Course Title: Border Security

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Border Security

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Coordinator: Gregory Stratton

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3021

Course Coordinator Email: gregory.stratton@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bulding 37. Floor 4. Room 14B

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None. 

Course Description

This course examines the theory and practice of border security in contemporary Australia with the view to preparing prospective employees and building critical understanding. It addresses the emergence of border security in Australia, and how things were done in the past; it focuses on current government and scholarly thinking on borders, globalisation and securitisation; it describes the diverse operational realities and challenges under the umbrella of Home Affairs’ work; it considers the historically different cultures of the agencies now within Home Affairs and what it means to work at different points in the border continuum; and it spends time reflecting on the values and dispositions prospective employees need to do the work, as well as what it means for all of us – as Australian citizens and residents – to have border security and its enforcement tasks integrated into state work.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Capabilities:

The program capabilities which you will develop during this course are:

Grasp the societal transformation implied by the emergence of border security and the establishment of the department of Home Affairs;

Develop critical perspectives and professional insights into the multifaceted and challenging nature of border security work;

Reflect upon the values and dispositions now necessary for working within Home Affairs, as well as consider what it means to be a citizen or resident of a country, Australia, that has made border security integral to its security, prosperity and identity.

At the completion of the course you will be able to:

Understand the changing historical and political conditions that have led to the emergence of border security in Australia;

Clearly describe and explain the different aspects of border security work within Home Affairs, including their basic functions, operational distinctions, institutional relations, and legislative bases; 

Debate the issues and problems associated with Australian border security and key national and international political, legal and ethical responses to it, and consider selected international comparisons; 

Reflect on the challenges of its working environments and the professional, personal and ethical demands the work places on personnel working in this field, and

Consider what it means to be a citizen or resident living in a society of border security

Overview of Learning Activities

This course is offered online and provides the opportunity for you to work through the material in an engaging manner utilising text, video, audio and online activities, divided into five modules.

Overview of Learning Resources

All resources for the online version will be provided through Canvas or linked Google Site.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

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

 Assessment Tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Quizzes; 20%,  CLOS 1-5  

Assessment Task 2: Critical reflection; 40%, CLOs 1-2   

Assessment Task 3: Reflection, 40%, CLOs 1-5 

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. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.