If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.

Security and Strategic Studies
Undergraduate Major
MJRU-SCSTR
- Major
- Security and Strategic Studies Major (BA)
- Credit
- 200
Outline
Learn the art of strategy and leadership, and understand present and future threats.

If COVID-19 restrictions apply, we may need to make changes to units and/or delivery modes.
Top 1 %
Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Academic Ranking of World Universities 2021.
Get the Curtin edge
Access to leadership programs, specialist facilities and industry placements give you a competitive edge in the job market.
Global education
You’ll have access to a range of international study opportunities.
National security and defence has become one of the most critical factors of everyday life.
Security and Strategic Studies is a timely, in-demand and highly relevant field that investigates and explains security challenges associated with:
- traditional threats (military, security)
- asymmetric threats (terrorism and insurgency, and organised crime)
- other risk factors such as energy security and climate change.
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 follow an exciting curriculum where you’ll learn contemporary strategic and defence thinking and planning, intelligence analysis, strategic leadership, ethics, policy planning and decision-making.
Topics may include the human security impact of nuclear tests conducted on the land and sea of traditional owners; and the impact and legacy of Australia’s Frontier Wars.
You will also acquire skills in intelligence and critical analysis, crisis management and problem-solving, written and oral communications – all of which underpin successful careers in policy, strategy, leadership and management.
This course gives you industry-ready, practical skills. It is ideal if you are looking for a career in defence, intelligence, analysis and strategic policy or law enforcement. It is also useful for careers in business, particularly the security industry, critical infrastructure and resource sectors.
Student profile
View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
Career information
Careers
- Intelligence officer
- Business analyst
- National security analyst
- Logistics specialist
- Cryptologist.
Industries
- Defence
- Government
- Law
- Resources
- Business
- Finance
- Transport.
What you'll learn
- demonstrate a good understanding of the major conceptual frameworks of security, strategic and defence studies, GC1
- demonstrate the ability to think and analyse critically, creatively and reflectively within security and strategic studies and across disciplinary boundaries, GC1,GC2,GC3
- 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, GC2,GC6
- 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, GC3,GC6
- demonstrate the ability to use a variety of technologies and the ability to decide on their applications appropriately, GC3,GC6
- show sustained intellectual curiosity by taking responsibility for one's own learning and intellectual development through the recognition of a range of learning strategies, GC1,GC2,GC3
- 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, GC1,GC5
- embrace the importance of cultural diversity and of human rights in the making of knowledge in the social and political sciences, GC4,GC5
- 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, GC3,GC6
Advanced standing
At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.
You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.
If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.
A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.
CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.
Use the CRL search to find out how much CRL you qualify for, or contact us at:
Webform: Submit here
Curtin Connect: 1300 222 888
Fees & charges
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
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- Opening hours:
- Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 4.30pm, except Tues: 9.30am – 4.30pm (AWST). Closed public holidays.
- Curtin course code: MJRU-SCSTR
- Last updated on: 05/08/2022