Bachelor of Arts in Chaplaincy
The Bachelor of Arts in Chaplaincy is a four-year programme offered at Kabarak University and Kenya Highlands Seminary. It trains chaplains to provide spiritual care, counselling, and pastoral support in institutions such as hospitals, schools, prisons, military, and corporate organisations.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 158,100 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 4 years, full-time, part-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study pastoral theology, counselling psychology, spiritual care, ethics, grief and crisis intervention, world religions, and chaplaincy administration. The curriculum combines theological foundations with practical training through supervised clinical pastoral education and field placements in institutional settings.
Entry requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ or a credit pass in a relevant diploma from a recognised institution, or two principal passes at A level. The programme is offered full-time over four academic years.
Graduates work as institutional chaplains in hospitals, schools, universities, prisons, military barracks, and corporate organisations. They provide spiritual and emotional support to individuals facing illness, grief, conflict, and life transitions, complementing clinical and social services.
The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and prepares graduates for professional chaplaincy roles across diverse institutional contexts. Students develop strong interpersonal, counselling, and pastoral care skills.
Career opportunities include roles in hospital chaplaincy, school and university chaplaincy, military chaplaincy, prison ministry, corporate pastoral care, and disaster response teams. The demand for trained chaplains continues to grow with increasing recognition of holistic care in institutional settings.
What you study
6 subjects- Research Methods
- Social Theory
- Development Studies
- Statistics
- Communication
- Ethics
Modules
12 in the programmeFoundations of Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human behaviour, cognition, development, personality and psychological research methods.
Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social structures, institutions, culture, socialisation and sociological theory.
Social Statistics
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Descriptive and inferential statistics, data analysis using SPSS/R for social research.
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods in Social Sciences: Qualitative and quantitative research, survey design, data analysis and ethics. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and r...
Development Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of development, poverty, inequality, globalisation and development policy.
Political Science & Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Political Science & Governance: Political systems, governance, democracy, public policy and political theory. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Community Development & Social Work
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Community organising, project management, social intervention and needs assessment.
Economics for Social Sciences
Year 2Semester 22 creditsElective
Economics for Social Sciences: Microeconomics, macroeconomics and economic policy applied to social issues. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Field Attachment / Community Placement
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
Field Attachment / Community Placement: Supervised placement with NGO, government agency or community organisation. Provides hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and professional skills develo...
Social Policy & Administration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Policy analysis, social welfare, public administration and social programme evaluation.
Research Project / Dissertation
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research Project / Dissertation: Independent social research project: design, fieldwork, analysis and report. Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.
Ethics & Professional Practice
Year 4Semester 22 creditsCore
Professional ethics, research ethics, social responsibility and ethical decision-making.
Specialisations
Sociology & Community Development
Social research, community organising, project management and social policy. Students learn to analyse social issues and drive community empowerment.
Psychology & Counselling
Human behaviour, mental health, counselling techniques and psychological assessment. Students gain skills for clinical, organisational and community roles.
Political Science & Public Administration
Governance, public policy, political theory and administration. Students learn to navigate government, NGOs and international organisations.
Economics & Development Studies
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, development theory and policy analysis. Students learn to address poverty, inequality and economic growth challenges.
Geography & GIS
Spatial analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing and environmental planning. Students learn to map and analyse geographic data for decision-making.
A day as a student
A typical day blends lectures, practicals and group work, with attachment/internship in the field.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Transferable skills across sectors. | Competitive entry-level market. |
| Diverse career paths. | Some paths need further specialisation. |
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 coursesAnnual 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
No public univ offers Chaplaincy. Kabarak (private) 158.1K/yr verified (Kabarak fee PDF 2025)
HELB loans, county scholarships and university bursaries available.
Funding options
HELB Loan
Government Bursary
CDF Scholarship
Self-sponsored
Scholarships
5 recordedMastercard Foundation Scholars Program
FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
FullKsh 6,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Leadership; Community service
County Government Bursaries
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Financial need
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Scholarships you could apply for
3 usable where it is taught- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Diploma progression or bridging.
When it next starts
Taught at 2 institutionsIncluding Kabarak University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.
Including Kabarak University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.
Including Kabarak University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests for this programme.
Term Paper/Essay
Project20% of the mark
Term Paper/Essay for this programme.
End-of-Semester Exam
Exam50% of the mark
End-of-Semester Exam for this programme.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits university-level programmes.
Accredited by CUE and relevant professional bodies.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
6 rolesAnimation Producer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Graduates can work as animation producer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Backend Developer
High demandKsh 78,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as backend developer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Chaplain
Medium demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 180,000
Graduates can work as chaplain in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Public Administration & Civil Service
Medium demandKsh 72,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as public administration & civil service in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Animation & Film Production
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as animation & film production in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Art Conservator
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000
Graduates can work as art conservator in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates find opportunities across social sciences & humanities in Kenya's public, private and entrepreneurship sectors.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Google Scholar
Research
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai
Zotero
Research
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
SPSS
AnalyticsPrimary
NVivo
Analytics
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
This course has limited career prospects.
Graduates find opportunities across the public service, private industry, entrepreneurship, and further academic study.
The course is too theoretical with no practical value.
Programmes incorporate practical training, internships, and industry attachment to ensure graduates are job-ready.
You must have a related background to enrol.
Most programmes accept students from diverse academic backgrounds, with bridging support where needed.
Graduates of this course earn very little.
Earnings grow steadily with experience, specialisation, and professional certification.