Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (General)

The Bachelor of Arts (General) is a four-year degree that allows students to combine multiple humanities and social science subjects, providing a broad liberal arts education with flexible career pathways.

Students select from subjects including English, Kiswahili, Literature, History, Geography, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Public Administration, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Psychology, Linguistics, Archaeology, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, Social Work, Criminology, Tourism, and Performing Arts.

Graduates find opportunities in civil service, education, journalism, NGO programme management, human resources, public administration, research, content creation, and further postgraduate study.

The programme is delivered over eight semesters at multiple CUE-accredited public universities including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University, and others.

Graduates work as civil servants, teachers (with PGDE), social workers, communications officers, human resources officers, project officers, and content creators. Civil service positions at CSG 10 start at KES 42,970–59,120/month, while NGO and private sector roles vary widely.

This programme suits students with broad academic interests, aptitude in humanities and social sciences, and desire for flexible career options. The interdisciplinary nature requires strong analytical, communication, and critical thinking skills, making it ideal for students who want to keep their options open before specialising at postgraduate level.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 225,800
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

English and Literature
History and Archaeology
Geography and Environmental Studies
Sociology and Social Work
Political Science and Public Administration
Economics
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Psychology and Counselling
Linguistics and Languages
Communication Skills

Modules

12 in the programme

Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Common course developing academic communication skills including essay writing, critical reading, oral presentation, and research documentation — foundational for all BA students.
Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts in sociology including social structures, institutions, socialisation, social change, and sociological theory — one of the most popular BA subject choices.
Introduction to History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Survey of historical methods, African history, and historiography — examining sources, evidence, and interpretation in the study of the past.
Introduction to Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic economic principles including microeconomics, macroeconomics, supply and demand, market structures, and economic systems — foundational for BA students choosing Economics.
Introduction to Political Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Foundational concepts in political science including political theory, governance, state institutions, political systems, and the politics of social change.
Geography and Environmental Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Physical and human geography including landforms, climate, population, resources, and environmental management — interdisciplinary subject combining natural and social sciences.
Literature and Language Studies
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of literary genres, literary criticism, African literature, and language analysis — developing critical reading and analytical writing skills.
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology including research design, data collection, qualitative and quantitative methods, sampling, and ethical considerations in social research.
Science and Technology in Society
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Common course examining the role of science and technology in society, including technological change, innovation, and their social, economic, and political impacts.
HIV/AIDS Education
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Common course on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, impact on society, and policy responses — mandatory for all undergraduate students.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment in a relevant organisation — government department, NGO, media house, or educational institution — applying academic knowledge in a workplace setting.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project in one of the student's three subject areas, with fieldwork, data analysis, written dissertation, and oral defence before a panel of examiners.

Specialisations

Humanities and Literature
Focus on English, Literature, Linguistics, and Languages for careers in education, journalism, publishing, and communications.
Social Sciences and Development
Focus on Sociology, Social Work, Economics, and Political Science for careers in civil service, NGOs, and development organisations.
History and Archaeology
Focus on History, Archaeology, and Heritage Studies for careers in museums, cultural institutions, research, and heritage management.
Public Administration and Governance
Focus on Political Science, Public Administration, and Philosophy for careers in civil service, county government, and public policy.
Geography and Environmental Studies
Focus on Geography, Environmental Studies, and Tourism for careers in environmental management, tourism, and urban planning.
Psychology and Counselling
Focus on Psychology and Counselling for careers in human resources, social work, and mental health support services.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures in two or three chosen subjects — perhaps History, Sociology, and Economics — with afternoon seminars, tutorials, or library research. Students attend lectures on different disciplines, participate in group discussions, and work on assignments across their subject combinations. Evenings involve reading, essay writing, and preparing for continuous assessment tests across multiple subjects.

The trade offs

In its favour

The general BA offers maximum flexibility, allowing students to combine three subjects and keep career options open before specialising at postgraduate level.
Offered at 12+ public universities through KUCCPS, providing wide access and choice of institution with fees ranging from KES 122,400 to KES 189,004 per year.
Graduates can pursue diverse career paths including civil service, education, journalism, NGO work, human resources, and postgraduate study in law, education, or international relations.
The University of Nairobi offers the widest range of subject combinations with 24+ disciplines to choose from, providing exceptional breadth of study.

Against it

The breadth of study means less depth in any single discipline compared to specialised degrees, which may put graduates at a disadvantage for roles requiring deep subject expertise.
General BA graduates may face competition from specialised degree holders for roles in specific fields like economics, psychology, or communication.
Many career paths require additional postgraduate qualifications — PGDE for teaching, law degree for legal practice, or master's for specialised roles — adding time and cost.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 226k

105k at Mount Kenya University226k at Daystar University

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; Daystar ~225,800/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

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 Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

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 from a recognised institution, or KCSE mean grade C- with a Certificate and Diploma, or KACE with two principal passes, or a degree from a recognised university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering subject-specific content across the student's three chosen disciplines.
Assignments and Essays
Coursework25% of the mark
Research papers, essays, presentations, and group projects assessed throughout each semester across multiple subjects.
Fieldwork and Attachment Reports
Coursework15% of the mark
Fieldwork reports, industrial attachment evaluations, and community engagement projects assessed through written reports and presentations.
Final Examinations and Research Project
Examination30% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations across all subjects and a final-year research project with written dissertation and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at multiple CUE-accredited public universities including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, and others. Each university's curriculum is approved by CUE.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. Each university's BA curriculum is approved by CUE.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Civil Service Officer (CSG 10)
High demandKsh 42,970 to Ksh 59,120
Entry-level government position in ministries and county governments handling administrative duties, policy implementation, public service delivery, and coordination of government programmes.
Communications Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Develops and manages organisational communications, writes press releases, manages social media, and coordinates internal communications for NGOs, companies, and government agencies.
Human Resources Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages recruitment, employee relations, training and development, and HR administration for private companies, NGOs, and government departments.
Social Worker
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Provides social support services, conducts case management, supports vulnerable groups, and links communities to social services in government departments and NGOs.
Content Creator
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 60,000
Creates written, digital, and multimedia content for media houses, marketing agencies, NGOs, and online platforms — leveraging research and communication skills from the BA.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in civil service, education, journalism, NGO programme management, human resources, and public administration, with opportunities for postgraduate specialisation.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary
Productivity tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access for document creation, data management, presentations, and professional communication across all career paths.
Google Workspace
SoftwarePrimary
Collaboration and productivity tools for document creation, email communication, spreadsheets, and team coordination in modern workplace environments.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for social research data, survey analysis, and quantitative research — useful for students taking sociology, economics, or psychology.
Reference Management Software (Zotero)
Software
Open-source reference management tool for organising research sources, generating citations, and managing bibliographies for academic writing and research projects.
Canva
Software
Graphic design platform for creating presentations, social media content, and visual communications — useful for content creation and communications roles.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A general BA is not as valuable as a specialised degree.
The general BA provides interdisciplinary knowledge and transferable skills — critical thinking, communication, research — valued across sectors. Many successful professionals in civil service, journalism, and management hold general BA degrees and specialise at postgraduate level.
BA graduates cannot find employment.
BA graduates work in civil service, education, NGOs, media, human resources, and private sector. The Public Service Commission regularly recruits BA graduates for administrative and policy roles across government ministries.
A general BA is an easy option for students who cannot get into specialised programmes.
The general BA requires studying three separate disciplines simultaneously, demanding strong time management and analytical skills. The breadth of study is intellectually challenging and provides versatility.
You must become a teacher with a BA degree.
While many BA graduates pursue teaching through a PGDE, the degree opens doors to civil service, journalism, NGO work, human resources, research, and postgraduate study in law, international relations, and development.
All BA programmes are the same regardless of university.
Subject combinations, curriculum structure, and teaching quality vary significantly between universities. The University of Nairobi offers the widest range of subject options, while other universities may specialise in particular combinations.