Program Overview

Security and Strategic Studies Major (BA)

Overview

The Security and Strategic Studies major is a timely, in-demand, and highly relevant field that investigates and explains security challenges associated with traditional threats, asymmetric threats, and other risk factors such as energy security and climate change.

Course Description

In this course, you'll become a strategic thinker and leader who understands major dilemmas that profoundly impact national and international sustainability, prosperity, and sovereignty. You'll study an exciting curriculum where you'll learn contemporary strategic and defence thinking and planning, intelligence analysis, strategic leadership, ethics, policy planning, and decision-making.

What You'll Learn

• Demonstrate a good understanding of the major conceptual frameworks of security, strategic, and defence studies.
• Demonstrate the ability to think and analyse critically, creatively, and reflectively within security and strategic studies and across disciplinary boundaries.
• Demonstrate the ability to locate relevant evidence from a wide range of sources and to make informed decisions about the significance of this information in the development of a security, strategic, and defence analysis of social and political life.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through a variety of written, oral, and other formats to diverse audiences in ways appropriate in security and strategic studies.
• Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of technologies and the ability to decide on their applications appropriately.
• Show sustained intellectual curiosity by taking responsibility for one's own learning and intellectual development through the recognition of a range of learning strategies.
• Demonstrate the capacity to understand socio-economic and political life in a range of local and global contexts through the recognition of international practices in political and international affairs.
• Embrace the importance of cultural diversity and of human rights in the making of knowledge in the social and political sciences.
• Provide both accountable and ethical prescriptions/solutions to the major issues and challenges involved in national, regional, and world affairs. Learn and practice effective team and leadership skills.

Career Opportunities

• Intelligence officer
• Business analyst
• National security analyst
• Logistics specialist
• Cryptologist

Industries

• Defence
• Government
• Law
• Resources
• Business
• Finance
• Transport

Admission Criteria

ATAR Pathway

• Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites): None
• Desirable WACE subjects: None

Alternative Pathways

• Indigenous applicant: The Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers bridging courses that are tailored to help you gain entry into this course.
• STAT entry: The Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is a national test for those who don't meet university admission criteria. STAT can be used to meet entry criteria for some courses, or as a way to satisfy Curtin’s English proficiency requirements.
• TAFE entry: AQF Certificate IV - Separate evidence of English language proficiency is required; or AQF Diploma; or AQF Advanced Diploma.

Fees and Scholarships

Please view the Bachelor of Arts degree for indicative fees.

How to Apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice.

Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL)

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Course Structure

View course structure

Why Study Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin?

• We engage in research that addresses defence and security challenges, including emerging military technologies, cyber power, defence studies, and violent and non-violent extremist beliefs.
• Our degree will build your understanding of established and emerging security challenges associated with military, terrorism, organised crime, energy security, and climate change.
• In your final year, you’ll undertake a strategic analysis on your choice of topic and develop an intelligence product, including a tactical assessment or subject profile.