Course Bachelor of Arts in Defence and Strategic Studies

Stage 1: Foundations of defence and security

Introduction to Defence and Strategic Studies

Examine why societies establish defence institutions and how strategic studies explains the relationship between political objectives, security choices and public accountability.

Learning outcomes

• Distinguish defence from policing and public safety.
• Explain how political objectives shape strategic choices.
• Compare state-centred and human-security perspectives.

Main topics

• Defence and security concepts
• Strategy and policy
• National interests
• Civilian institutions

Practical task

Prepare a concept map comparing the roles of defence, policing and civilian emergency services in a fictional Southern African state.

Assessment

Concept map and a short analytical essay.

Political Science and Constitutional Government

Study political authority, institutions and constitutional limits on public power. Use South African and Zimbabwean cases to examine representation and accountability.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the functions of executive, legislative and judicial institutions.
• Compare constitutional arrangements without assuming identical powers.
• Assess an accountability problem using public evidence.

Main topics

• State and sovereignty
• Constitutionalism
• Separation of powers
• Public accountability

Practical task

Compare two published institutional arrangements and identify the checks on a security-related decision.

Assessment

Comparative institutional brief and a source-based test.

International Relations

Explore competing explanations of cooperation and conflict between states and other international actors. Apply theory to diplomacy and regional institutions.

Learning outcomes

• Compare major international relations perspectives.
• Explain the roles of state and non-state actors.
• Apply a theory to a documented regional issue.

Main topics

• International relations theories
• Sovereignty and interdependence
• International organisations
• Foreign-policy choices

Practical task

Analyse a Southern African diplomatic case through two theoretical perspectives.

Assessment

Case analysis and a seminar presentation.

African History and State Formation

Examine the historical development of African states and security institutions. Evaluate colonial legacies, liberation struggles and post-independence political settlements.

Learning outcomes

• Interpret historical sources in their context.
• Explain links between state formation and security institutions.
• Evaluate competing historical accounts.

Main topics

• Precolonial political systems
• Colonial administration
• Decolonisation
• Post-independence institutions

Practical task

Build an annotated timeline of institutional change in one Southern African country using published sources.

Assessment

Source commentary and a historical essay.

Academic Reading, Writing and Referencing

Develop the reading and writing practices needed for evidence-based defence and security study. Separate an argument from its evidence and acknowledge sources accurately.

Learning outcomes

• Summarise an argument accurately.
• Write a coherent evidence-based essay.
• Reference sources and identify unsupported claims.

Main topics

• Critical reading
• Argument structure
• Academic integrity
• Referencing and revision

Practical task

Revise a short security-policy essay after peer feedback and submit a source-use log.

Assessment

Annotated reading portfolio and revised essay.

Digital and Information Literacy

Find, organise and assess public information while protecting personal and institutional data. Build reliable habits for collaborative academic work.

Learning outcomes

• Evaluate the reliability of online information.
• Organise a traceable digital evidence collection.
• Apply basic privacy and access controls.

Main topics

• Search and source evaluation
• Document and spreadsheet tools
• Information security basics
• Digital accessibility

Practical task

Create an accessible evidence folder and bibliography for a published regional security issue.

Assessment

Digital portfolio and a practical skills demonstration.

Economics and Public Resources

Introduce economic reasoning relevant to public expenditure and development. Examine opportunity costs, public goods and the trade-offs surrounding defence resources.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the economic rationale for public spending.
• Interpret basic economic indicators.
• Compare expenditure choices using explicit assumptions.

Main topics

• Scarcity and opportunity cost
• Public goods
• Development indicators
• Public expenditure

Practical task

Compare two fictional public-budget allocations and discuss their distributional consequences.

Assessment

Budget commentary and an applied economics test.

Law, Human Rights and Public Authority

Study the principles governing lawful public authority and the protection of rights. Distinguish constitutional, statutory and international sources.

Learning outcomes

• Identify the legal source of an institutional power.
• Explain rights and accountability obligations.
• Recognise when specialist legal advice is required.

Main topics

• Sources of law
• Fundamental rights
• Lawful authority
• Accountability and remedies

Practical task

Prepare a rights-and-responsibilities checklist for a fictional public-service scenario.

Assessment

Case analysis and a referenced legal-principles test.

Human Security and Society

Examine security from the perspective of people and communities. Analyse the links between inequality, livelihoods, gender, displacement and vulnerability.

Learning outcomes

• Explain differences between national and human security.
• Analyse how vulnerability is unevenly distributed.
• Recommend inclusive measures for a civilian policy response.

Main topics

• Human-security approaches
• Gender and inclusion
• Displacement
• Community resilience

Practical task

Develop a vulnerability profile using public or synthetic community data.

Assessment

Profile report and a reflective discussion paper.

Geography and Environmental Security

Study how physical and human geography influence public planning and regional security. Interpret maps without treating geography as a deterministic explanation.

Learning outcomes

• Interpret basic spatial information.
• Explain environmental pressures within social and political contexts.
• Communicate the limitations of a geographic comparison.

Main topics

• Map interpretation
• Resources and livelihoods
• Population and mobility
• Climate and environmental pressures

Practical task

Create an annotated map and evidence note on drought, livelihoods and regional cooperation.

Assessment

Map portfolio and an environmental-security case report.

Stage 2: Defence policy and regional security

Strategic Thought and Policy Analysis

Compare approaches to strategy and examine how policy objectives, resources and uncertainty interact. Evaluate arguments rather than prescribing combat methods.

Learning outcomes

• Compare strategic arguments in their historical context.
• Assess coherence between objectives and resources.
• Critique assumptions in a policy proposal.

Main topics

• Strategic concepts
• Ends and resources
• Policy alternatives
• Uncertainty and unintended effects

Practical task

Write a critical comparison of two published strategic arguments and their relevance to civilian policy.

Assessment

Comparative essay and an individual policy-analysis exercise.

Civil–Military Relations and Democratic Oversight

Examine the relationship between defence institutions, elected government and society. Analyse professionalism, civilian control and transparent oversight.

Learning outcomes

• Explain alternative models of civil–military relations.
• Assess oversight mechanisms against stated responsibilities.
• Recommend improvements to a fictional reporting process.

Main topics

• Civilian control
• Professional ethics
• Parliamentary oversight
• Public reporting

Practical task

Design a public oversight briefing using an openly published defence annual report.

Assessment

Oversight brief and a case-based assessment.

Defence Policy and National Security Governance

Study how governments define defence responsibilities and coordinate security policy. Examine strategy documents, consultation and institutional mandates.

Learning outcomes

• Compare defence-policy priorities and mandates.
• Analyse coordination gaps using public documentation.
• Draft a reasoned civilian policy recommendation.

Main topics

• Policy formulation
• Institutional mandates
• Interagency coordination
• Policy review

Practical task

Prepare a policy options note on coordination between civilian ministries and defence institutions.

Assessment

Options note and an oral justification.

African Union and SADC Peace and Security

Examine African and Southern African arrangements for conflict prevention, cooperation and peace support. Distinguish formal mandates from implementation capacity.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the roles of AU and SADC institutions.
• Analyse a regional cooperation case.
• Evaluate implementation constraints and accountability questions.

Main topics

• Regional organisations
• Collective security
• Mediation arrangements
• Institutional capacity

Practical task

Map the institutional responsibilities in a published regional peace process.

Assessment

Institutional map and a comparative case essay.

International Humanitarian Law and Protection of Civilians

Introduce the legal and ethical principles relevant to armed conflict and civilian protection. Apply distinctions between legal frameworks to classroom cases.

Learning outcomes

• Identify the relevant framework in a supplied case.
• Explain obligations towards protected persons.
• Evaluate a civilian-protection concern using authoritative guidance.

Main topics

• Applicable legal frameworks
• Distinction and proportionality principles
• Civilian protection
• Humanitarian access

Practical task

Analyse a fictional humanitarian-access case and prepare a protection-focused policy brief.

Assessment

Case assessment and a principles-based written test.

Conflict Analysis, Mediation and Peacebuilding

Analyse conflict drivers, actors and opportunities for peaceful resolution. Practise inclusive dialogue and distinguish mediation from negotiation and adjudication.

Learning outcomes

• Construct a conflict analysis using multiple perspectives.
• Design an inclusive dialogue process.
• Evaluate the limitations of a proposed peacebuilding intervention.

Main topics

• Conflict mapping
• Stakeholder analysis
• Mediation principles
• Peacebuilding and reconciliation

Practical task

Run a classroom mediation simulation concerning a fictional local resource dispute.

Assessment

Conflict map, simulation reflection and intervention proposal.

Defence Economics, Budgeting and Procurement Governance

Examine how defence expenditure is planned and scrutinised. Focus on affordability, value for money, transparent procurement and corruption prevention.

Learning outcomes

• Interpret a public defence budget.
• Assess affordability using a transparent cost model.
• Identify governance weaknesses in a fictional procurement process.

Main topics

• Budget cycles
• Life-cycle costing
• Procurement accountability
• Audit and integrity

Practical task

Prepare a life-cycle cost comparison for non-sensitive support equipment and an audit checklist.

Assessment

Cost workbook and procurement-governance report.

Peace Support and Civilian Coordination

Study the mandates and institutional arrangements of peace-support missions. Examine civilian coordination, safeguarding and accountability through published cases.

Learning outcomes

• Interpret a peace-support mandate.
• Explain responsibilities across civilian and uniformed institutions.
• Assess safeguarding and accountability arrangements.

Main topics

• Mission mandates
• Civilian coordination
• Safeguarding
• Monitoring and accountability

Practical task

Produce a civilian coordination and safeguarding plan for a fictional peace-support scenario.

Assessment

Coordination plan and a mandate-analysis exercise.

Research Methods and Ethics

Plan a feasible study in defence and strategic studies using lawful, ethical and proportionate methods. Evaluate evidence and protect research participants.

Learning outcomes

• Formulate a focused research question.
• Justify a suitable research design.
• Prepare an ethics and data-management plan.

Main topics

• Research questions
• Qualitative and quantitative designs
• Sampling and evidence quality
• Consent and confidentiality

Practical task

Develop a small research proposal using published documents or approved, non-sensitive data.

Assessment

Research protocol, evidence review and ethics statement.

Statistics and Evidence for Security Policy

Use descriptive statistics and careful inference to interpret public-policy evidence. Recognise uncertainty, bias and the limits of causal claims.

Learning outcomes

• Calculate and interpret appropriate summary measures.
• Identify misleading comparisons and data gaps.
• Present quantitative findings with clear limitations.

Main topics

• Descriptive statistics
• Rates and denominators
• Sampling uncertainty
• Visual communication

Practical task

Analyse a public development or displacement dataset and prepare an accessible evidence brief.

Assessment

Reproducible analysis workbook and evidence brief.

Stage 3: Strategic analysis and applied research

Contemporary Defence and Strategic Issues

Evaluate changing defence-policy debates through a civilian and public-interest lens. Examine strategic competition, resource constraints and institutional adaptation.

Learning outcomes

• Compare contemporary policy positions.
• Assess the evidence supporting a strategic claim.
• Develop a balanced options paper with explicit uncertainty.

Main topics

• Changing security agendas
• Strategic competition
• Institutional adaptation
• Public-policy trade-offs

Practical task

Write a policy options paper on a published Southern African defence-governance issue.

Assessment

Options paper and a structured seminar debate.

Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning

Use structured foresight to explore plausible policy futures. Separate forecasting from scenario building and test the robustness of decisions.

Learning outcomes

• Identify defensible drivers and uncertainties.
• Develop contrasting plausible scenarios.
• Evaluate a policy option across more than one scenario.

Main topics

• Drivers of change
• Scenario construction
• Assumptions and uncertainty
• Policy stress testing

Practical task

Build three non-operational regional policy scenarios and stress-test a civilian cooperation proposal.

Assessment

Scenario portfolio and a facilitated workshop report.

Technology, Cyber Governance and Defence Ethics

Analyse the governance implications of emerging technology in the defence sector. Focus on accountability, civilian harm, information integrity and human oversight.

Learning outcomes

• Explain governance challenges associated with emerging technologies.
• Assess a proposed technology policy against ethical criteria.
• Recommend proportionate oversight and resilience measures.

Main topics

• Technology governance
• Cyber resilience policy
• AI accountability
• Human oversight and ethics

Practical task

Prepare a governance assessment of a fictional administrative AI or cyber-resilience policy.

Assessment

Ethical assessment and a public-policy briefing.

Maritime, Border and Regional Cooperation

Examine governance and cooperation across shared borders and maritime spaces. Balance security objectives with lawful movement, livelihoods and rights.

Learning outcomes

• Explain overlapping governance responsibilities.
• Analyse a cooperation problem using published evidence.
• Recommend rights-aware coordination arrangements.

Main topics

• Regional agreements
• Cross-border institutions
• Maritime governance
• Trade and human mobility

Practical task

Design an institutional coordination framework for a fictional cross-border public-service issue.

Assessment

Framework and a comparative regional case report.

Security Sector Governance and Reform

Study reform of security institutions following political change or institutional failure. Examine accountability, inclusion, sequencing and public trust.

Learning outcomes

• Assess an institutional reform proposal.
• Explain the importance of sequencing and local participation.
• Develop indicators for accountable implementation.

Main topics

• Reform principles
• Institutional assessment
• Public participation
• Monitoring reform

Practical task

Prepare a civilian oversight reform plan with responsibilities, milestones and safeguards.

Assessment

Reform plan and an implementation-risk analysis.

Climate, Disasters and Civilian–Defence Cooperation

Examine the governance of defence support to civilian disaster responses. Keep civilian leadership, legal mandates and community needs central.

Learning outcomes

• Distinguish civilian and defence responsibilities in disaster response.
• Assess coordination and inclusion risks.
• Recommend a transparent support and reporting arrangement.

Main topics

• Climate risk
• Civilian emergency leadership
• Institutional support roles
• Accountability and recovery

Practical task

Develop a tabletop coordination exercise for flood relief using fictional districts and civilian priorities.

Assessment

Coordination framework, exercise reflection and recovery brief.

Leadership, Ethics and Institutional Accountability

Apply ethical reasoning to leadership in public institutions. Examine professional judgement, conflicts of interest, organisational culture and accountability.

Learning outcomes

• Analyse an ethical dilemma using explicit principles.
• Explain the role of institutional culture in misconduct prevention.
• Defend an accountable leadership response.

Main topics

• Ethical decision-making
• Professional responsibility
• Organisational culture
• Conflicts of interest

Practical task

Prepare and present a reasoned response to a fictional institutional integrity case.

Assessment

Ethics portfolio and an individual oral assessment.

Applied Policy and Community Engagement Project

Integrate research, communication and stakeholder analysis in a supervised civilian policy project. Use a classroom simulation where an approved placement is unavailable.

Learning outcomes

• Agree a feasible project brief and ethical boundaries.
• Produce an evidence-based output for a defined audience.
• Evaluate your contribution and the project limitations.

Main topics

• Project scoping
• Stakeholder engagement
• Evidence synthesis
• Reflective practice

Practical task

Complete a supervised policy brief or community-resilience project using public or expressly authorised information.

Assessment

Project output, evidence log and reflective portfolio.

Research Project in Defence and Strategic Studies

Conduct an individual study addressing a focused defence-governance or regional-security question. Demonstrate methodological care and critical interpretation.

Learning outcomes

• Integrate relevant literature into a defensible argument.
• Apply an approved method consistently.
• Report findings with transparent evidence and limitations.

Main topics

• Literature synthesis
• Data analysis
• Research argument
• Limitations and reflection

Practical task

Complete the research proposal developed earlier and produce a structured research report using approved data.

Assessment

Research report, documented evidence and an individual viva.

Integrated Strategic Policy Capstone

Bring together the programme through an evidence-based policy recommendation. Compare alternatives, resource implications, rights and implementation arrangements.

Learning outcomes

• Integrate disciplinary perspectives in a policy analysis.
• Justify a feasible and accountable recommendation.
• Communicate the recommendation clearly and respond to criticism.

Main topics

• Policy integration
• Options appraisal
• Implementation and evaluation
• Public communication

Practical task

Deliver a capstone dossier for a fictional parliamentary committee addressing a Southern African peace or defence-governance question.

Assessment

Policy dossier, implementation framework and an individual defence of the recommendation.