Course Coordinator:Stefanie Fishel (sfishel@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
Security in a Multispecies World explores the interplay between environmental factors and the security of nations, communities, humans, and the nonhuman and examines the implications for security at local, national, and global levels. Through theory, case studies, and interdisciplinary analysis, students will gain an understanding of how environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and climate change can exacerbate conflicts, threaten livelihoods, and destabilise societies. Additionally, the course will explore strategies and frameworks for addressing these challenges and promoting sustainable security for all species.
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial/workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
| Learning materials – online | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Online | |||
| Learning materials – online | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online tutorial/workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
Security Frameworks and Theories
Environmental Security
Worldly Security
Multispecies Security
Case Study Analysis
200 Level (Developing)
12 units
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Explain the origins and nature of security threats, both existing and potential. | Knowledgeable |
| 2 | Apply key international security theories to explain the actions or inactions of actors within an international security context. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Engaged |
| 3 | Critically evaluate the nature and value of International Security and the challenges to it in the 21st Century | Creative and critical thinker |
| 4 | Apply scholarly writing, research and reference practice in the field of Politics and International Relations. | Empowered |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
A knowledge of political science and/or international relations
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
The student will take a five question quiz over the first three week readings to test for reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. It will be available on Canvas or in class during the fourth week of class. This will provide formative assessment and give feedback to the students on their ability to engage with course readings
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Portfolio | Individual | 25% | 9x weekly 200-250-word Discussion Posts, Weeks 2-10 |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Online Discussion Board |
| All | 2 | Case Study | Individual | 25% | 800-1000 words |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Oral and Written Piece | Individual | 50% | 5-minute oral presentation during in-class round table discussion (5%); 1,500-2,000-word written submission (45%) |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The portfolio is designed to consolidate knowledge of key course concepts introduced through the weekly reading assignments. The discussion component helps students access the material they are learning in multiple ways and serves as an end-of-trimester reference for creating the final assessment. |
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| Product: | Portfolio | |||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Discussion Board posts to be completed online, based on in-class discussions and activities. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Organisation, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Case Study | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Research a chosen security issue (in discussion with the instructor or assigned by the instructor) and write a case study addressing the main themes, including the application of relevant theories and concepts to an event in the international security realm. |
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| Product: | Case Study | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | 1000-1500 words - Submit the case study to Canvas. Note: The Case Study that students choose for this Task will also inform their Task 3 work. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Policy Brief | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Provide a coherent and well-structured policy brief based on the scenario provided by the instructor. Emphasis is placed on the clarity and succinctness of the brief, which is essential in persuading the target audience of your key message. Policy briefs aim to be practical and well-researched to make timely, evidence-based recommendations. |
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| Product: | Oral and Written Piece | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | This Policy Brief builds on case study work from Task 2. Oral presentation delivered in-class in Week 12, written report to be submitted online through Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Peter Hough | 0 | International Security Studies | n/a | n/a |
Not applicable
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
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