Glossary

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War Studies - 8571

Program Summary

Faculty: UNSW Canberra at ADFA

Contact: UNSW Canberra, Student Enquiries

Campus: UNSW Canberra at ADFA

Career: Postgraduate

Typical Duration: 1 Years

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 48

Award(s):

Master of War Studies

View program information for previous years

Program Description

The Master of War Studies is an interdisciplinary study program focused on war and its effects. The program is built around a central core of subjects in Military History with additional options addressing topics in strategy, international relations, security and literature. The program is of strong professional relevance to members of the Australian Defence Force and other military personnel, as well as members of the broader defence community. The program’s offerings in Military History also make it very well suited for history teachers and others with a particular interest in Military History. The program is also designed to meet the needs of Postgraduate scholars from a range of disciplines who have an interest in armed conflict.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

Advanced disciplinary knowledge: Graduates will have acquired an advanced knowledge of the phenomenon of armed conflict and an ability to apply this in a range of international contexts and environments.
Research-based learning: Graduates will have developed an understanding of how new knowledge is produced and deeper knowledge acquired in and for the study of war.
Cognitive skills and critical thinking: Graduates will have developed advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills applicable to a range of strategy practices and security environments.
Communication and adaptive skills: Graduates will be able to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences, undertake both independent and collaborative enquiry, apply technical skills and be adaptive learners and practitioners.
Global outlook: Graduates will gain an awareness of local and global dimensions of the phenomenon of armed conflict.

Program Structure

Students undertaking the Master of War Studies are required to complete eight courses (48 UOC), with at least four courses (24 UOC) taken from those in the Core Course list. The core courses will normally be offered annually or at least every two years; the further options will be offered on an opportunity basis.

Course List - *Not all courses will be offered every year.

Core Courses

Students must select at least four core courses:

ZHSS8204 Mod Naval Hist & Strat (6 UOC)
ZHSS8220 Fighting the Second World War (6 UOC)
ZHSS8221 Development of the Art of War (6 UOC)
ZHSS8223 The First World War (6 UOC)
ZHSS8224 Small Wars of Empire (6 UOC)
ZHSS8225 Australian Military History (6 UOC)
ZHSS8417 Air Power in the 21st Century (6 UOC)
ZHSS8435 Contemporary Strategy (6 UOC)

Elective Courses:

Students must select at least four elective or additional core courses:

ZHSS8002 Social Research Methods (6 UOC)
ZHSS8102 American Empire (6 UOC)
ZHSS8106 War and Memory (6 UOC)
ZHSS8125 Strategic Communication (6 UOC)
ZHSS8210 Genocide (6 UOC)
ZHSS8217 Amphibious Warfare (6 UOC)
ZHSS8218 Hegemony: Global Power in Hist (6 UOC)
ZHSS8219 The Great Game (6 UOC)
ZHSS8222 The European Warfare State (6 UOC)
ZHSS8226 The Vietnam Wars (6 UOC)
ZHSS8227 Civil Wars (6 UOC)
ZHSS8229 The Spanish Civil War (6 UOC)
ZHSS8404 Leg & Mor Prob of Int Violence (6 UOC)
ZHSS8438 The Justice of War (6 UOC)
ZHSS8452 Weapons of Mass Destruction (6 UOC)
ZHSS8456 Australian Cyber Forces (6 UOC)

Research Project

The option of undertaking a research project is available to Masters students who attain a high credit average or better in courses worth 24 UOC and is subject to the approval of the Head of School. The research project (12 UOC) is recommended for those with a strong interest in pursuing original research in a particular area or intending to undertake a higher level research qualification.

ZHSS8212 Research Project-History SS (12 UOC)
ZHSS8215 Research Project - History (6 UOC)
ZHSS8400 Research Project: IPS SS (12 UOC)
ZHSS8401 Research Project - IPS FY (6 UOC)

Academic Rules

To gain entry into the Masters of War Studies by coursework program an applicant must:

1. Entry Requirements

1.1 Have met the requirements of a Bachelor's degree with Honours with a major in a cognate discipline; or

1.2 Have met the requirements of a Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline; or

1.3 Have met the requirements of a 3 or 4-year Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline, which includes a major in the cognate discipline; and have completed at least 3-years full-time professional experience in a cognate discipline; or

1.4 Have met the requirements of a Bachelor degree in a NON-cognate discipline and have completed at least 4-years full-time professional experience in a cognate discipline; or

1.5 Submitted evidence of other academic qualifications and/or professional experience submitted to the Program Authority may be considered based on assessment of evidence of achievement of equivalent learning and in accordance with UNSW Recognition of Prior Learning Procedure.

Cognate Disciplines

Humanities and Social Science
See UNSW Canberra pathway options for admission to the MWarStudies

2. Enrolment and Progression

2.1 An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made via myUNSW or on the prescribed form and lodged with Student Administrative Services by the advertised date.

2.2 A candidate for the degree must undertake courses and pass assessment as prescribed by UNSW.

2.3 The program of study shall total a minimum of 48 units of credit.

2.4 The Academic Standing of a candidate shall be reviewed at the end of each session. Movement between levels of academic standing is based on progress, measured by cumulative number of failures.