Defence & Strategic Studies ( DSS ) Department Defence & Strategic Studies ( DSS ) is a department in the Quaid - i - Azam University ; Islamabad . It is the only civil - military educational institute in Pakistan that deals with the study of defence and strategy . History . The department was founded in 1980 by the scholar Dr . Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema , former Chairperson of the Department of International Relations ( IR ) , QAU , and President of the " Islamabad Peace Research Institute " . Because of Dr Cheema ' s previous close association with the IR department the department of DSS is considered as extension and brain child of IR department . However , since its inception the two departments have been rivals . Former students are employee with various organizations in Pakistan . Chairpersons . Dr . Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema ( 1980 ) Brig . Abdul Basit ( 1981 ) Brig . SK Malik ( 1984 ) Dr . Shirin S Mazari ( August , 1988 ) Dr . Zafar Iqbal Cheema ( 1994 ) Dr . Syed Rifaat Hussain ( 2000 ) Mr . Rasheed Khalid ( Caretaker / In charge - chairperson ; April 2002 to August 2003 ) Dr . Syed Rifaat Hussain ( September 2003 to February 2004 ) Mr . Rasheed Khalid ( Caretaker / Incharge - chairperson ; August 2003 to October 2005 ) Dr . Zafar Iqbal Cheema ( 2005 – 2008 ) [ He is also Dean of Social Sciences took over as Chairperson of the Department . ] Dr . Syed Rifaat Hussain ( Dec 1st , 2008 - 2012 ) Mr . Rasheed Khalid ( Caretaker / In charge - chairperson ; March 2012 - till now ) Programs . The Department offers M . Sc , MPhil & PH . d degrees to both civilians & military personnel . M . Phil programs started in 1998 - 1999 and PhD programme was first advertised for HEC - qualified candidates as well as the general public in December 2004 . The Department now offers admission in M . Sc , M . Phil and Ph . D programmes twice a year on the basis of a semester system . MSc & MPhil are based on 2 year programs ( 4 semesters ) . The academic training imparted by the Department ' s degree program is geared towards the development of requisite academic knowledge , analytical ability for evaluation of national , regional and international strategic environments and policies . Civil - military institute . The Pakistan armed forces form a small but significant representation in as well as for the department . Professional soldiers join as students and also as teachers . The presence of armed forces personnel provides better understanding of military affairs to the civilian students while the civilian presence redirects minds of military personnel to civil & political affairs . The Department Faculty , in addition to its regular teaching , contributes research articles to various professional journals and delivers lectures at the National Defense University , Foreign Services Academy , Joint Services Staff College Islamabad and Staff College Quetta . Faculty . Some of the faculty members include : In addition , various scholars , former students , research fellows from prominent research organizations & military personnel teach as visiting faculty . Courses offered . Core Courses ( Not the complete list ) : Regional Study Courses ( Not the complete list ) : Special Offered Subjects ( offered occasionally ) : Seminar on Contemporary Issues in Defense and Strategic Studies : Seminars . The department arranges two forms of seminars . One is by guest scholars , experts , military personnel & other professionals on weekly basis , while the other is conducted by students of MSc program at the end of their final semesters where each student has to submit his / her thesis paper & give presentations . Some of the seminars made by scholars , experts , military personnel & other professionals include ( 1999 - 2000 list ) : The Department organized an International Conference on " Peace and Security in South Asia After India Pakistan Nuclear Tests " in collaboration with Hains Siedel Stiftung ( Germany ) December 3 – 05 , 1998 Study trips . Apart from regular teaching & seminars the department also takes its students to study trips to various military facilities & related areas . Some of the trips have included visits to Pakistans Navy submarines , Heavy Industries Texila ( HIT ) ( where Pakistan produces its main battle tanks ) , and air force bases . In addition , students are encouraged to attend seminars in other departments of QAU as well as other universities & research institutes .