Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology

Introduction to Archaeology

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Foundational introduction to archaeology — covering the history of archaeology, archaeological theory, basic field methods, and the role of archaeology in understanding human past.

Sources of African History

Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of sources used in reconstructing African history — covering oral traditions, written sources, archaeological evidence, and the integration of multiple sources for historical analysis.

Introduction to Palaeoanthropology

Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

Introduction to the study of human evolution — covering hominin taxonomy, major fossil discoveries in East Africa, evolutionary theory, and the relationship between palaeoanthropology and archaeology.

Archaeological Field Methods

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Practical training in archaeological field methods — covering survey techniques, excavation methodology, stratigraphic analysis, site documentation, and field safety procedures.

African Stone Age

Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of the Stone Age in Africa — covering the Early, Middle, and Late Stone Age, lithic technology, cultural sequences, and the interpretation of Stone Age lifeways.

African Iron Age

Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of the Iron Age in Africa — covering iron technology, Bantu expansion, early farming communities, and the development of complex societies in African prehistory.

Cultural Resource Management

Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

Principles and practice of cultural resource management — covering heritage legislation, site assessment, cultural impact assessment, and the management of archaeological resources in development c...

Environmental Archaeology

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of past human-environment interactions — covering palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and human adaptations to environmental change in African contexts.

Museology and Conservation

Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

Study of museum operations and artefact conservation — covering collection management, exhibition design, preventive conservation, and the role of museums in public education and heritage preservat...

Stratigraphy and Dating Methods

Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

Study of stratigraphic principles and archaeological dating methods — covering relative and absolute dating techniques, stratigraphic analysis, and chronology building in archaeology.

Archaeological Theory

Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

Advanced study of archaeological theory — covering processual and post-processual approaches, interpretive frameworks, and the theoretical debates shaping contemporary archaeological practice.

Research Project in Archaeology

Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore

Independent research project on an archaeological topic — demonstrating mastery of field or laboratory methods, data analysis, and academic writing through a substantial research report.

Palaeoanthropology and Human Evolution

Focus on the study of human evolution through fossil evidence — covering hominin taxonomy, evolutionary biology, comparative anatomy, and the interpretation of fossil finds from Kenya's Turkana Basin and Rift Valley.

African Prehistoric Archaeology

Focus on the prehistoric archaeology of Africa — covering Stone Age and Iron Age cultures, lithic technology, ceramic analysis, and the reconstruction of prehistoric lifeways in African contexts.

Cultural Resource Management

Focus on the management and preservation of cultural heritage — covering heritage legislation, site management, cultural impact assessment, and the practical aspects of protecting archaeological resources.

Museology and Conservation

Focus on museum studies and conservation — covering collection management, exhibition design, artefact conservation, public education, and the role of museums in preserving cultural heritage.

Archaeological Field Methods

Focus on practical field archaeology — covering excavation techniques, survey methods, stratigraphic analysis, site documentation, and the practical skills needed for archaeological fieldwork.

Environmental Archaeology

Focus on the relationship between past human societies and their environments — covering palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and human adaptations to environmental change.

HELB Undergraduate Loan

County Government Bursaries

University of Nairobi Scholarships and Bursaries

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

BursaryKenyan

Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

County Government Bursaries

BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan

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

University of Nairobi Internal Bursaries

BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

Needy students enrolled at the University of Nairobi, applied through the financial aid office.

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.

Continuous Assessment Tests

Coursework25% of the mark

Written tests covering archaeological theory, African prehistory, palaeoanthropology, and cultural resource management — assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.

Fieldwork and Laboratory Reports

Coursework35% of the mark

Practical fieldwork reports, laboratory analyses, artefact cataloguing, and site documentation — assessed through field reports, lab reports, and practical demonstrations.

Research Papers and Presentations

Coursework15% of the mark

Research papers, literature reviews, and oral presentations on archaeological topics — developing academic writing and research communication skills.

Final Examinations and Research Project

Examination25% of the mark

End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project demonstrating mastery of archaeological methods, field or laboratory analysis, and academic writing.

Commission for University Education (CUE)

Academic accreditationRequired

Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Palaeoanthropology was CUE-accredited at the University of Nairobi in 2013.

Museum Curator

Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 65,000

Manages museum collections, designs exhibitions, and conducts public education programmes — working at the National Museums of Kenya or county museums to preserve and present cultural heritage.

Cultural Heritage Consultant

Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000

Provides heritage consulting services for development projects — conducting cultural impact assessments, site surveys, and heritage management plans for government, NGOs, and private sector.

Archaeological Research Assistant

Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000

Supports archaeological research projects at universities, museums, or international research institutes — conducting fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and contributing to research publications.

Civil Service Officer (Cultural Affairs)

Moderate demandKsh 42,970 to Ksh 59,120

Works in government ministries handling cultural affairs, heritage management, or tourism — applying archaeological knowledge to policy and administration of cultural resources.

Cultural Heritage Tourism Officer

High demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 60,000

Develops and manages cultural heritage tourism initiatives — working with museums, heritage sites, and tourism boards to promote archaeological and cultural tourism in Kenya.

GIS Software (QGIS/ArcGIS)

SoftwarePrimary

Geographic Information Systems software for archaeological mapping, site survey, and spatial analysis — essential for recording and analysing archaeological site distributions and landscapes.

SPSS

SoftwarePrimary

Statistical analysis software for archaeological data — used for analysing artefact assemblages, quantitative data, and statistical patterns in archaeological research.

Microsoft Office Suite

Software

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

AutoCAD

Software

Computer-aided design software for archaeological drawing — used for creating site plans, stratigraphic sections, and artefact illustrations.

University Library and Museum Resources

Resource

Physical and digital library resources including archaeological journals, site reports, and access to museum collections — supporting coursework and research projects.

Archaeology is just about digging up old things.

Archaeology is a scientific discipline that uses rigorous field methods, laboratory analysis, dating techniques, and theoretical frameworks to reconstruct past human behaviour, cultural processes, and environmental change — not just collecting artefacts.

There are no jobs in archaeology in Kenya.

Kenya's rich archaeological heritage creates opportunities in museums, cultural resource management, heritage tourism, research institutions, government agencies, and international archaeological projects — with growing demand for heritage professionals.

Palaeoanthropology is only about studying fossils.

Palaeoanthropology combines archaeology, geology, biology, and anthropology to understand human evolution — covering stone tools, environmental reconstruction, comparative anatomy, and behavioural analysis, not just fossils.

Archaeology is not relevant to modern Kenya.

Archaeology is essential for cultural heritage preservation, tourism development, land use planning, and understanding Kenya's place in human history — Kenya's fossil sites are globally significant for understanding human origins.

You can only work as an academic with this degree.

While academia is one path, graduates also work in museums, cultural resource management, heritage tourism, government cultural agencies, environmental impact assessment, and international research projects.