Education

Bachelor of Arts in Education (Secondary Option)

The Bachelor of Arts in Education (Secondary Option) is a four-year degree programme that prepares graduates to teach arts-based subjects at secondary school level.

The curriculum covers two teaching subjects chosen from English, Kiswahili, History, Geography, Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education, Business Studies, Mathematics, and Computer Studies, alongside education courses including educational psychology, philosophy of education, curriculum development, teaching methodology, educational measurement and evaluation, and sociology of.

Students develop competencies in subject content mastery, pedagogical skills, lesson planning, classroom management, educational assessment, and curriculum implementation. The programme includes micro-teaching sessions and a twelve-week teaching practice attachment in a secondary school, providing hands-on classroom experience.

Graduates pursue careers primarily as secondary school teachers, employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) or private schools. They also find opportunities in educational administration, curriculum development, publishing, and training roles in corporate and non-governmental organisations.

The programme is offered at Mount Kenya University, Laikipia University, Chuka University, Africa Nazarene University, and other institutions.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring all programmes meet national quality standards. The Teachers Service Commission recognises graduates for employment in public secondary schools. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with a minimum of C+ in two teaching subjects.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 283,135
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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

Educational Psychology
Philosophy of Education
Curriculum Development
General Methods of Teaching
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Sociology of Education
Special Methods in Teaching Subject
History of Education
Educational Research
Teaching Practice

Modules

12 in the programme

Philosophy of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Philosophical foundations of education, including major schools of thought and their implications for educational practice.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Academic communication skills including essay writing, presentation skills, and academic discourse.
General Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of human learning and development, motivation, and their application to classroom teaching and learning.
General Methods of Teaching
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and methods of teaching, including lesson planning, instructional strategies, and classroom management.
History of Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Historical development of education from ancient to modern times, with emphasis on African and Kenyan education systems.
Educational Media and Resources
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Design, selection, and use of instructional media and resources for effective teaching, including technology integration.
Special Methods in Teaching Subject
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Subject-specific teaching methodology for the student's chosen teaching subjects, including approaches to teaching and assessment.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles and methods of educational assessment, including test construction, marking, and interpretation of results.
Teaching Practice
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Twelve-week supervised teaching practice in a secondary school, applying pedagogical theory to real classroom teaching across two subjects.
Curriculum Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum design, development, implementation, and evaluation in the Kenyan education system.
Educational Research
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods in education, including research design, data collection, analysis, and report writing.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Independent research project on an aspect of education or teaching subject area, culminating in a written dissertation.

Specialisations

English and Literature
Teaching English language and literature at secondary school level, covering grammar, comprehension, literary analysis, and composition writing.
History and Geography
Teaching History and Government alongside Geography, covering historical analysis, geographical concepts, and their interconnections.
Kiswahili and Religious Studies
Teaching Kiswahili language alongside Christian or Islamic Religious Education at secondary school level.
Educational Psychology
Study of human learning and development, including theories of learning, motivation, and their application to classroom teaching.
Curriculum and Instruction
Principles of curriculum design, development, and implementation, with focus on subject-specific teaching methodology.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Methods of assessing student learning, constructing tests, and evaluating educational outcomes across teaching subjects.

A day as a student

A typical day combines teaching subject lectures with education courses on methodology and psychology. Morning sessions may cover subject content such as English literature, historical analysis, or geographical concepts, while afternoons focus on educational psychology, curriculum studies, or micro-teaching practice. Teaching practice attachment in a secondary school provides twelve weeks of hands-on classroom teaching experience, applying pedagogical theory to real students across two teaching subjects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Flexible subject combinations allow students to tailor their teaching qualifications to their strengths and career interests.
Offered at both public and private universities with multiple study modes including full-time, part-time, and school-based.
Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and employment in public schools, providing a clear career pathway with pension benefits.
Arts subjects are compulsory in the Kenyan secondary curriculum, ensuring consistent demand for qualified teachers.

Against it

Teaching salaries in Kenya, particularly for entry-level teachers, are modest compared to careers in finance or technology.
Teaching practice attachment requires twelve weeks away from campus, which can be logistically challenging for some students.
Career advancement may require additional qualifications such as a Master's degree for promotion to senior or administrative roles.
Some private university education degrees may have lower employer recognition compared to established public universities.

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 283k

184k at Kenyatta University283k at Kisii University

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 183,600/yr; Kisii 283,135/yr; MKU 105,000/yr; Daystar 242,800/yr. Src: educationnewshub.co.ke

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS placement. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Employed teachers may access study leave with pay through the Teachers Service Commission. Universities also offer internal bursaries for financially needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
Teachers Service Commission Study Leave
University Internal Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need. Application through the respective university financial aid office.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points and are placed in the programme through the central placement system.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities through KUCCPS or self-sponsored. Must demonstrate financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary; OR a Diploma in Education from a recognised institution; OR a P1 certificate with at least two years of teaching experience and a mean grade of C in KCSE.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, assignments, and micro-teaching assessments conducted during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination60% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester covering both teaching subject content and education courses.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Supervised assessment of classroom teaching during the twelve-week teaching practice attachment in a secondary school.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Final-year independent research project on an aspect of education, culminating in a written dissertation.

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) for employment in public secondary schools.

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.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Professional registrationRequired
TSC is the government body responsible for registering and employing teachers in Kenyan public schools. Graduates must register with TSC to be employed as teachers.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Secondary School Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000
Teaches two arts subjects at secondary school level, preparing students for KCSE examinations.
School Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manages school operations as head of department, deputy principal, or principal in secondary schools.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 100,000
Develops and reviews curriculum materials for educational publishers or curriculum development organisations.
Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 95,000
Provides advisory services to schools, educational institutions, or organisations on educational practices and policies.
Teacher Trainer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 120,000
Trains pre-service or in-service teachers at teacher training colleges or universities.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 95,000
Works in county or national education offices, supporting education policy implementation and school supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are employed as secondary school teachers by the Teachers Service Commission and private schools. Demand for arts teachers remains steady, with particular need for English, Kiswahili, and combination subjects.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets for lesson preparation and educational administration.
Google Classroom
Learning managementPrimary
Online learning platform for managing assignments, sharing resources, and communicating with students.
Zoom
Video conferencing
Video conferencing platform for online teaching, meetings, and remote learning sessions.
Canva
Design
Design tool for creating visual teaching aids, presentations, and educational materials.
Khan Academy
Educational resource
Free online educational platform with instructional videos and practice exercises across multiple subjects.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

An arts education degree limits you to teaching only.
While teaching is the primary career path, graduates also work in educational administration, curriculum development, publishing, research, and corporate training.
The secondary option is less rigorous than the primary option.
The secondary option requires deeper subject content mastery in two teaching subjects, preparing graduates for the demands of secondary school curriculum and KCSE examination preparation.
Arts teachers have fewer job opportunities than science teachers.
Arts subjects like English, Kiswahili, and History are compulsory in the Kenyan secondary curriculum, creating consistent demand for qualified arts teachers.
This programme is only for students who could not qualify for other degrees.
Education programmes require C+ grades in specific subjects, and teaching is a respected profession requiring dedication, skill, and continuous professional development.