Course in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour
Online course of 300 h in history and ethical evolution of land armour. 6 modules covering the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines (1997), Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1996) and Zotero. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour — studying from Australia
Defence is one of Australia's largest engineering employers, with major programmes in land systems, naval platforms, aircraft and integrated systems managed through the Department of Defence. Land systems engineering supports armoured vehicles, weapons and logistics equipment, often through prime contractors and local industry partners. Industry involvement is strongly encouraged through the Defence industry policy framework. Engineers work on sustainment, capability development, systems integration and safety assurance, typically in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and regional defence precincts.
Fees for Australia: A$1,180 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
How does defence engineering recognition work in Australia?
Defence engineering in Australia is largely run through the Department of Defence and its industry partners, which set their own security clearance and qualification requirements. Engineers Australia is the professional body for accreditation. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Australian employers hire in defence and land systems?
Australia has defence prime contractors, the Department of Defence, and specialist land systems firms. Many of these roles require Australian security clearances, which depend on citizenship and background checks rather than course completion. Ask employers how they weigh private qualifications against experience and clearance requirements.
Is the course manageable with a job, and does it need a visa?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. An assigned technical tutor supports you, fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the origins of land armour and its historical context.
Analyse the evolution of armour in the Second World War and the Cold War.
Explain the development of mine protection in recent conflicts.
Interpret the treaties that regulate mines and conventional weapons.
Evaluate the ethical dilemmas of protecting crews and civilian populations.
Apply a rigorous methodology of historical research.
Produce an essay on the ethical history of armour.
Who it's for
- Researcher in the history of technology who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- Analyst of international humanitarian law who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- Adviser in applied ethics who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- University lecturer who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- Analyst of defence policy who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- Curator of military heritage who wishes to specialise in History and Ethical Evolution of Land Armour.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter universities and research centres.
What you'll work with
- Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines (1997)
- Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (1996)
- Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977)
- Geneva Conventions of 1949
- Arms Trade Treaty (2013)
- STANAG 4569 (vehicle protection levels)
- Common Position 2008/944/CFSP
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Armoured vehicles before 19141.2The tank in the First World War1.3Cambrai 1917 and its impact1.4Rolled steel plates1.5Protection against small arms1.6Early debates on new weapons1.7Crew experience1.8Sources and museums1.9Pioneering engineers and designers1.10Workshop: annotated chronology of armour 1900-1920
2.1Sloped armour and the T-342.2Cast versus rolled steel2.3Surface hardening2.4Spaced armour and skirts2.5The race between protection and penetration2.6Forced labour in German industry2.7Responsibility of companies and engineers2.8Bombing of factories and civilians2.9Nuremberg trials of industrialists2.10Case study: the Krupp trial
3.1Composite armour: Chobham3.2Reactive armour and its emergence3.3Depleted uranium in armour3.4Health debate on depleted uranium3.5Personnel carriers3.6Doctrine and the arms race3.7Exports to third countries3.8Use of armoured vehicles against civilians3.9Prague 1968 and Tiananmen 19893.10Practice: analysis of the depleted uranium debate
4.1MRAP vehicles and the V-hull4.2Lessons from Rhodesia and South Africa4.3Iraq and Afghanistan: improvised explosive devices4.4Crew protection as an ethical imperative4.5Cost and resource prioritisation4.6Armoured vehicles in peace operations4.7Ukraine and modern vulnerabilities4.8Civilian and humanitarian armoured vehicles4.9Police and armour in the city4.10Case study: the MRAP programme and the protection of lives
5.1Protection as a moral value5.2International humanitarian law and weapons5.3Legal review of new systems5.4Export controls on armoured vehicles5.5Police militarisation and armour5.6Environmental impact of the life cycle5.7The engineer's responsibility5.8Historical memory and heritage5.9Lessons for current design5.10Workshop: debate on armoured vehicles in internal security
6.1Selection of period or vehicle6.2Literature review6.3Technological evolution of the case6.4Political and social context6.5Ethical analysis of decisions6.6Regulatory implications6.7Contemporary lessons6.8Writing the essay6.9Memory and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Zotero, NVivo, Advanced Excel, QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Essays are studied through real historical source analysis procedures, ethical-legal case studies and academic debate seminars. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the origins of land armour and its historical context.
Analyse the evolution of armour in the Second World War and the Cold War.
Explain the development of mine protection in recent conflicts.
Interpret the treaties that regulate mines and conventional weapons.
Evaluate the ethical dilemmas of protecting crews and civilian populations.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Zotero, NVivo, Advanced Excel, QGIS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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