Course Title: Foundations of Policing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Foundations of Policing

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Jarryd Bartle

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: jarryd.bartle@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 37. Floor 4

Course Coordinator Availability: via email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None. 


Course Description

In this course, you will explore the ’real world’ issues facing police in Australia. The course begins with a fundamental analysis of the new policing model, which Australia inherited from the United Kingdom and progresses to an examination of the role and nature of modern policing using a range of social and critical perspectives. You will be exposed to some specific issues in contemporary police administration such as police powers, accountability, governance, corruption, professionalism, ethics and education. The course also includes identification and analysis of possible future trends and directions for policing in society.  


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:   

  1. Contextualise specific criminal justice-based knowledge according to socially and culturally diverse environments
  2. Assist in the identification of needs and the planning of research in the criminal justice field  


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:  

  1. Describe the origins of modern policing in Australia
  2. Reflect on a range of perspectives critically evaluating the position of the police in our society
  3. Identify the way the police are structured and administered
  4. Discuss a range of current issues in police management
  5. Explain contemporary developments in policing and examine some possible future directions
  6. Examine the complex role of police in contemporary society as well as the accountability mechanisms that provide checks and balances for police officers
  7. Employ developing research techniques


Overview of Learning Activities

Delivery for this course may be online. You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as project work, individual and group activities and class discussion. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. Weekly learning resources and activities will be available on Canvas. 

There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the RMIT student website. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.  

Assessment Tasks  

Assessment Task 1: Quiz, 20%, CLO1, CLO3 and CLO4  

Assessment Task 2: Written Assessment, 40%, CLO2, CLO4- CLO6  

Assessment Task 3: Government Submission, 40%, CLO2, CLO4, CLO5-CLO7  

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.  

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.