BSc(Hons) Intelligence & Security Systems

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

I recently enrolled onto the BSc(Hons) course in Intelligence & Security Systems provided by Staffordshire University which commences for me this September. My long-term aspiration is to hopefully gain a degree whilst serving before leaving upon retirement and start a new career in teaching.

Therefore, I'm hoping if there are any fellow spooks out there who have recently completed this course or are currently undertaking it could provide some answers, tips or advice to a few queries I have.

1. As a specialist in IMINT and if there are any others whose specialisation is in the same discipline, is the course worth doing considering that it appears to be rather heavily focussed on IT? If not, then I have time to opt out of this course before wasting the provider's time and indeed mine.

2. If the course is indeed worth doing, can anyone advise on any good sources of course materials, literature or useful websites I ought to bone up on prior to starting it?

3. Finally, does anybody have any good essay and thesis templates or formats that are an acceptable standard received by the course provider?

Thanks all.

 

[chiprafp]

Hello mate any chance of a link to information on that course?

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

I have a pdf course flyer but having trouble PMing you. For details contact Lesley Jones, MOD Programme Manager on 07917 270083 or 07795 223812 or Email at mod@staffs.ac.uk

I've also got the work email address of a SO3 at the AWC who coordinates candidate applications and forwards them onto Staffordshire Uni for enrollment. Happy to pass this to you if you can PM me cos I'm not sure it's wise to publish it on these means.

SPO.

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Hello mate any chance of a link to information on that course?

Thanks for the PM, info sent to your email account.

Best of luck.

SPO.

 

[Sad git]

3. Finally, does anybody have any good essay and thesis templates or formats that are an acceptable standard received by the course provider?

Thanks all.

It should be on the university web site or there will be a link given once you start. There a plenty of marks to be got by doiing it their way. Presentation counts for a lot.

 

[Tanktops]

PM'd

PM'd

Check PM please.

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Check PM please.

Cheers Tanktops, PM replied chap.

SPO.

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

For those who are interested, a rep from Staffordshire Uni visited a secret ISTAR base earlier this week and gave a brief overview of the thread's course.

Gotta say that, for the IMINTers out there (including I), it's content may not be quite suitable for our core skills. However, as it touched on a few interesting parts which included ethical hacking and digital forensics, this could be somewhat interesting for potential future employments post-blue suit.

I've been given some disappointing feedback from a few that have already enrolled on last September's course therefore it may not be suited for all (IMINTers in particular) but more relevant for others (Int An C springs to mind).

Seeing as it's probably the closest I'll get do to a degree within my sphere of employment and whilst still serving with the majority of it being paid for by ELC means, I'm still gonna give it a go. Happy to PM anyone, particularly IMINTers, who would like any updates from me as I plod along with it later in the year.

 

[Tocsin]

(Just seen this thread...)

Good luck with the course, Sixty.

Is it distance learning, part time attendance, or what?

Please post the occasional update - thanks!

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Tocsin.

The course is mainly distance learning with the odd study away day, depending on one or two of the modules that are chosen by the candidate as you progress through. If you crack on without distractions (dets, etc.) it was said that it could be achieved within 18months but the norm is that if you happen to miss a module or two, due to work commitments, they can be done at a later date. Overall, the Uni gives you up to 4 years to complete it.

If you PM, (like a few others on the forum), I can give you more gen on it.

 

[ZebrasKneecaps]

Hey guys

Ive managed to get hold of some info regarding the course, and found the below very interesting:

The BSc (Hons) Intelligence and Security Systems was developed specifically for the Intelligence Branch and recognises your training and experience. If you have completed your phase 3 training you will received in advance standing 240 credits accreditation which will allow final access on final year the BSc (Hons) Intelligence and Security Systems.

Seems pretty good

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Hey guys

Ive managed to get hold of some info regarding the course, and found the below very interesting:

The BSc (Hons) Intelligence and Security Systems was developed specifically for the Intelligence Branch and recognises your training and experience. If you have completed your phase 3 training you will received in advance standing 240 credits accreditation which will allow final access on final year the BSc (Hons) Intelligence and Security Systems.

Seems pretty good

You're welcome!

 

[ZebrasKneecaps]

You're welcome!

That was from the tutor at Staffs Uni. Do you want a copy of the email?

 

[Witty_Banter]

Hi all,If you're looking at doing this qual, I'd advise you start doing a bit of background reading into the whole 'computer hacking' process.First module was all about ethical hacking, and made a rather large assumption as to the computer-literacy of the students.For example, do you understand how information is sent by packets? Computer coding? How viruses work and what they do?Do you understand how a trojan or virus or worm can do what it does?If you're going to go for it, I'd suggest you google 'the 5 phases of hacking' and start reading NOW. Click on any link to information thatyou don't understand and try to get your head around it. You don't need to be a computer boffin to be able to do the qual, but there are other civvy-qualifications tied in to the BSc Hons -for example the opportunity to become a certified ethical hacker, should you wish to put the graft in. It is possible to get by in themodules without a vast knowledge of computer systems but the more you know about it, the better you will understand it - and you'llavoid the mass of confused comms that hit the first course.And that's just for the first module. Don't know what the other 6 have got in store yet!Hope this is helpful to someone!

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Great starter for ten for me Witty when I start it come September. Thanks very much for the heads up.

 

[ZebrasKneecaps]

Cheers Witty, I'll pass that round a few of the guys I know who also start in September with me

 

[Witty_Banter]

No probs. I'll add more info as the course progresses, let you know what I can. Thinking about it, another good read-up would be on how to write reports in a University-stylee, especially if, like me, the lastacademic work you did was filling in your GCSE exams... Harvard-style referencing is another good one to get your heads around - this is the ONLY format that is accepted, if you don't use itYOU WILL LOSE MARKS.As I said, more info as it comes in...

 

[Sixty Percent Overlap]

Nice one Witty. If you have the appropriate template (been trying on tinternet to track down an appropriate one) that's acceptable for the course, could you possibly PM it. Would like to get familar with its format as it's been a long time since I last wrote a paper. TVM.

 

[metimmee]

Off topic check out Mendeley if you need a referencing tool. Mendeley will scan paper headers and insert them into your library without you having to type them in (memories of five authors ...all Japanese.grr). You can then insert your properly formatted reference into your word document for it to generate a reference list automatically. Much more powerful than the tool built into word. Mendeley also allows you to store your papers, book and web references in the cloud. This allows you to sync your library across all of your machines including iPad and smartphones..fully featured and free.

Another really powerful feature is the ability to search text within papers. As you progress through your course you'll build up a large collection of papers. Being able to quickly search within your library is useful especially since most academic libraries only search the paper abstract.

 

[Witty_Banter]

Nice one Witty. If you have the appropriate template (been trying on tinternet to track down an appropriate one) that's acceptable for the course, could you possibly PM it. Would like to get familar with its format as it's been a long time since I last wrote a paper. TVM.

Two modules down so far, Ethical Hacking and Academic Studies.At the moment none of the three assignments I've handed in have had the same format - Academic Assignment 1 was a Research Paper, and the format required was stated on the assignment notes. Basically consisted of the following headers: Abstract (Exec summary of the whole document), Introduction, Main Body (made up my own headers for this section, based on the content), then a Summary. Academic Assignment 2 was a Career Action Plan, so 1500 words with no clear format given, but again the assignment paper listed criteria that must be met.The Ethical HAcking Assignment was a 3000 word jobby, again with set criteria laid out in the assignment paper. Not really seeing much of a patternat the moment. Don't worry too much about the format because from what I can tell it varies on what you're being asked to write about.The key piece was Harvard Style referencing - take a look at these pages from Staffordshire Uni for more info:http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/un.../learning_support/refzone/harvard/index.jspor, for a base level understanding of it, there's always Wiki!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenthetical_referencingHope this helps. Sorry I can't give you any more info but I'm on my work computer and all the uni stuff is on my home terminal.