Bachelor of Arts

Introduction to Literary Studies

Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective

Introduction to literary analysis, critical approaches, and the study of prose, poetry, and drama from African and world literary traditions.

Introduction to Sociology

Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective

Foundational concepts in sociology including social structures, institutions, culture, socialisation, and sociological research methods.

History of East Africa

Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective

Survey of East African history from pre-colonial societies through colonialism to independence, covering political, economic, and social developments.

Human Geography

Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective

Study of human populations, settlements, economic activities, and the relationship between human societies and their physical environments.

Introduction to Psychology

Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective

Fundamental concepts in psychology including cognition, perception, learning, motivation, personality, and social psychology.

Research Methods in Social Sciences

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, data collection, sampling, and academic writing for social science research.

Political Science Fundamentals

Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective

Introduction to political theory, governance systems, public policy, state institutions, and political processes in Kenya and Africa.

Kiswahili Language and Linguistics

Year 2Semester 23 creditsElective

Study of Kiswahili grammar, phonology, morphology, syntax, and the role of Kiswahili as a national and regional language in East Africa.

Economics for Social Sciences

Year 2Semester 23 creditsElective

Introduction to microeconomics and macroeconomics, economic systems, market structures, and the Kenyan economy in a global context.

Philosophy and Ethics

Year 3Semester 13 creditsElective

Introduction to philosophical inquiry, ethical theories, logic, and the application of philosophical reasoning to contemporary social and moral issues.

Religious Studies and Society

Year 3Semester 23 creditsElective

Study of major world religions, their beliefs, practices, and influence on social, political, and cultural life in Africa and globally.

Research Project

Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

Independent research project on a chosen topic in the humanities or social sciences, culminating in a written dissertation and oral defence.

Literature and English

Focus on English and African literature, literary criticism, creative writing, and the study of literary traditions across genres and periods.

History and Archaeology

Focus on African and world history, historical methods, archaeology, and the study of pre-colonial, colonial, and post-independence African societies.

Sociology and Psychology

Focus on social structures, human behaviour, research methods, and the application of sociological and psychological theories to contemporary social issues.

Geography and Economics

Focus on human and physical geography, economic theory, spatial analysis, and the interaction between economic systems and geographic factors.

Political Science and Religious Studies

Focus on governance, political systems, public policy, religious traditions, and the role of religion in society and politics.

Kiswahili and Communication

Focus on Kiswahili language, linguistics, literature, and communication skills for media, education, and cultural preservation.

HELB Undergraduate Loan

County Government Bursaries

University Scholarships and Bursaries

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.

County Government Bursaries

BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan

Students from the respective county, applied through county education offices.

University Internal Bursaries

BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

Needy students enrolled at the respective university, applied through the financial aid office.

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

BursaryKenyan

Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Continuous Assessment Tests

Coursework30% of the mark

Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering course content in each subject area.

Essays and Assignments

Coursework30% of the mark

Academic essays, research papers, literature reviews, and tutorial assignments assessed throughout each semester.

Oral Presentations and Seminars

Coursework10% of the mark

Class presentations, seminar participation, and group discussions assessing communication and analytical skills.

Final Examinations and Research Project

Examination30% of the mark

End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project dissertation assessed by academic supervisors.

Commission for University Education (CUE)

Academic accreditationRequired

Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes.

Research Assistant

Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000

Supports research projects at universities, think tanks, and NGOs by collecting data, conducting literature reviews, and preparing research reports.

Programme Officer

Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000

Coordinates and implements development programmes at NGOs, community organisations, and government agencies.

Communications Officer

Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000

Manages internal and external communications, writes content, and handles public relations for organisations and companies.

Administrative Officer

Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 60,000

Provides administrative support in government departments, corporate offices, and educational institutions.

Secondary School Teacher

High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000

Teaches humanities subjects at secondary schools after completing a PGDE and registering with the Teachers Service Commission.

Microsoft Office Suite

SoftwarePrimary

Word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software used extensively for academic writing, data management, and presentations.

Google Workspace

Software

Cloud-based productivity tools including Docs, Sheets, and Slides for collaborative academic work and research.

SPSS

Software

Statistical analysis software used for quantitative research in sociology, psychology, and other social science disciplines.

Mendeley

Software

Reference management software for organising research sources, generating citations, and managing bibliographies.

Grammarly

Software

Writing assistance tool for grammar checking, plagiarism detection, and improving academic writing quality.

A Bachelor of Arts degree is not marketable in Kenya.

Marketability depends on subject combination. BA graduates in education, psychology, economics, and communication find good opportunities. Graduates in less applied fields may need postgraduate study or additional skills.

BA graduates can only become teachers.

While teaching is a common path, BA graduates work in civil service, NGOs, media, communications, research, human resources, sales, and corporate administration across multiple sectors.

Arts degrees are easier than science degrees.

Arts degrees require extensive reading, critical analysis, essay writing, and independent research. The assessment methods differ but the intellectual rigour is comparable.

You cannot earn a good salary with a BA degree.

BA graduates in fields like economics, psychology, and communication can earn competitive salaries. Career progression and postgraduate qualifications significantly increase earning potential.

All BA programmes are the same across universities.

Subject combinations, curriculum structure, and specialisations vary significantly between universities. Students should research each university's offerings before applying.