National Security (11242.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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National Security
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra School Of Government Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
National security is more than territorial integrity or a question of sovereignty. Globalisation, non-state actors, weapons proliferation, climate change, potential energy shortages and financial turmoil are forcing us to rethink security. Contemporary national security statements and documents as well as the changing nature of the state and our future security environment will be examined. New security threats will be considered in the context of risk and how the elements of national power can be applied to counter their effect. The course will review the changing nature of war and consider terrorism, insurgency and counterinsurgency theories and the effectiveness of intervention and stabilisation strategies to assist failed and failing states. The unit will conclude with a comparative study of international security architectures and an assessment of Australia's national security apparatus and approach.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the changing nature of the state and security in a globalised security environment;
2. Analyse new threats and challenges to national security;
3. Assess the policies and procedures required to produce a whole of government response to national security problems;
4. Evaluate how the elements of national power can be used to counter national security threats and challenges;
5. Compare and assess Australia聶s national security architecture with international models; and
6. Reflect upon their unit experience, including theories, discussions and feedback, and how it relates to the goals set out in their professional portfolio.


Graduate attributes

1. 91做厙 graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. 91做厙 graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. 91做厙 graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. 91做厙 graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. 91做厙 graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. 91做厙 graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. 91做厙 graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
3. 91做厙 graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. 91做厙 graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas


Prerequisites

11238 Introduction to International Relations AND must have passed 24 credit points.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

8246 National Security

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Prof Peter Leahy
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 On-campus Prof Peter Leahy
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit .

Required texts

Given the contemporary nature of this course there is no prescribed text.  Students should complete the reading set for each lecture and remain up to date with current affairs by reading the newspapers, journals and web sites which cover matters related to national security.  All of the readings are available through the Canvas site.  They are categorised as either 'essential' or 'background'.  As a minimum you should read the essential readings and viewings before each lesson.   The background reading will provide extra coverage of the topic and allow you to understand the topic better.  A list of relevant internet sites will be published on the unit Canvas site. Students should pay attention to Canvas for any additional contemporary readings for each lecture.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit, as well as Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The  Library Guide provides further information, including how to .

Special assessment requirements

To be eligible to pass the unit students are to attempt all assessment items.

Supplementary assessment

Refer to the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within 91做厙Learn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the .

Use of Text-Matching Software. 

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.  Both Cadmus and turnitin are utilised in this unit.

Word Count. 

Word count is inclusive of in-text referencing but excluding the reference list and bibliography.  Students may utilise the 10% rule, whereby the final word count can be up to 10% under or over the prescribed word count.  For word counts outside this range one mark will be deducted for every 100 words under or over the stated requirement.

Format.

Submit your work in Canvas in Word format to facilitate the effective communicatio of feedback via the use of track changes and comments inside Word.  Please do not submit your work in PDF format.

Late Submissions

When a student does not submit an assessment on or before the prescribed date/time, their mark will be reduced by ten (10) percentage points up to a maximum of three (3) days, at which time the submitted assignment will receive a mark of zero (the prescribed date and time being either the advertised due date, or revised due date in instances where an extension has been granted). No assessment items are accepted after three (3) days.

Reusing Previously Submitted Work

Each written assessment submitted to this unit must be an original contribution. Students are not permitted to use previously submitted material. Similarly, unless students have published their work (via a legimate peer reviewed and academic process) students are not permitted to reference/cite their previous work. Students that fail to comply with this requirement may be penalised.

Submitting Work to Other Websites

Students are not to load their work to text matching submission boxes available in other units, this may returna match we are unable to verify.

 

 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

91做厙 students have to complete the annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

91做厙 uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the , , and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

It is expected that students attend all lectures and participate in tutorials unless they have made alternate arrangements with the lecturer or their tutor.

Required IT skills

No special IT skills are required.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

You should monitor the Canvas site for any additional information.

Next step

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