Overview

This unit provides an in-depth, critical understanding of cybercrime and global security threats. Students learn about the history and development of contemporary cybercrime and global security threats facilitated by digital technology, including hacking, malware and cyber terrorism. Students critically evaluate cybercrime at the individual, societal, national and international level.

Requisites

Prerequisites

50 credit points ..

Antirequisites
POL30018 Cyber Crime and Security
Equivalent units

POL30015 Cybersecurity ..

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify major cyber threats across the individual, societal, national and international levels.
  • Analyse key features and approaches of cybercrime and global security threats.
  • Critically evaluate cybercrime and global security threats through a cross-disciplinary lens.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

On-campus  

Class 1

 2.00 12 weeks 24

Online

asynchronous lecture

 1.00 12 weeks 12

Specified Activities 

Various

 2.00 12 weeks 24

Unspecified Activities 

Independent Learning

 7.5 12 weeks 90
Total     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Brief 1 Individual 40% 1,2,3
Quizzes Individual 20% 1
Research Essay Individual 40% 1,2

Content

  • History and categories of cybercrime
  • Conceptual approaches to cyber crime
  • Cyber abuse
  • Cyber safety for Indigenous communities
  • Online child exploitation
  • Cyber offences
  • Mass surveillance, privacy and encryption
  • Cyberterrorism
  • Cyberespionage
  • Cyberwarfare

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.