The Challenge of Modern Terrorism (11245.1)

Please note these are the 2024 details for this unit
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The Challenge of Modern Terrorism
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)
Terrorism challenges individuals, the national state, and the global community. On a daily basis people fall victim to terrorist attacks, and our sense of well-being, security, and freedom are challenged. Terrorism is lethal, unpredictable, and causes mass casualties. Terrorists bring fear into our lives and are attacking us both physically and psychologically. Some argue that terrorism is a challenge to the existence of the modern state and it is part of a new global insurgency. This unit will attempt to define terrorism, review the history of terrorism and evaluate the philosophy, and objectives of terrorists. The actual threat from terrorism will be assessed as will the means of countering the threat from modern terrorism. The unit will conclude with an examination of the likely trajectory and threat of terrorism in the future.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the changing nature of terrorism in a globalised security environment;
2. Analyse the different terrorist philosophies, motivational factors and objectives;
3. Compare the different terrorism organisational structures and assess their weaknesses and strengths;
4. Assess the development and effectiveness of modern counter-terrorism strategies;
5. Critically evaluate actual and potential responses to the challenge of terrorism in the future; 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. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

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

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

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 Winter Term 08 June 2026 On-campus Prof Peter Leahy
2027 Bruce, Canberra Winter Term 07 June 2027 On-campus Prof Peter Leahy
Not available

Required texts

Given the contemporary nature of this unit there is no prescribed text.  Students are to complete the reading set for each lecture and tutorial (available on the Unit Canvas site) and remain up to date with current affairs by reading newspapers, journals and web sites which cover matters relating to terrorism.  As a minimum, students are to view the essential videos for each week and complete the essential readings and tasks before each lecture or tutorial.  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 GenAI for Students Links to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI Links to an external site..

 

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 communication of feedback via the use of track changes and comments inside Word.  Please do not submit your work in a 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 per day 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 whereby an extension has been granted). No assessment items are accepted after three (3) days 


 

Reusing previously submitted work.  Each written assignment submitted to this unit must be an original contribution.  Students are not permitted to reuse previously submitted material.  Similarly, unless students have published their work (via a legitimate 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 upload their assessments to text matching submission boxes available in other units, this may return a match that we are unable to verify.  When students submit assessments in this unit they will receive an Ouriginal report and may adjust and resubmit their assessments if needed.  The final assessment item uploaded will be the assessment made available to the teaching team for grading (unless the paper is late, in which case the first submission will be graded).  Students that fail to comply with this requirement may be penalised.

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.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC 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 Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

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

Participation requirements

None

Required IT skills

This unit may involve online meetings in real time using the Virtual Room in your UCLearn teaching site. The Virtual Room allows you to communicate in real time with your lecturer and other students. To participate verbally, rather than just typing, you will need a microphone. For best audio quality we recommend a microphone and speaker headset. For more information and to test your computer, go to the Virtual Room in your UCLearn site and 'Join Course Room'. This will trigger a tutorial to help familiarise you with the functionality of the virtual room.

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

None