign threats.