Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Counselling

The Bachelor of Arts in Counselling is a four-year programme offered at Kenyatta University, Moi University, KCA University, and Africa Nazarene University. It trains professional counsellors to address growing psychosocial needs in Kenya, including mental health, family relationships, substance abuse, and trauma.

Students study counselling theories, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, group therapy, family counselling, crisis intervention, research methods, and ethics. The curriculum combines theoretical instruction with counselling practicum, personal therapy, and supervised field placement, ensuring graduates can provide professional counselling services.

Entry requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with at least C in English and Mathematics. Diploma holders with relevant experience may receive credit transfers. The programme includes a three-month counselling practicum and 15 hours of personal therapy before field placement.

Graduates work as counsellors in schools, hospitals, NGOs, rehabilitation centres, private practice, and corporate employee assistance programmes. They provide critical psychosocial support across diverse settings, addressing mental health challenges and promoting wellbeing.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and aligns with growing recognition of mental health as a public health priority in Kenya. Students develop strong interpersonal, communication, and therapeutic skills.

Career opportunities include roles in grief and bereavement counselling, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse rehabilitation, career guidance, and trauma counselling. The demand for qualified counselling professionals continues to grow with increasing awareness of mental health needs.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 158,100
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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Counselling
Research Methods
Statistics
Laboratory Techniques
Scientific Communication
Research Methods

Modules

8 in the programme

Social Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical and contemporary social theory. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework an...
Foundations of the Discipline
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of the Discipline: Introduction to core concepts, theories, and principles of the field. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods: Quantitative and qualitative research methods for social science. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Statistics for Social Sciences
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Statistical analysis for social data using SPSS/Stata. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, ...
Advanced Topics I
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theoretical and applied topics in the discipline. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Advanced Topics II
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Contemporary issues and debates in the field. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursewor...
Field Research
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Supervised field research in communities or organisations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Research Project
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
Research Project: Independent research project culminating in a defended thesis. Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

Counselling
Specialisation pathway within Bachelor of Counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Research Methods
Specialisation pathway within Bachelor of Counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Laboratory Analysis
Specialisation pathway within Bachelor of Counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Data Analysis
Specialisation pathway within Bachelor of Counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Field Studies
Specialisation pathway within Bachelor of Counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

Lectures, practicals, group discussions, and independent study form the core of the student experience. Industrial attachment and research projects provide real-world exposure.

The trade offs

In its favour

Solid foundation for diverse career paths across multiple sectors
Recognised qualification accredited by CUE

Against it

Competitive job market requiring additional skills or experience
May require further specialisation for advanced roles

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

Private152k to 158k

152k at Kenya Methodist University158k at Kabarak 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

Verified educationnewshub+Kabarak fee schedule: KU 153K, KeMU 152K, Kabarak 158K/yr

HELB loans available for eligible students. University and external scholarships may be available.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Placement

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Student Support
BursaryKenyan
Students pursuing counselling and psychology programmes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma holders may upgrade through bridging programmes.

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Industrial Attachment
Clinical10% of the mark
Supervised attachment report.
Continuous Assessment
Cat25% of the mark
Assignments, tests, and presentations.
Research Project
Research15% of the mark
Final-year research project.
Written Examinations
Exam50% of the mark
End-of-semester examinations.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Full Stack Developer
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Entry-level role for Bachelor graduates in Social Sciences. Full Stack Developers work across various organizations in Kenya. Hiring trend: Growing.
Mobile App Developer
Low demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000
Entry-level role for Bachelor graduates in Social Sciences. Mobile App Developers work across various organizations in Kenya. Hiring trend: Growing.
Policy Analyst (Social Policy)
Low demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 90,000
Entry-level role for Bachelor graduates in Social Sciences. Policy Analyst (Social Policy)s work across various organizations in Kenya. Hiring trend: Growing.
Clinical Psychologist
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Entry-level role for Bachelor graduates in Social Sciences. Clinical Psychologists work across various organizations in Kenya. Hiring trend: Growing.
Social Work
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 60,000
Entry-level role for Bachelor graduates in Social Sciences. Social Works work across various organizations in Kenya. Hiring trend: Growing.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in social sciences or proceed to further studies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
SPSS
Data analysis
Google Workspace
Collaboration
KOBO Toolbox
Data collection
SPSS/Stata
Statistical software
Gender research data analysis.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career options.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors including government, private sector, NGOs, and entrepreneurship.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.
The programme is only for top-performing students.
While academic excellence is valued, the programme accepts students meeting the minimum KCSE requirements and supports diverse learners.
Graduates cannot find employment in Kenya.
Kenya's growing economy creates demand for qualified graduates across public, private, and NGO sectors.