Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice is a four-year degree programme that combines the study of crime and its causes with the analysis of the criminal justice system. Students study criminological theory, criminal law, criminal justice systems, sociology of crime, psychology of crime, penology, victimology, research methods, crime prevention, juvenile justice, policing, and corrections.

The programme is offered at multiple CUE-accredited public universities including Kibabii University, Kaimosi Friends University, and Turkana University College. Graduates pursue careers as criminologists, crime analysts, law enforcement officers, probation officers, correctional officers, policy analysts, researchers, and security consultants.

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

Entry-level salaries for criminology and criminal justice 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 crime and working within the criminal justice system.

Skills RequiredCriminological Theory and AnalysisCriminal Justice System KnowledgeCrime Data AnalysisResearch Methods in CriminologyLaw Enforcement ProceduresCorrections and PenologyVictimology and Victim SupportCrime Prevention StrategiesPolicy AnalysisEthics in Criminal JusticeKey SubjectsCriminological TheoryCriminal LawCriminal Justice SystemsSociology of CrimePsychology of CrimePenologyVictimologyResearch MethodsCrime PreventionJuvenile JusticeCertificationsKenya Security Professionals Society MembershipInternational Association of Crime Analysts MembershipAmerican Society of Criminology MembershipSpecializationsCriminological Theory and ResearchFocus on the study of crime — covering criminological theories, crime causation, crime patterns, research methods, and the scientific study of criminal behaviour and its causes. Policing and Law EnforcementFocus on law enforcement practice — covering policing strategies, criminal investigation, community policing, police administration, and the structures and procedures of law enforcement agencies.

Corrections and RehabilitationFocus on correctional systems — covering penology, prison management, offender rehabilitation, probation and parole, and the treatment and management of offenders in the correctional system.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 295,300
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

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

Modules

12 in the programme

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.
Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational introduction to criminology and criminal justice — covering concepts of crime, criminological perspectives, the criminal justice system, its components, and the relationship between cr...
Theories of Crime
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Criminological theories — covering classical, positivist, sociological, psychological, and biological theories of crime, and their application to understanding criminal behaviour.
Criminal Justice System
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
The criminal justice system in Kenya — covering the police, courts, and corrections, the flow of cases through the system, and the structure and function of criminal justice institutions.
Policing and Law Enforcement
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Law enforcement theory and practice — covering policing strategies, criminal investigation, community policing, police administration, and the role of police in the criminal justice system.
Research Methods in Criminology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methodology for criminology and criminal justice — covering quantitative and qualitative research, crime data analysis, survey design, and the application of research methods.
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 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, 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.
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Professional ethics in criminal justice — covering ethical principles, police ethics, use of force, human rights in criminal justice, and the ethical challenges faced by criminal justice profession...
Research Project or Internship
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project or criminal justice internship — demonstrating mastery of criminology and criminal justice theory and practice through original research or a structured internship.

Specialisations

Criminological Theory and Research
Focus on the study of crime — covering criminological theories, crime causation, crime patterns, research methods, and the scientific study of criminal behaviour and its causes.
Policing and Law Enforcement
Focus on law enforcement practice — covering policing strategies, criminal investigation, community policing, police administration, and the structures and procedures of law enforcement agencies.
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Focus on correctional systems — covering penology, prison management, offender rehabilitation, probation and parole, and the treatment and management of offenders in the correctional system.
Victimology and Victim Services
Focus on victims of crime — covering victimology theory, victimisation patterns, victim support services, victim rights, and the treatment 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, 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, and the treatment of juvenile offenders.

A day as a student

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

The trade offs

In its favour

Comprehensive programme — combines criminology (study of crime) with criminal justice (the justice system), providing graduates with a broader skill set than either field alone.
Growing demand — increasing focus on evidence-based crime policy and security management creates demand for trained criminology and criminal justice professionals.
Multiple university options — the programme is offered at several CUE-accredited public universities, giving students choice in location.
Research-oriented — the programme develops strong research and analytical skills valuable in many fields beyond criminal justice.

Against it

Public university only — the programme is offered only at public universities, which may have limited capacity and competitive admission.
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.

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 Karatina University189k at University of Nairobi

Private158k to 295k

158k at KCA University295k at USIU-Africa

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+fee schedules: Karatina 153K, KCA 158K, USIU 295K/yr

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

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 at least C+ 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, criminal justice systems, 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 criminology and criminal justice theory, research methods, and analytical skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) at Kibabii University, Kaimosi Friends University, and Turkana University College.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice is CUE-accredited at Kibabii University, Kaimosi Friends University, and Turkana University College.

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.
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 of offenders.
Law Enforcement Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 65,000
Serves in law enforcement agencies — covering policing, criminal investigation, community policing, and law enforcement administration.
Researcher / Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 70,000
Conducts research and analyses policy on crime and justice — covering crime research, policy analysis, programme evaluation, and the production of research reports and policy briefs.

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.
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for criminology research — covering crime data analysis, victimisation survey data, and research statistics.
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
Software
Mapping software for crime analysis — covering crime mapping, hotspot analysis, and spatial analysis of crime patterns.
R (Statistical Programming)
Software
Statistical programming language for advanced crime analysis — covering statistical modelling, data visualisation, and analysis of complex crime data.
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 and Criminal Justice is just about policing.
The programme covers criminological theory, criminal law, corrections, victimology, crime prevention, juvenile justice, and research methods — it addresses the entire criminal justice system and the study of crime.
Graduates can only work as police officers.
Graduates work as crime analysts, probation officers, correctional officers, researchers, policy analysts, and security consultants in diverse organisations across the public and private sectors.
Criminology and Criminal Justice is the same as Criminology.
This programme combines the study of crime (criminology) with the study of the justice system (criminal justice), providing a broader perspective than either field alone.
There are no jobs in criminology and criminal justice in Kenya.
Growing security challenges, the expansion of the criminal justice system, and demand for evidence-based crime policy create opportunities for graduates in government, NGOs, and the private sector.
The programme 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.