Education

Bachelor of Education (Fine Art)

The Bachelor of Education (Fine Art) is a four-year degree programme offered at Kenyatta University that prepares graduates to teach fine art and design in secondary schools.

The curriculum covers drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, art history, art education methodology, educational psychology, curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, educational foundations, research methods, and educational technology.

Students develop skills in art instruction, lesson planning for creative subjects, classroom management, student assessment in practical subjects, curriculum design, educational leadership, portfolio development, creative expression, and research methodology.

Graduates pursue careers as fine art teachers, art and design teachers, creative arts educators, education officers, school administrators, and education consultants. They find employment in public and private secondary schools, technical training institutions, art colleges, and educational NGOs.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University (public, KES 183,600 per year, KUCCPS code 1111569) in Nairobi. Kenyatta University is a CUE-accredited public university with a dedicated Department of Fine Art and Design.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The programme combines creative artistic development with professional teaching qualifications.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 263,000
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Drawing and Painting
Sculpture and Ceramics
Printmaking
Graphic Design
Art History
Art Education Methodology
Educational Psychology
Curriculum Development
Assessment and Evaluation
Research Methods in Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of education in Kenya and globally.
Drawing and Painting Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic drawing and painting techniques, materials, and processes for art education.
Art History and Appreciation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Historical development of art from prehistoric to contemporary, with focus on African and Kenyan art.
Teaching Methodology for Art and Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching art and design, including studio-based and demonstration approaches.
Sculpture and Ceramics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Three-dimensional art techniques, sculpture processes, and ceramics for secondary school art education.
Printmaking and Graphic Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Printmaking techniques, graphic design principles, and digital art for art education.
Curriculum Development and Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum design, the Kenyan art and design curriculum, and practical assessment methods.
Educational Psychology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of learning, adolescent development, creativity development, and classroom behaviour management.
Textile Art and Fashion Design
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Textile techniques, fashion design principles, and decorative arts for secondary school teaching.
Research Methods in Education
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, data collection, and analysis methods applied to art education research.
Educational Leadership and Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
School administration, leadership theories, education policy, and institutional management.
Teaching Practice and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice at a secondary school and a final-year art education research project.

Specialisations

Painting and Drawing Education
Focus on teaching painting, drawing, and two-dimensional art techniques in secondary schools. 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.
Sculpture and Ceramics Education
Focus on teaching three-dimensional art, sculpture, and ceramics in secondary schools. 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.
Graphic Design Education
Focus on teaching graphic design, digital art, and visual communication in secondary schools. 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.
Art History Education
Focus on teaching art history, appreciation, and criticism in secondary schools. 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.
Printmaking Education
Focus on teaching printmaking techniques and processes in secondary schools. 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.
Textile and Fashion Art Education
Focus on teaching textile art, fashion design, and decorative arts in secondary schools. 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

A typical day combines studio art sessions, art history lectures, and teaching methodology workshops. Morning sessions cover drawing, painting, sculpture, and design fundamentals in the studio, while afternoons focus on art education pedagogy, micro-teaching, and lesson planning. Students participate in teaching practice at partner secondary schools, developing practical skills for art education. The programme emphasises both creative artistic development and pedagogical competence for teaching art in schools.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines creative artistic development with professional teaching qualifications.
Kenyatta University has a dedicated Department of Fine Art and Design with experienced faculty and studios.
TSC employment provides competitive salary, allowances, and pension benefits.
Art and design is a KCSE examination subject with demand for qualified teachers.

Against it

Only offered at Kenyatta University, limiting geographic choice.
Requires a portfolio or C in Art and Design, which not all KCSE candidates have.
Art teaching positions in secondary schools may be limited compared to core subjects.
Studio materials and supplies may require additional costs beyond tuition.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public184k to 263k

184k at Kenyatta University263k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 243k

105k at Mount Kenya University243k at Daystar 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

KU 183.6K; UoN 263K/yr. MKU 105K; Daystar 242.8K/yr. Src: KUCCPS, UoN fee structure, Elimu

HELB loans and Higher Education Fund (HEF) support are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries may also be available.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate 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
Government bursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE C+ without Art and Design: a portfolio of artworks must be presented before a Department selection panel for interview and assessment; OR KCSE C (Plain) with a Diploma in Art and Design from a recognised institution; OR KCSE C (Plain) with P1, S1, or Diploma in Education with proven experience in Art and Design and a portfolio assessment.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, studio projects, portfolio assessments, and micro-teaching evaluations throughout the semester.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice at partner secondary schools with assessment of classroom and studio performance.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written and practical examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Research Project and Portfolio
Project100% of the mark
A final-year art education research project and a comprehensive portfolio of creative work.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Fine Art Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Teaches fine art, drawing, and painting in secondary schools, preparing students for KCSE art and design.
Art and Design Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Teaches art and design, including graphic design and digital art, in secondary schools.
Creative Arts Educator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 160,000
Teaches creative arts in schools, colleges, and community art programmes.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Works in government education offices supporting art education policy and implementation.
Art College Instructor
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches art and design at technical training institutions and art colleges.
Curriculum Developer (Art)
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs and evaluates art and design curricula at KICD or educational institutions.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as fine art and design teachers in secondary schools. Demand is moderate with art and design being a specialised KCSE subject.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Creative Suite
Design softwarePrimary
Industry-standard design tools including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for digital art education.
Google Classroom
Learning managementPrimary
Learning management platform for organising classes, assignments, and student communication.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation
Presentation tool for lesson delivery, art history slides, and visual aids.
Canva
Design
Online design tool for creating educational materials and teaching graphic design fundamentals.
Procreate
Digital art
Digital art application for teaching digital painting and illustration techniques.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fine art education has no career prospects.
Graduates are qualified TSC-registered teachers with employment opportunities in secondary schools, art colleges, and the creative industry.
You need to be a talented artist to enrol.
While a portfolio or C in Art and Design is required, the programme teaches artistic skills systematically alongside pedagogical techniques.
Art teaching is not a serious profession.
Art and design is a KCSE examination subject, and qualified art teachers are in demand in secondary schools across Kenya.
Only offered at Kenyatta University, so it must be limited.
Kenyatta University has a dedicated Department of Fine Art and Design with experienced faculty and well-equipped studios.