Macquarie University
| Overview and Aims of the Program | This specialisation aims to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skill set to critically analyse emerging national and international cyber security challenges and responses. These include issues such as cyber crime, cyber intelligence and cyber terrorism.The core units, provided through the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, focus on synthesising the latest theoretical and practical developments in Cyber Security Analysis. Electives allow students to focus on other cyber security-related aspects in the fields of security policy, business and economics, and internetworking. |
| Graduate Capabilities | The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows: Interpersonal or social capabilities |
| Program Learning Outcomes | By the end of this program students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate understanding of concepts and theories in the field of cyber security. 2. Critically apply disciplinary knowledge to analyse and explain real world cyber security issues. 3. Transfer, integrate and use disciplinary techniques and methods to develop solutions for complex, real world cyber security issues. 4. Apply disciplinary knowledge to analyse and evaluate cyber security-related policies. 5. Apply disciplinary knowledge to develop and formulate innovative cyber security-related policies. 6. Demonstrate ethically and socially informed judgments on the development and implementation of cyber security-related policies. 7. Communicate disciplinary knowledge to professional and academic audiences. 8. Demonstrate critical thinking abilities and apply them in a cyber security context. The number of PLOs that a program should have is not specified. As a guide, between eight and twelve PLOs would be a reasonable number. PLOs are made publicly available and so will be read by a wide audience. When writing PLOs it is useful to ask "is this written in a way which would be intelligible, accessible and meaningful to our students and prospective students?". Generally speaking, learning outcomes should be expressed in a form that includes action verbs, describing something your students can actually do, and can be assessed to have successfully done, like "identify", "describe" or "differentiate". The AQF asks that PLOs should address the areas of Knowledge and Understanding, Skills and Capabilities, and the Application of Knowledge and Skills. It isn't necessary for each PLO to be classified under one of these headings. However it is important for the overall collection of PLOs for a program to clearly address all of these factors. Each program learning outcome should be mapped to the graduate capabilities it fosters, using the standard letter codes given. |
| Learning and Teaching Methods | The program develops students’ advanced discipline-specific knowledge in the field of cyber security analysis, as well as a range of analytic, evaluative and communications skills. It then directs them to critically apply their knowledge to real world cyber security issues. Students will develop a range of communication skills. This includes academic writing skills, presentation skills and report and policy based writing. This reflects a pedagogy grounded in praxis, where theoretical knowledge and research is informed by contemporary experience, and can then inform action and evaluation of cyber security-related decisions and policies. Most units involve lecture and discussion classes, or seminars. Most of the units use a blended learning/flipped classroom approach providing students with additional opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to case studies and debates around existing cyber security issues and policies. |
| Assessment | The Program Learning Outcomes are tested and assessed during the program using a combination of coursework assignments, academic essays, quizzes, oral presentations, group work, as well as policy briefs. Throughout the program students are given formative assessments and feedback on their progress. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning | Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy (see www.mq.edu.au/policy) and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. The RPL pages contain information on how to apply, links to registers, and the approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit. Information can be found at: https://mq.edu.au/rpl |
| Support for Learning | Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus. |
| Program Standards and Quality | The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability | Graduates will be equipped to work in a range of government, non-government and private employment, including: • Department of Defence • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Law Enforcement and Police • Australian Border Force • International/Regional organizations • Think tanks and policy advising. • Media • Cyber security related business and industry, or Cyber security department of national and transnational corporations/organizations. • International Non-Government Organisations • Banks and Financial sector. |
| Assessment Regulations | This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules, visit: mq.edu.au/policy/ |
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or program necessary for a student to successfully achieve the core learning outcomes of a course or program. Students must meet the inherent requirements to complete their Macquarie University course or program.
Inherent requirements for Macquarie University programs fall under the following categories:
Physical: The physical inherent requirement is to have the physical capabilities to safely and effectively perform the activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Cognition: The inherent requirement for cognition is possessing the intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative capabilities to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Communication: The inherent requirement for communication is the capacity to communicate information, thoughts and ideas through a variety of mediums and with a range of audiences.
Behavioural: The behavioural inherent requirement is the capacity to sustain appropriate behaviour over the duration of units of study to engage in activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
For more information see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/inherent-requirements
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