The Diploma in Defence and Security Studies (DDSS) programme was launched together with the Bachelor of Adult Education (Defence Education) by the then Minister of Higher Education, Dr H Murerwa at the Zimbabwe Staff College on 23 August 2004 after the ZSC had attained full associate status on 03 January 2003. From its inception, the programme was designed to meet the security and strategic needs of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and other security related government departments. The Zimbabwe Staff College runs the Diploma in Defence and Security Studies on either part time or full time basis.
The DDSS programme’s thrust is to arm and equip officers with concepts guiding and dominating the conduct of warfare, the ability to think strategically and a clear understanding of security problems in sub-regional power politics, Africa and the international community. According to approved regulations, the programme can be done either on a full time or part time basis. The full time programme runs in conjunction with the Joint Command and Staff Course for a period of one year, while the part time programme takes two years.
The DDSS full time programme initially consisted of four courses with two courses per semester/. After the rationalization of the programme two more courses were introduced as from January 2010 to make a total of six. In January 2013 the programme was streamlined again in accordance with the University of Zimbabwe Regulations for Associate Colleges, with two more programmes being introduced.