Bachelor of Arts in Defence and Strategic Studies
Study defence institutions, strategic policy and regional security in their political, historical and social contexts.
About the course
Study defence institutions, strategic policy and regional security in their political, historical and social contexts. You will examine civilian oversight, African peace and security, public resources and the protection of people. Southern African cases support critical analysis, ethical research and the development of practical policy recommendations. The programme prepares you for further study and civilian policy, research and governance work.
What you'll learn
- Analyse defence-policy choices using historical, political and economic evidence.
- Explain civilian oversight, professional responsibility and lawful institutional mandates.
- Evaluate African and Southern African arrangements for peace, cooperation and civilian protection.
- Assess policy alternatives with attention to affordability, inclusion and unintended effects.
- Conduct ethical research using public or authorised information.
- Produce and defend an evidence-based strategic policy recommendation.
Requirements
You should hold a school-leaving qualification granting access to bachelor’s degree study, or an assessed equivalent route. Prepare with academic English, basic quantitative reasoning and digital study skills. BMIT assesses prior qualifications, relevant experience and any recognition of prior learning before admission. Access to a supervised placement, where used, requires separate approval. Programme admission does not confer appointment to a defence or security service.
Course content
Complete all 30 subjects across three academic stages, normally studied over three years full-time. Stage 1 develops the conceptual, historical and academic foundations. Stage 2 examines defence governance, regional cooperation and research methods. Stage 3 integrates strategic analysis, supervised applied work and an individual research project. Practical learning uses published, synthetic or expressly authorised information. This is an academic programme, not military commissioning or operational combat training.
3 learning stages 30 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundations of defence and security10 subjects
- Introduction to Defence and Strategic Studies
- Political Science and Constitutional Government
- International Relations
- African History and State Formation
- Academic Reading, Writing and Referencing
- Digital and Information Literacy
- Economics and Public Resources
- Law, Human Rights and Public Authority
- Human Security and Society
- Geography and Environmental Security
2Stage 2: Defence policy and regional security10 subjects
- Strategic Thought and Policy Analysis
- Civil–Military Relations and Democratic Oversight
- Defence Policy and National Security Governance
- African Union and SADC Peace and Security
- International Humanitarian Law and Protection of Civilians
- Conflict Analysis, Mediation and Peacebuilding
- Defence Economics, Budgeting and Procurement Governance
- Peace Support and Civilian Coordination
- Research Methods and Ethics
- Statistics and Evidence for Security Policy
3Stage 3: Strategic analysis and applied research10 subjects
- Contemporary Defence and Strategic Issues
- Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning
- Technology, Cyber Governance and Defence Ethics
- Maritime, Border and Regional Cooperation
- Security Sector Governance and Reform
- Climate, Disasters and Civilian–Defence Cooperation
- Leadership, Ethics and Institutional Accountability
- Applied Policy and Community Engagement Project
- Research Project in Defence and Strategic Studies
- Integrated Strategic Policy Capstone
Subjects in this programme
Complete all 30 subjects across three academic stages, normally studied over three years full-time. Stage 1 develops the conceptual, historical and academic foundations. Stage 2 examines defence governance, regional cooperation and research methods. Stage 3 integrates strategic analysis, supervised applied work and an individual research project. Practical learning uses published, synthetic or expressly authorised information. This is an academic programme, not military commissioning or operational combat training.
30 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
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. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- International Relations. Explore competing explanations of cooperation and conflict between states and other international actors. Apply theory to diplomacy and regional institutions. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Digital and Information Literacy. Find, organise and assess public information while protecting personal and institutional data. Build reliable habits for collaborative academic work. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Law, Human Rights and Public Authority. Study the principles governing lawful public authority and the protection of rights. Distinguish constitutional, statutory and international sources. Compulsory
- Human Security and Society. Examine security from the perspective of people and communities. Analyse the links between inequality, livelihoods, gender, displacement and vulnerability. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
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. Compulsory
- Civil–Military Relations and Democratic Oversight. Examine the relationship between defence institutions, elected government and society. Analyse professionalism, civilian control and transparent oversight. Compulsory
- Defence Policy and National Security Governance. Study how governments define defence responsibilities and coordinate security policy. Examine strategy documents, consultation and institutional mandates. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Conflict Analysis, Mediation and Peacebuilding. Analyse conflict drivers, actors and opportunities for peaceful resolution. Practise inclusive dialogue and distinguish mediation from negotiation and adjudication. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Peace Support and Civilian Coordination. Study the mandates and institutional arrangements of peace-support missions. Examine civilian coordination, safeguarding and accountability through published cases. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
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. Compulsory
- Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning. Use structured foresight to explore plausible policy futures. Separate forecasting from scenario building and test the robustness of decisions. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Maritime, Border and Regional Cooperation. Examine governance and cooperation across shared borders and maritime spaces. Balance security objectives with lawful movement, livelihoods and rights. Compulsory
- Security Sector Governance and Reform. Study reform of security institutions following political change or institutional failure. Examine accountability, inclusion, sequencing and public trust. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Leadership, Ethics and Institutional Accountability. Apply ethical reasoning to leadership in public institutions. Examine professional judgement, conflicts of interest, organisational culture and accountability. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- 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. Compulsory
- Integrated Strategic Policy Capstone. Bring together the programme through an evidence-based policy recommendation. Compare alternatives, resource implications, rights and implementation arrangements. Compulsory
Assessment and practical learning
Assessment combines essays, source analysis, policy briefs, quantitative exercises, presentations and subject tests. Applied work includes mediation and civilian coordination simulations, an oversight briefing and a supervised policy or community-resilience project. The final stage includes an individual research report and an integrated strategic policy capstone.
Assessment considers the quality of evidence, accuracy of reasoning, ethical judgement, feasibility of recommendations and clarity of communication. Each subject page states its practical task and required submission. Research involving people requires prior ethics approval and informed consent. No classified, unlawfully obtained or operationally sensitive information is required.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundations of defence and security
Introduction to Defence and Strategic StudiesCompulsory
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 GovernmentCompulsory
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 RelationsCompulsory
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 FormationCompulsory
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 ReferencingCompulsory
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 LiteracyCompulsory
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 ResourcesCompulsory
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 AuthorityCompulsory
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 SocietyCompulsory
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 SecurityCompulsory
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 AnalysisCompulsory
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 OversightCompulsory
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 GovernanceCompulsory
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 SecurityCompulsory
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 CiviliansCompulsory
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 PeacebuildingCompulsory
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 GovernanceCompulsory
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 CoordinationCompulsory
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 EthicsCompulsory
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 PolicyCompulsory
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 IssuesCompulsory
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 PlanningCompulsory
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 EthicsCompulsory
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 CooperationCompulsory
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 ReformCompulsory
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 CooperationCompulsory
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 AccountabilityCompulsory
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 ProjectCompulsory
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 StudiesCompulsory
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 CapstoneCompulsory
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.
Instructors
Programme teaching team
Teaching appointments and module support contacts are provided in Moodle. Contact BMIT for admission and learner support.
Open programme in Moodle