Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies)
UndergraduateMUR-BGS-DEG2020
Course information for 2020 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Protect our world against threats
You’ll cover terrorism, political violence, crimes that have effects across national borders, global poverty and even climate change. Learn how to combat situations in the short-term and use prevention longer-term.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies)
About this degree
At the completion of this degree students will be able to:
- analyse and critically evaluate different and competing approaches to global security
- critically evaluate different strategies to enhance or enable global security
- explain and analyse the broader political and social contexts in which security policies, institutions and agencies operate
- demonstrate knowledge of a range of policy and political options to foster domestic and global security
- clearly and accurately communicate complex information, concepts and problems with respect to global security
- demonstrate well-developed interpersonal skills and ethical practice in collaboration with people from diverse backgrounds.
Every day, media outlets feature stories of terrorism and political violence around the world. These issues represent today’s biggest global security challenges.
In this degree, you’ll explore the meaning, development and complex causes of terrorism and political violence. Examine the different ways governments, states and organisations have responded to the threat of terrorism and discover how effective these approaches have been.
You’ll gain the kind of skills, knowledge and insights that organisations across the world are looking for when assessing risk and potential threats to security.
Recommended study pattern
To get the most from this degree, students are recommended to follow these steps:
LEVEL 1 (total of 24 points)
- MSP100 Career Learning: Managing Your Career (3cp)
- POL161 Understanding International Politics (3cp)
- POL192 Perspectives on Security and Terrorism (3cp)
- POL133 Politics, Power and Policy (3cp)
- POL201 Global Justice, Aid and Security (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subject
LEVEL 2 (total of 24 points)
- MSP200 Building Enterprise Skills (3cp)
- POL202 Policing and the Politics of Counterterrorism (3cp)
- POL232 Military Force and Counterterrorism (3cp)
- POL234 Terrorism in a Globalised World (3cp)
- POL236 US Policies and Global Security (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 2 or Level 3 General Electives from any OUA subject
LEVEL 3 (total of 24 points)
- POL334 Middle East Politics and Security (3cp)
- POL337 Terrorism and Political Violence in South Asia (3cp)
- POL338 Politics and Security in SouthEast Asia: Terrorists, Gangsters and the State (3cp)
- POL345 International Security Studies (3cp)
- ART208 Presenting in Public: Writing and Performing for Professional Contexts (3cp)
- Complete 9 credit points (3 subjects) of Level 2 or 3 General Electives from any OUA subject
Award requirements
To qualify for the Murdoch University Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies) at Murdoch University, students must complete 72 credit points (24 subjects).
The Murdoch Degree Framework
(72 Points of Credit: 24 points core, 24 points major, 24 points options)
A Murdoch University degree is structured around four key elements:- Murdoch Career Spine (Core)
- Required Major Subjects (Major)
- General Elective Subjects (Options)
Degree Structures
Murdoch’s degree structures combine all the required elements to make a student knowledgeable, experienced, confident and successful within a chosen career. Each level of an undergraduate degree requires 24 credit points, the equivalent of a year of full-time study.Choose your subjects
Electives
Options (General Electives) – 9 subjects (27 credit points)
- Complete 3 subjects (9 credit points) of Level 1 General Electives from any OUA subjects
- Complete 6 subjects (18 credit points) of Level 2 points or 3 General Electives from any OUA subjects.
Select from any subjects offered by OUA, subject to individual subject prerequisites. Students who are considering a second major are advised to consider using General Elective points (from Murdoch offerings) to meet the requirements of a second major.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Students are recommended to Register with Murdoch University before starting their Level 2 subjects to receive enrolment advice.
A fee of $250 is payable on registration.
To obtain an Application for Registration Form, please download the form from this website:
http://our.murdoch.edu.au/OUA/Forms/Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
Changing from the Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism, Counter-terrorism) to Bachelor of Global Security degree at Murdoch University in 2020
The Bachelor of Arts has undergone a major change in 2020. Students will be transitioned from the Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism and Counter-terrorism major) to the new Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies). This transition is not intending to place any extra requirements on existing students.
- The new BGS (TCT) will not take you any longer as you are still required to complete 72 points as before.
- If you have completed your year one studies, but have not completed all of the year one subjects of the new degree and major, you will not be expected to go back and complete those subjects.
- You will see that in devising the new degree a small number of subjects have been recoded/renamed/replaced. Please be assured that you will not be expected to redo a subject you have already completed simply because it has been recoded/renamed/replaced.
- Any advanced standing, credit transfers, waivers and subject substitutions that were granted or agreed to for the purposes of completing the BA-STCT will be applied to completion of the BGS-TCS.
- The new named degree is an exciting opportunity and development that will benefit graduates, particularly in terms of employment.
Bachelor of Global Security (Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies) Recommended Study/Transition Plan (PDF, 162Kb)
Bachelor of Arts (Security, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies) pre-2020 Recommended Study/Transition Plan (PDF, 165Kb)
If you have any queries about any of these changes, you can ask a question in Murdoch’s ‘MyAnswers’ (https://myanswers.custhelp.com/), providing your student number and identifying your degree (or intended degree). You can also contact Murdoch via phone:1300 687 3624 and email: studentcentre@murdoch.edu.au.
You may also directly contact the Academic Chair of the degree in which you wish to graduate.
- Academic Chair for Bachelor of Global Security:
Dr Ian Wilson - I.Wilson@murdoch.edu.au / Tel: +61 8 93602500
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $21,158
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 31
Entry requirements
Transferring from another degree or university
If you have successfully completed university studies equivalent to at least 2 subjects (6 Murdoch credit points) you can apply to transfer to Murdoch University using your previous studies.
For all other minimum entry requirements and pathways, please refer to the course you are interested in on https://search.murdoch.edu.au/s/search.html?collection=mu-course-search.
Successful completion of 2 subjects at Open Universities Australia (OUA), or an Australian University.
School leavers gain an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) from four degree subjects completed during Year 12, or OP (Overall Positions) in Queensland.
To apply to Murdoch University after Year 12, you must achieve English competency and have achieved your WA Certificate of Education (WACE) or its interstate equivalent along with the ATAR (or OP) relevant for your chosen degree.
An ATAR of 70.00 or higher (or a Queensland Overall Position of 14 or less) is required for admission to a Commonwealth Support Place in this degree.
If you have successfully completed a Certificate IV or higher you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
- STAT is a national test for mature age people designed to assess aptitude for learning in a tertiary environment. It is not a test of your knowledge on specific academic subjects. It is recognised in all Australian states. You must achieve a minimum of 140 in the Written English and 135 in the Qualitative or Multiple Choice sections of the STAT to gain entry to Murdoch.
- Completed secondary education more than two years ago
- Enabling Programs
- Murdoch Institute of Technology - http://www.murdochinstitute.wa.edu.au/
- STAT preparation course - Applicant needs to sit the STAT after the course is completed.
- Murdoch University OnTrack / OnTrack Sprint / FlexiTrack - If you have successfully completed Murdoch University's OnTrack or Flexitrack program you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place. Details are available at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/OnTrack/ and https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/flexitrack-murdoch-university-mur-ftk-deg
Additional information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Kulbardi/
- International Students - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/how-to-apply
- For further admission information about this degree, please refer to Murdoch Admission Information - Arts
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
To demonstrate English language competency you will need a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR English, Literature or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD).
Find out if you are eligible and apply at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/recognition-of-prior-learning.
Study method requirements
Proof of Australian citizenship is required. Please upload a scanned copy of your birth certificate or Australian passport or citizenship certificate along with your application.
Career opportunities
Security Policymaking, Security Consultancies (public and private), Security Agencies, Law Enforcement, Defence Forces, Foreign Affairs, and Aid and other Non-Governmental Organisations engaged in operations in high-risk areas.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioned Defence Force Officers | Over $120K | N/A^ |
| Detectives | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Intelligence and Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | Up 22.6% |
| Intelligence Officers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Police | $93K to $120K | Up 10.8% |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Degree FAQs
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As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
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If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
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