Arts & Humanities

Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies)

The Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies) is a four-year degree that explores the relationships between culture, society, identity, and power. Students study cultural theory, African cultural heritage, intercultural communication, cultural anthropology, social theory, cultural policy, heritage management, popular culture, gender and culture, and research methods.

Graduates find opportunities in cultural institutions, museums, heritage organisations, government cultural departments, tourism boards, media organisations, NGOs focused on cultural preservation, and academic research. The programme is delivered over eight semesters at Maasai Mara University, a CUE-accredited public university.

The School of Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Creative Industries offers the programme with faculty experienced in cultural studies and African heritage. Graduates work as cultural officers, heritage managers, museum curators, cultural researchers, community liaison officers, tourism development officers, and arts administrators.

This programme suits students with interest in culture, heritage, and social analysis, strong critical thinking abilities, and appreciation for cultural diversity. The interdisciplinary nature of cultural studies requires intellectual curiosity and the ability to engage with complex social and cultural issues from multiple perspectives.

Skills RequiredCultural Theory and AnalysisAfrican Cultural Heritage DocumentationIntercultural CommunicationCultural AnthropologyHeritage Management and PreservationSocial Research MethodsCultural Policy AnalysisCommunity Engagement and Cultural MappingGender and Cultural AnalysisCritical Thinking and Academic WritingKey SubjectsCultural Studies TheoryAfrican Cultural HeritageCultural AnthropologyIntercultural CommunicationSocial TheoryCultural Policy and Heritage ManagementPopular Culture and Media StudiesGender and CultureResearch Methods in Social SciencesKenyan and East African Cultural HistoryCertificationsHeritage Management Certification — National Museums of KenyaCultural Resource Management Certificate — ICOMOS KenyaTourism Management Certification — Kenya Tourism BoardSpecializationsAfrican Cultural HeritageFocus on documentation, preservation, and promotion of African cultural heritage, including oral traditions, material culture, indigenous knowledge systems, and heritage site management. Cultural Policy and Heritage ManagementFocus on cultural policy development, heritage legislation, museum management, cultural institution administration, and UNESCO heritage frameworks.

Intercultural CommunicationFocus on communication across cultures, cultural diversity management, intercultural competence, and cross-cultural engagement in multicultural settings.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 160,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Cultural Studies Theory
African Cultural Heritage
Cultural Anthropology
Intercultural Communication
Social Theory
Cultural Policy and Heritage Management
Popular Culture and Media Studies
Gender and Culture
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Kenyan and East African Cultural History

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Cultural Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts and theories in cultural studies, the development of the discipline, key thinkers, and the relationship between culture, society, and power.
African Cultural Heritage
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Survey of African cultural heritage including oral traditions, material culture, indigenous knowledge systems, and cultural practices across African societies.
Cultural Anthropology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Anthropological approaches to studying culture, ethnographic methods, cultural relativism, and the analysis of cultural systems and practices.
Social Theory
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical and contemporary social theories including Marxism, functionalism, symbolic interactionism, post-structuralism, and their application to cultural analysis.
Intercultural Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories and practices of communication across cultures, intercultural competence, cultural identity, and managing cultural diversity in globalised settings.
Cultural Policy and Heritage Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Cultural policy frameworks, heritage legislation, museum management, cultural institution administration, and UNESCO heritage conservation conventions.
Gender and Culture
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender as a cultural construct, feminist cultural theory, gender representation in cultural practices, and the intersection of gender with other social categories.
Popular Culture and Media
Year 3Semester 13 creditsElective
Analysis of popular culture forms, media representations, cultural industries, and the relationship between mass media, culture, and identity formation.
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Qualitative and quantitative research methods, ethnographic research, data collection and analysis, and research design for cultural studies research.
Kenyan and East African Cultural History
Year 3Semester 23 creditsElective
Historical development of Kenyan and East African cultures, colonial and post-colonial cultural transformations, and contemporary cultural dynamics in the region.
Cultural Tourism and Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsElective
Cultural tourism product development, community-based tourism, cultural destination management, and the role of culture in sustainable tourism development.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project applying cultural studies theory and research methods to a specific cultural phenomenon, with fieldwork and written dissertation.

Specialisations

African Cultural Heritage
Focus on documentation, preservation, and promotion of African cultural heritage, including oral traditions, material culture, indigenous knowledge systems, and heritage site management.
Cultural Policy and Heritage Management
Focus on cultural policy development, heritage legislation, museum management, cultural institution administration, and UNESCO heritage frameworks.
Intercultural Communication
Focus on communication across cultures, cultural diversity management, intercultural competence, and cross-cultural engagement in multicultural settings.
Popular Culture and Media Studies
Focus on analysing popular culture, media representations, cultural industries, and the intersection of culture, media, and identity in contemporary society.
Gender and Cultural Studies
Focus on gender as a cultural construct, feminist cultural theory, gender representation in culture, and the intersection of gender with race, class, and ethnicity.
Cultural Tourism Development
Focus on cultural tourism product development, community-based tourism, cultural destination marketing, and sustainable cultural tourism management.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures in cultural theory, African heritage, or social theory with afternoon seminars, group discussions, and fieldwork activities. Students engage in cultural documentation projects, analyse cultural texts and practices, and participate in community engagement. Evenings involve reading theoretical texts, writing analytical essays, and preparing research presentations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Interdisciplinary curriculum drawing from sociology, anthropology, media studies, and critical theory provides broad analytical skills applicable to diverse fields.
Growing cultural and creative industries in Kenya, including heritage tourism, museums, and cultural events, create emerging opportunities for graduates.
Programme includes fieldwork and cultural documentation projects, providing practical experience in heritage preservation and community engagement.
Strong foundation for postgraduate studies in cultural studies, anthropology, heritage management, or related social science disciplines.

Against it

Direct career paths are less defined compared to professional degrees, requiring graduates to be proactive in identifying and pursuing opportunities.
Offered at only one university, limiting access and programme choice for prospective students.
Entry-level salaries in cultural institutions and government cultural departments are modest (KES 30,000–45,000/month).

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 160k

105k at Mount Kenya University160k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU BA 153,000/yr; UoN BA 189,004/yr; MKU 105,000/yr; CUEA 160,000/yr. Src: educationnewshub, joweri

Students can access HELB loans, county government bursaries, and university-specific scholarships and bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
University Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
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.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C plain with a Diploma in Cultural Studies, Heritage Management, Social Work, or a related field from a recognised institution. KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary. A degree from a recognised university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering cultural theory, social theory, and heritage management concepts.
Essays and Analytical Papers
Coursework30% of the mark
Analytical essays, critical reviews of theoretical texts, and research papers assessed throughout each semester.
Fieldwork and Cultural Documentation Projects
Coursework15% of the mark
Fieldwork reports, cultural documentation assignments, and community engagement project assessments.
Final Examinations and Research Project
Examination30% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project dissertation based on fieldwork and cultural analysis.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Maasai Mara University, a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Cultural Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Develops and implements cultural programmes, documents cultural practices, and promotes cultural heritage in government cultural departments and cultural institutions.
Heritage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages heritage sites and cultural resources, develops conservation plans, and coordinates heritage preservation activities for museums and heritage organisations.
Cultural Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Conducts research on cultural practices, documents oral traditions, and produces cultural reports and publications for academic institutions and cultural organisations.
Community Liaison Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Facilitates engagement between organisations and local communities, ensures cultural sensitivity in development projects, and manages community relations for NGOs and government agencies.
Arts and Culture Administrator
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Manages arts and cultural programmes, coordinates cultural events, and administers cultural institutions and arts organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as cultural officers, heritage managers, museum curators, cultural researchers, and arts administrators in cultural institutions, government, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for social research data analysis, survey data processing, and quantitative research findings in cultural studies.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing interview transcripts, field notes, and cultural documentation in ethnographic research.
Microsoft Office Suite
Software
Word processing, presentations, and spreadsheet tools for research documentation, cultural reports, and academic writing.
Google Workspace
Software
Collaboration tools for research projects, document sharing, and team coordination in cultural research and heritage management work.
Audacity
Software
Audio editing software for recording and editing oral history interviews, cultural documentation audio, and ethnographic field recordings.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Cultural Studies is just about traditions and customs.
The programme involves rigorous theoretical analysis of power, identity, representation, and social structures. It draws from sociology, anthropology, media studies, and critical theory.
Cultural Studies graduates cannot find employment.
Graduates work in museums, heritage organisations, cultural tourism, government cultural departments, media, NGOs, and academia. Cultural and creative industries are growing sectors in Kenya.
Cultural Studies is not a serious academic discipline.
Cultural Studies is an established interdisciplinary field with rigorous theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, and critical analysis. It is taught at leading universities worldwide.
Cultural Studies is only about African culture.
While the programme emphasises African and Kenyan cultural contexts, it also covers global cultural theories, intercultural dynamics, and comparative cultural analysis.
Cultural Studies has no practical applications.
Heritage management, cultural tourism, cultural policy development, community engagement, and cultural documentation are practical fields where graduates apply their skills professionally.