Postgraduate Qualifications in Strategic Studies
On this page:
- Introduction
- Strategic Studies in 2012
- Strategic Studies Programme Options
- Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Studies
- Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies
- Master of Strategic Studies
- For More Information
Introduction
Our postgraduate qualifications in Strategic Studies allow students to understand today's leading strategic issues in their global, regional and New Zealand contexts. The Master of Strategic Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies and Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Studies are designed for domestic and international students who are seeking policy, analytical and research careers in many fields.
In addition to the core course in Strategic Studies (STRA 531), in 2012 students are able to pursue special topics in such areas as Strategic Intelligence and Civil-Military Relations and to choose from selected International Relations (INTP) Honours courses such as Asia-Pacific security offered by the Political Science and International Relations Programme. Students seeking to broaden their understanding of strategy are encouraged to include courses from the Public Management and Public Policy programmes in Victoria University’s School of Government.
Strategic Studies in 2012
From 2012, the teaching of Strategic Studies has moved with the Centre for Strategic Studies to the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations. This move is designed to increase the interaction between scholars in Strategic Studies and International Relations and the range of subjects and expertise available to students in both of these areas. The Centre for Strategic Studies is now based on the Kelburn campus, although a good deal of the teaching of Strategic Studies is scheduled for the downtown Pipitea Campus.
In a continuation of the pattern set in 2011, the Strategic Studies qualifications will be based on 30-point courses. In 2012, students will be able to undertake courses in both Trimesters 1 and 2 which are offered either in the evenings or as intensive weekly courses (with assignments completed later in the trimester). These courses have been scheduled to suit both part-time students with work commitments and and full-time students. Students in the Master of Strategic Studies continue to have the option of undertaking supervised research courses as part of their degree.
Strategic Studies Programme Options
Our Strategic Studies programme consists of three qualification options:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Studies (60 points)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies (120 points)
- Master of Strategic Studies (180 points).
Students may enter into the desired degree directly or progress from a Certificate to a Diploma to a Master's degree by a process called 'staircasing'. A student may complete their Certificate and then return at a later stage to complete their Diploma or Master's degree. If a degree is awarded and the student then progresses through to the next level, the previous award must be relinquished.
Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Studies
The Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Studies (PGCertSS) consists of the 30-point Strategic Studies core course (STRA 531) plus 30 points of elective coursework. Part-time students normally complete this qualification in two consecutive trimesters over a single year. Students should complete the PGCertSS within two years of first enrolling in the programme.
Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies
The Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies (PGDipSS) consists of the 30-point Strategic Studies core course (STRA 531) plus 90 points of elective courses. Full-time students usually complete this qualification in two trimesters over a twelve month period, and part-time students usually complete in four consecutive trimesters over two years. Students should complete the PGDipSS within three years of first enrolling in the programme.
Master of Strategic Studies
The Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) consists of the 30-point Strategic Studies core course (STRA 531) plus 150 additional points, normally a mixture of taught and research courses.
Students interested in undertaking supervised research as part of their Master of Strategic Studies degree are especially encouraged to consider topics of interest to the Centre for Strategic Studies.
Full-time students usually complete this qualification in three to four trimesters over one and a half to two years. Part-time students usually complete this qualification in six trimesters over three years. Students should complete the MSS within two years of first enrolling in the programme (extended pro rata up to four years for part-time students).
For More Information
For further information on Strategic Studies offerings, please contact:
Professor Robert Ayson
Centre for Strategic Studies
Phone: (04) 4636445
Email: robert.ayson@vuw.ac.nz