Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Criminology

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology is a four-year degree programme that studies crime, its causes, consequences, and prevention, equipping graduates with the analytical and practical skills to understand and address criminal behaviour. Students study criminological theory, criminal law, sociology of crime, psychology of crime, criminal justice systems, penology, victimology, research methods, crime prevention, juvenile justice, and forensic criminology.

The programme is offered at multiple CUE-accredited universities including Maseno University, Kibabii University, Masinde Muliro University, and Tom Mboya University. Graduates pursue careers as criminologists, crime analysts, law enforcement officers, probation officers, correctional officers, policy analysts, researchers, and security consultants.

The programme is delivered over eight semesters through lectures, seminars, case studies, research projects, and fieldwork. Students engage in crime analysis, research projects, criminal justice policy analysis, and field attachments.

Entry-level salaries for criminology graduates in Kenya range from KES 40,000–65,000/month depending on the role and organisation, with higher earnings in international organisations and private security firms. The programme suits students interested in understanding and addressing crime and criminal behaviour.

Skills RequiredCriminological Theory and AnalysisCrime Data AnalysisCriminal Justice System KnowledgeResearch Methods in CriminologyCrime Prevention StrategiesVictimology and Victim SupportPenology and CorrectionsJuvenile JusticePolicy AnalysisForensic CriminologyKey SubjectsCriminological TheoryCriminal LawSociology of CrimePsychology of CrimeCriminal Justice SystemsPenologyVictimologyResearch MethodsCrime PreventionJuvenile JusticeCertificationsKenya Security Professionals Society MembershipInternational Association of Crime Analysts MembershipAmerican Society of Criminology MembershipSpecializationsSociological CriminologyFocus on social causes of crime — covering sociological theories of crime, social structure and crime, neighbourhood effects, social disorganisation, and the social determinants of criminal behaviour. Psychological CriminologyFocus on psychological aspects of crime — covering psychological theories of crime, personality and crime, mental health and criminal behaviour, and the psychological assessment of offenders.

Penology and CorrectionsFocus on punishment and correctional systems — covering penological theory, prison systems, offender rehabilitation, alternatives to imprisonment, and the effectiveness of correctional interventions.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 157,695
Job market: High

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

10 subjects

Criminological Theory
Criminal Law
Sociology of Crime
Psychology of Crime
Criminal Justice Systems
Penology
Victimology
Research Methods
Crime Prevention
Juvenile Justice

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Criminology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational introduction to criminology — covering the concept of crime, the history of criminology, major theoretical perspectives, the measurement of crime, and the relationship between criminol...
Criminal Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Criminal law principles — covering the definition of crime, elements of criminal offences, criminal responsibility, defences, and the legal framework for criminal justice in Kenya.
Psychology of Crime
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological aspects of criminal behaviour — covering psychological theories of crime, personality and crime, mental health and criminal behaviour, and the psychological assessment of offenders.
Sociology of Crime
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social causes of crime — covering sociological theories of crime, social structure and crime, social disorganisation, strain theory, subcultural theory, and the social determinants of criminal beha...
Criminal Justice Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
The criminal justice system — covering the police, courts, and corrections, the flow of cases through the system, criminal justice processes, and the structure and function of criminal justice inst...
Research Methods in Criminology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methodology for criminology — covering quantitative and qualitative research, crime data analysis, survey design, and the application of research methods to the study of crime and criminal...
Penology and Corrections
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Punishment and correctional systems — covering penological theory, prison systems, offender rehabilitation, alternatives to imprisonment, and the effectiveness of correctional interventions.
Victimology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Victims of crime — covering victimology theory, victimisation patterns, victim support services, victim rights, and the treatment and support of crime victims within the justice system.
Crime Prevention
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Preventing crime — covering crime prevention theory, situational crime prevention, community crime prevention, CPTED, and the design and evaluation of crime prevention programmes.
Juvenile Justice
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Youth crime and justice — covering juvenile delinquency, youth justice systems, rehabilitation of young offenders, diversion programmes, and the treatment of juvenile offenders in the justice system.
Forensic Criminology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Forensic applications of criminology — covering forensic science, crime scene analysis, criminal profiling, evidence analysis, and the application of forensic methods to crime investigation and ana...
Research Project or Internship
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project or criminology internship — demonstrating mastery of criminological theory and research through original research or a structured internship in a criminal justice setting.

Specialisations

Sociological Criminology
Focus on social causes of crime — covering sociological theories of crime, social structure and crime, neighbourhood effects, social disorganisation, and the social determinants of criminal behaviour.
Psychological Criminology
Focus on psychological aspects of crime — covering psychological theories of crime, personality and crime, mental health and criminal behaviour, and the psychological assessment of offenders.
Penology and Corrections
Focus on punishment and correctional systems — covering penological theory, prison systems, offender rehabilitation, alternatives to imprisonment, and the effectiveness of correctional interventions.
Victimology and Victim Support
Focus on victims of crime — covering victimology theory, victimisation patterns, victim support services, victim rights, and the treatment and support of crime victims within the justice system.
Crime Prevention and Community Safety
Focus on preventing crime — covering crime prevention theory, situational crime prevention, community crime prevention, CPTED, and the design and evaluation of crime prevention programmes.
Juvenile Justice and Youth Crime
Focus on youth crime and justice — covering juvenile delinquency, youth justice systems, rehabilitation of young offenders, diversion programmes, and the treatment of juvenile offenders in the justice system.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on criminological theory, criminal law, or sociology of crime with afternoon seminars, case studies, and research projects. Students engage in crime data analysis, research projects, criminal justice policy analysis, and group discussions on contemporary crime issues. Field attachments in law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, or research institutions provide hands-on experience, with students conducting crime analysis, research, and policy assessment. Research papers and case studies are regular assignments.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for crime analysis — increasing focus on evidence-based crime policy and security management creates demand for trained criminologists in government, NGOs, and the private sector.
Multiple university options — the programme is offered at several CUE-accredited universities, giving students choice in cost and location.
Interdisciplinary programme — the programme draws from sociology, psychology, law, and public policy, providing graduates with versatile analytical skills.
Research-oriented — the programme develops strong research and analytical skills that are valuable in many fields beyond criminal justice.

Against it

Some positions require additional training — law enforcement and corrections positions may require additional professional training beyond the degree.
Emotionally demanding field — working with crime data, victims, and offenders can be emotionally challenging and requires resilience.
Variable programme quality — quality varies across universities, with some having better research facilities and industry connections than others.

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

Private158k to 158k

158k at KCA University158k at KCA 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

KCA fee schedule 2025: ~158K/yr self-sponsored (3 trimesters). Zetech unverified for BA Criminology

Students can access HELB loans, university internal scholarships, and county government bursaries. Some research institutions and security organisations offer sponsorships for criminology students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
University Scholarships and Bursaries
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited university programmes.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Education Assistance Programme
BursaryKenyan
Children of deceased or distressed advocates and law students in need
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Bursaries provided by county governments for needy students from their respective counties.
University Internal Bursaries
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
Merit-based and need-based scholarships offered by individual universities, applied through the financial aid office.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with a pass in English, or KACE with two principal passes and a subsidiary in liberal arts, or Diploma in a relevant course from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Written tests covering criminological theory, criminal law, sociology of crime, and research methods — assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.
Research Projects and Case Studies
Coursework30% of the mark
Crime analysis projects, research papers, case studies, policy briefs, and data analysis exercises — assessed through portfolio review and research output evaluation.
Field Attachment Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Reports from field attachments in law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, or research institutions — documenting practical experience and professional reflection.
Final Examinations and Research Project
Examination25% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project demonstrating mastery of criminological theory, research methods, and analytical skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) at multiple public and private universities including Maseno University, Kibabii University, Masinde Muliro University, Tom Mboya University, and KCA University.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology is CUE-accredited at Maseno University, Kibabii University, Masinde Muliro University, Tom Mboya University, and KCA University.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Crime Analyst
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 70,000
Analyses crime data and patterns — covering crime mapping, statistical analysis, trend identification, and the production of crime analysis reports for law enforcement agencies and security organisations.
Probation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 60,000
Supervises offenders in the community — covering probation supervision, offender assessment, rehabilitation planning, and the monitoring and support of probationers.
Correctional Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages offenders in correctional facilities — covering prison management, offender rehabilitation, security management, and the treatment and management of offenders.
Researcher / Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 70,000
Conducts research and analyses policy on crime — covering crime research, policy analysis, programme evaluation, and the production of research reports and policy briefs for government and research institutions.
Security Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 80,000
Provides security consultancy — covering crime risk assessment, security planning, crime prevention advisory, and security training for private firms and NGOs.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as criminologists, crime analysts, law enforcement officers, probation officers, correctional officers, and policy analysts — in law enforcement agencies, correctional services, research institutions, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary
Productivity tools including Word for research papers and policy briefs, Excel for crime data analysis, and PowerPoint for research presentations and stakeholder briefings.
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for criminology research — covering crime data analysis, victimisation survey data, statistical modelling, and research statistics.
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
Software
Mapping software for crime analysis — covering crime mapping, hotspot analysis, spatial analysis of crime patterns, and the visualisation of crime data.
R (Statistical Programming)
Software
Statistical programming language for advanced crime analysis — covering statistical modelling, data visualisation, and the analysis of complex crime data sets.
University Library and Research Databases
Resource
University library resources — providing access to criminology journals, criminal justice research databases, crime statistics, and case study materials.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Criminology is just about catching criminals.
Criminology studies the causes of crime, its social impact, prevention strategies, victim experiences, and the criminal justice system — it is a social science, not a law enforcement training programme.
Criminology graduates become police officers.
While some graduates join law enforcement, criminology graduates also work as crime analysts, researchers, policy analysts, probation officers, correctional officers, and consultants in diverse organisations.
Criminology is the same as Criminal Justice.
Criminology focuses on the study of crime — its causes, patterns, and prevention — while Criminal Justice focuses on the system that responds to crime (police, courts, corrections). They are related but distinct fields.
There are no jobs in criminology in Kenya.
Growing security challenges, the expansion of the criminal justice system, and demand for evidence-based crime policy create opportunities for criminology graduates in government, NGOs, and the private sector.
Criminology is not academically rigorous.
The programme involves sociological theory, psychological theory, research methods, statistics, law, and policy analysis — it is a demanding interdisciplinary social science degree.