| Code | Faculty |
|---|---|
| 01250404 | Faculty of Humanities |
| Credits | Duration |
|---|---|
| Duration of study: 2 years | Total credits: 180 |
| Mr RD Henwood [email protected] | +27 (0)124202687 |
- An honours degree in Political Sciences or directly related fields (or a related university degree with sufficient relevant work experience in the security field with the approval of Senate).
• Prospective students may be required to submit an admissions essay or to sit for an examination or to do additional work/modules to enable them to reach the desired level of study.
• An acceptable level of proficiency in English is required.
• At least two modules have to be taken during the first year of study.
• Students may, with the approval of the programme manager, replace at most one module with an appropriate module of the same credit value from another discipline.
• This programme is not presented through telematic or distance education.
Module content:
This study of national security focuses on decisions, activities and institutions related to national security and national security policy. These underpin the strategic choices made at international, regional and national levels in response to security challenges, be they by individual countries or in the multilateral context of regional or global security cooperation. competing theoretical approaches to national security are also explored and assessed, as well as the policy and strategic contexts that influence the decisions, institutions and processes of national security policy-making and security sector governance.
Module content:
A critical analysis of the development of security theory and competing perspectives of security, in response to changing power configurations and security threats in the contemporary international system. This includes alternative frameworks for security cooperation at a regional and global level. Against this background, the evolution of strategic thought, the nature and role of principles of strategy and the concept of strategic doctrine are analysed. The contemporary application of the principles of strategy is discussed, and post-cold war thinking on strategy, security and war is addressed including the use of non-military coercion such as economic sanctions.
Module content:
National security is closely related to threat perception, and threat analysis is in turn largely dependent on sound strategic intelligence. Attention is given to contemporary theory and practice as far as strategic intelligence is concerned; questions of policy on, agencies for an control over the intelligence process; and the current processes, focus, value and utilisation of strategic intelligence in a changing world. Strategic forecasting (with the inclusion of risk analysis and scenario construction) is linked to threat perception and national security to the extent that it forms an important part of planning for the future - hence the study of the nature, methodology and use of forecasting in the security environment.
Module content:
The module aims to develop an advanced understanding of the key academic and policy debates regarding international mediation; to explore both the theory and the practice of mediation; and to develop strategising skills for peacemaking. The focus is on mediation undertaken by the United Nations, the African Union and sub-regional bodies in major conflicts in Africa.
Module content:
A mini-dissertation, based on independent research done by the student in the broad field of security, is written under the guidance of a supervisor.Module content:
By using appropriate methodological approaches and research methods, selected aspects of related modules in security studies are applied to specific security and strategic case studies and issues of importance. In addition to the emphasis on methodological aspects and selected research methods, attention is also paid to the development, structure and writing of research reports in the field of security studies. This module has an approved research proposal on a security or strategic theme for the mini-dissertation that also complies with ethical guidelines, as an outcome.
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