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Overview

Course Prescription

An in-depth analysis of theoretical concepts related to law and security. The aims of the course are to introduce students to key concepts in the relevant academic discourse, to explore the ways in which these concepts frame discussions regarding law and security in the post-9/11 era, and to examine the extent to which those concepts influence policy, practice and discourse.

Course Overview

This seminar is concerned with theoretical concepts related to law and security, and how those concepts manifest in selected post-9/11 security measures and debates about those security measures. The focus is on security measures that are directed towards countering terrorism.

Although terrorism and laws related to terrorism have existed for considerably longer, this area became especially topical after September 11, 2001. Rightly or wrongly, in the post-9/11 era, most people are now accustomed to the idea that we live in a dangerous world, which necessitates the existence of special counter-terrorism laws to protect us. Such laws frequently grant discretion to executive actors to intervene preventively, and to intervene in ways that may compromise other values, such as liberty and due process. The issue is figuring out when, if ever, and if so, under what circumstances and conditions, these values should give way to the need for security. By the end of the year, you should be in a better position to consider these kinds of questions, and to critically evaluate various counterterrorism legislation and security measures.

The first semester will consist of seminars led by the lecturer, which will involve discussion of readings that address various topics such as the liberty/security trade-off, the normality/emergency dichotomy, deference, due process and constitutionalism. The second semester will consist of seminar presentations by students on their chosen topics of research.

Workload Expectations

Officially, an honours seminar is a 20-point course - that is 48 hours of class time. According to the University,  as a general guide, you should expect a workload of three hours outside of the classroom for each hour spent in class. That means that the guideline for the total workload for this course is 200 hours. However, given how an honours seminar operates, the reality is that the workload will be different depending on the time of year. In semester 1, you will likely need to spend the several hours per class in order to be properly prepared to participate in discussion. In semester 2, unless you are presenting that particular week, this will not be necessary. You should, however, be working on your research project steadily throughout the year.

Additional Advice on Prerequisites

To complete this course students must enrol in LAWHONS 746 A and B

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance at seminars is required to receive credit for certain components of the course. Seminars will not be recorded.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

The reading for this course during semester 1 will be provided via CANVAS.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

In response to student feedback on previous iterations of this course, I have done the following:

- reduced the amount of reading for the classes in the first semester (Make no mistake: there is still plenty of reading. But I think of it as allowing the time to cover less in more depth.)

- maintained a PDF of the course materials

- included questions with each reading

- made first semester classes less rigidly structured and more organic. In practical terms, this has meant minimal use of PowerPoint, and more use of whiteboard to capture discussion points.


Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.