Security Policy Analysis: Current and Emerging Issues
UndergraduateMAQ-PICX30152025
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 20 July 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025
- Price from
- $2,160
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Security Policy Analysis: Current and Emerging Issues
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:
- Understand current security challenges within their broader historical, cultural, political and geographic contexts.
- Explain the motivations and objectives of both sides within a conflict and be able to identify their strategic options
- Critically evaluate the quality of news reporting on current security-related issues.
- Critically analyse the strategic and policy options current available to the Australian government and the international community towards current security issues and challenges
- Demonstrate the ability to weigh and evaluate policy options
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This subject examines current issues in national and international security. It allows students to investigate the most prominent challenges, dynamics and events that are occurring (sometimes in real time) as the unit is being delivered. This unit is dynamic and fluid with the specific topics varying from year-to-year to reflect the contemporary world; however topics may range from great power strategic competition through to terrorist attacks, civil wars, infectious disease outbreaks and nuclear proliferation. Leading authorities from the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, state and federal government, the think-tank community, the media or other research institutions may be enlisted to deliver expert analysis on these current events. Each week, students will receive an expert brief on different contemporary topics before being asked to critically analyse the issues involved.
- Policy Memo I (50%)
- Policy Memo II (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Others
Pre-requisite 50cp at 2000 level or above
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-BSS-DEG
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