Critical Thought and Research Design

About this subject

• What you'll learn

  On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the theoretical approaches that frame the field of Security Studies and Criminology, including the relationship to their historical context.
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the understanding and questioning of key concepts, issues and debates.
  3. Demonstrate understanding of both the assumptions that underpin key theories, and the methods used for research and investigation.
  4. Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
  5. Engage consistently with the subject through proactive communication with peers and the convener, and demonstrate professional conduct in all class activities and in the submission of assessments.

• Topics covered

• Description

• Assessments

• Textbooks

• About Macquarie University

Entry requirements

Part of a degree

To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:

Core

• MAQ-SSC-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate of Security Studies and Criminology
• MAQ-MCT-MAS-2025 - Master of Counter Terrorism
• MAQ-CYB-MAS-2025 - Master of Cyber Security Analysis
• MAQ-CRM-MAS-2025 - Master of Criminology
• MAQ-INT-MAS-2025 - Master of Intelligence
• MAQ-SEC-MAS-2025 - Master of Security and Strategic Studies

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-PICX812 (Not currently available)

Others

Admission to MSecStragegicStud or MCrim or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or GradDipSecStudCr or GradCertSecStudCr or MIntPubDip or MPICT or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICT or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or 10cps at 6000 level or 10cps 8000 level

NCCW (pre-2020 units) PICT812, PICX812

Additional requirements

• Other requirements - Broadband access Note: 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.