murdoch courses cater for the rising need for security skills

This exciting course provides students with a critical understanding of the nature of security, terrorism and counterterrorism measures in Australia and worldwide. It defines security to incorporate the protection of individuals and their values, norms, rules, institutions and property from military and non-military threats. It explains terrorism as a threat to security, but suggests a multiple approach to the 'war on terror', involving diplomacy, development, capacity building and military force.

For more information on this and other exciting courses:

www.choose.murdoch.edu.au

The Murdoch University course examines the causes of terrorism as well as the types of diplomatic, military and capacity building steps that can be taken to deal with it.

Course controller, Professor Sam Makinda said the course, which attracted 121 enrolled students during its first year, catered to a rising need for skills in this area in the corporate and government sector.

Professor Makinda said the School of Social Sciences and Humanities course examined the types of conditions that gave rise to terrorism.

The Professor of Politics and International Studies said that contrary to popular belief, not all terrorists were religious fundamentalists.

Some suicide terrorists were motivated by political, economic or environmental grievances and addressing these issues could eliminate or reduce the incidence of terrorism.

Students of the three-year bachelor degree had to complete compulsory units which included; Perspectives on Security and Terrorism, Terrorism in a Globalised World and Knowledge and Information Security.

The degree could be combined with other disciplines such as politics, law, foreign policy, mass communication, sociology, information technology or forensic science.

A graduate certificate in counterterrorism, involving one semester of study, was also offered by the University.

Lectures were given by a range of resident and visiting specialist speakers with backgrounds as varied as the Special Armed Services (SAS), senior police and government ministers.

Professor Makinda said employment opportunities were rising for people with an understanding of security and terrorism issues. He said many Federal Government security agencies, such as the Australian Defence Force, ASIO and ASIS had been recruiting at a high rate.

The Federal Government’s Office of Transport Security, which employed just 10 people when it was set up 18 months ago, had now grown to employ more than 300 people and was still recruiting.

An understanding of security issues was critical in Western Australia, with its abundance of strategic assets, such as major trading ports and the North West Shelf.