Environmental Science

Bachelor of Arts in Disaster Management

This Bachelor's programme prepares students for professional careers in disaster management. It develops expertise in disaster risk reduction, emergency response, disaster preparedness, humanitarian aid, and disaster recovery while building comprehensive skills for managing disasters and emergencies effectively.

Students analyse disaster risks, design disaster management strategies, implement emergency response techniques, evaluate disaster preparedness, conduct disaster research, apply humanitarian principles, manage disaster projects, and develop sustainable disaster management practices. They also strengthen analytical thinking, disaster management skills, communication, teamwork, and humanitarian abilities.

Kenya requires disaster management to support disaster risk reduction, enhance emergency response, and promote community resilience, creating demand for professionals who can work in disaster management, emergency services, humanitarian organizations, and support the government and NGO sectors.

The programme combines coursework, disaster simulations, fieldwork, research projects, and emergency response training. Students gain hands-on experience through disaster management practice, emergency simulations, and humanitarian response.

Graduates pursue careers as disaster management officers, emergency response coordinators, humanitarian aid workers, risk management specialists, and disaster recovery consultants across government agencies, humanitarian organizations, emergency services, and NGOs.

The programme is ideal for students interested in disaster management, emergency response, humanitarian aid, risk reduction, and community resilience.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 153,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Disaster Management
Disaster Risk Reduction
Emergency Response
Disaster Preparedness
Humanitarian Aid
Disaster Recovery

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Comprehensive introduction to disaster management, covering disaster concepts, disaster types, and approaches to disaster management.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of disaster risk reduction, covering risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, hazard identification, and risk mitigation strategies.
Emergency Response
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Examination of emergency response, covering emergency operations, response coordination, search and rescue, and emergency services.
Disaster Preparedness
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of disaster preparedness, covering early warning systems, contingency planning, community preparedness, and readiness strategies.
Humanitarian Aid
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of humanitarian aid, covering humanitarian principles, relief operations, refugee assistance, and humanitarian coordination.
Disaster Recovery
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of disaster recovery skills, covering post-disaster recovery, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recovery planning.
Climate Change and Disasters
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of climate change impacts on disasters, covering climate-related disasters, adaptation strategies, and climate resilience.
Disaster Law and Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of disaster law, covering disaster legislation, policy frameworks, international conventions, and legal frameworks for disaster management.
GIS in Disaster Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of geographic information systems, covering mapping, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and GIS applications in disaster management.
Community-Based Disaster Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of community-based approaches, covering participatory disaster management, community engagement, and local disaster risk reduction.
Disaster Management Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical disaster work where students apply learned skills in disaster simulations, emergency response, and humanitarian practice.
Disaster Management Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project on disaster management topic, demonstrating mastery of disaster management theory and practice.

Specialisations

Emergency Response
Focus on emergency operations, response coordination, and search and rescue for emergency response careers.
Risk Reduction
Focus on risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and risk mitigation strategies. 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.
Humanitarian Aid
Specialization in humanitarian principles, relief operations, and refugee assistance. 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.
General Practice
Broad foundational knowledge covering core principles and practices in the field. 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

Students attend lectures, conduct disaster simulations, participate in fieldwork, and engage in emergency response practice.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for disaster management professionals due to increasing climate-related disasters and emergencies.
Opportunity to make meaningful impact by saving lives and supporting communities in crisis.
Disaster simulations and fieldwork provide hands-on experience with emergency response and humanitarian practice.

Against it

Disaster management work can be stressful and emotionally demanding due to exposure to crises and emergencies.
Disaster work often involves irregular hours and deployment to disaster-affected areas.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public153k to 153k

153k at Masinde Muliro University153k at Maseno 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

MMUST/Maseno 153K/yr. Private: unverified. Src: educationnewshub BA fees 2026-2027

HELB loans available for eligible students. Some universities offer scholarships based on academic performance.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

3 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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Disaster Management, Environmental Science, Geography, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

English/Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics/Physics
C+
Geography
C+
Any Group II subject
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, and disaster management exercises throughout the semester evaluating disaster knowledge and practical skills.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research project on disaster management topic, demonstrating mastery of disaster management theory and practice.
Simulation Assessments
Practicum100% of the mark
Evaluation of disaster response skills, emergency operations, and practical applications through disaster simulations and fieldwork.
End of Semester Examinations
Exam70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester testing understanding of disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and humanitarian aid.

Accreditation

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Emergency Response Coordinator
High demandKsh 52,000 to Ksh 115,000
Coordinate emergency response, manage emergency operations, and support disaster response and emergency services.
Disaster Management Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manage disaster operations, develop disaster strategies, and coordinate disaster response and recovery activities.
Humanitarian Aid Worker
High demandKsh 48,000 to Ksh 105,000
Provide humanitarian assistance, coordinate relief operations, and support humanitarian organizations and refugee assistance.
Risk Management Specialist
Medium demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 120,000
Assess disaster risks, develop risk reduction strategies, and support disaster risk management and mitigation.
Disaster Recovery Consultant
Medium demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Provide disaster recovery expertise, consult on post-disaster recovery, and support reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in disaster management across Kenya's government, humanitarian, and emergency response sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ChatGPT / Claude
Ai
Google Workspace
Cloud
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Power BI
AnalyticsPrimary
QuickBooks
Accounting
SAP
Enterprise