Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology

Introduction to Anthropology

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Foundational introduction to anthropology covering the four sub-fields — cultural, physical, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology — and their approaches to studying human diversity.

Physical Anthropology

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of human biological evolution, variation, and adaptation — covering evolutionary theory, primatology, human genetics, and forensic anthropology.

Cultural Anthropology

Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of human cultures and social institutions — covering cultural diversity, belief systems, kinship, economic systems, political organisation, and cultural change.

Archaeological Anthropology

Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

Introduction to archaeological methods and the study of past human societies through material remains — covering excavation techniques, dating methods, and interpretation of archaeological evidence.

Linguistic Anthropology

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of the relationship between language and culture — covering linguistic diversity, language and identity, sociolinguistics, and the role of language in social interaction.

Development Anthropology

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Application of anthropological knowledge to development — examining the cultural dimensions of development, social impact assessment, and community-based development approaches.

Ecological Anthropology

Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of human-environment interactions — covering cultural ecology, environmental adaptation, resource management, and the anthropological perspectives on climate change.

Urban Anthropology

Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of urban life and urbanisation — covering rural-urban migration, urban social structures, informal settlements, and the anthropology of poverty and social inequality in urban contexts.

Anthropology of Africa

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of African societies and cultures from an anthropological perspective — covering ethnicity, colonialism, post-colonial transformations, and contemporary social dynamics in Africa.

Digital Anthropology

Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of the relationship between technology and culture — covering digital communities, social media, online identities, and the anthropological implications of digital transformation.

Research Methods in Anthropology

Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

Advanced research methods including ethnographic fieldwork, qualitative and quantitative analysis, research design, and ethical considerations in anthropological research.

Research Project

Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore

Independent research project on an anthropological topic — demonstrating mastery of research methods, fieldwork, data analysis, and academic writing through a 15,000–30,000 word project report.

Cultural Anthropology

Focus on the study of living human cultures — examining cultural diversity, social institutions, belief systems, and cultural change across different societies in Kenya and Africa.

Physical Anthropology

Focus on human biological evolution and variation — covering human genetics, primatology, forensic anthropology, and the biological basis of human behaviour.

Archaeological Anthropology

Focus on the study of past human societies through material remains — covering archaeological methods, ethno-archaeology, and cultural heritage management in African contexts.

Development Anthropology

Focus on the application of anthropological knowledge to development — examining the cultural dimensions of development, social impact assessment, and community-based development approaches.

Linguistic Anthropology

Focus on the relationship between language and culture — covering linguistic diversity, language and identity, and the role of language in social interaction and cultural transmission.

Ecological and Urban Anthropology

Focus on human-environment interactions and urban life — covering ecological anthropology, demographic anthropology, urbanisation, and the anthropology of poverty and social inequality.

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

Written tests covering anthropological theory, cultural analysis, research methods, and substantive course content — assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.

Research Papers and Essays

Coursework25% of the mark

Research papers, essays, ethnographic reports, and literature reviews on anthropological topics — assessed throughout each semester.

Field Research and Presentations

Coursework20% of the mark

Field research projects involving community visits, interviews, and ethnographic observation — assessed through field reports, presentations, and group critiques.

Final Examinations and Research Project

Examination25% of the mark

End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project of 15,000–30,000 words demonstrating mastery of anthropological research methods and analysis.

Commission for University Education (CUE)

Academic accreditationRequired

Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is CUE-accredited at the University of Nairobi, Pwani University, and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Research Assistant (Social Research)

Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000

Supports social research projects in universities, research institutions, and NGOs — conducting fieldwork, data collection, ethnographic research, and contributing to research publications.

Community Development Officer

High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000

Works with communities on development initiatives — applying anthropological understanding of cultural practices and social dynamics to design culturally appropriate development programmes.

Civil Service Officer

High demandKsh 42,970 to Ksh 59,120

Works in government ministries, provincial administration, or parastatals — applying understanding of cultural diversity and social dynamics to policy implementation and public administration.

Cultural Heritage Consultant

Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000

Works with museums, heritage sites, and cultural organisations — managing cultural resources, conducting cultural impact assessments, and preserving cultural heritage.

NGO Programme Officer

High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000

Works in non-governmental organisations on development, health, or education programmes — applying anthropological insights to programme design, community engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.

SPSS

SoftwarePrimary

Statistical analysis software for social research — used for analysing survey data, demographic statistics, and quantitative research findings in anthropology.

NVivo

SoftwarePrimary

Qualitative data analysis software for ethnographic research — used for coding and analysing interview transcripts, field notes, and qualitative research data.

Microsoft Office Suite

Software

Productivity tools including Word for research papers and reports, Excel for data management, and PowerPoint for research presentations.

Google Workspace

Software

Collaboration and productivity tools for document creation, project coordination, and team collaboration in research and community work.

University Library Resources

Resource

Extensive physical and digital library resources including anthropological journals, ethnographic texts, and research databases — supporting coursework and research projects.

Anthropology is just about studying ancient bones.

Anthropology encompasses cultural, physical, archaeological, and linguistic anthropology — studying living cultures, social change, human variation, language, and development, not just ancient remains.

There are no jobs for anthropology graduates in Kenya.

Anthropology graduates work in government, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, museums, heritage management, and corporate sector — with skills increasingly sought in development planning and social impact assessment.

Anthropology is not relevant to modern Kenya.

Anthropology is highly relevant — understanding cultural diversity, social change, ethnicity, gender, and development is essential for policy-making, community engagement, and addressing contemporary Kenyan challenges.

You can only work as an academic with this degree.

While academia is one path, most graduates work in applied fields — government administration, NGO programme management, cultural resource management, social research, and international development.

Anthropology is the same as sociology.

While related, anthropology takes a holistic approach studying human biological and cultural evolution across time and space, while sociology focuses more on contemporary social structures and institutions.