Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Development Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Development Studies is a four-year degree programme designed to articulate gender and development issues in a changing political, socio-economic and cultural environment.

The curriculum covers introduction to gender studies, cultural anthropology, gender and culture, women in the developing world, gender mainstreaming, gender analysis in cross-cultural perspectives, gender division of labour, gender and development theory, social movements and resistance, gender and family, gender and communication, gender agriculture and food security, gender poverty and sustainable.

Students develop competencies in gender analysis, policy formulation, research methods, advocacy, project management, and community development. The programme combines theoretical study with practical application, including fieldwork, community engagement, and an industrial attachment.

Graduates pursue careers as gender officers, development workers, policy analysts, programme coordinators, researchers, advocacy officers, social workers, and community development officers. They find employment in NGOs, government ministries, international organisations, community-based organisations, and research institutions.

The programme is offered at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Kisii University, South Eastern Kenya University, Machakos University, and Egerton University.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with cluster subjects including English or Kiswahili, Mathematics, and humanities subjects, following the KUCCPS cluster 3 requirements for social sciences.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 175,950
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

Introduction to Gender Studies
Cultural Anthropology
Gender and Development Theory
Gender Mainstreaming
Gender and Culture
Women in the Developing World
Gender Statistics
Gender and Governance
Gender and Human Rights
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Gender Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts and theories in gender studies, including sex and gender distinctions, gender roles, and social construction of gender.
Cultural Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of human cultures and societies, providing frameworks for understanding gender in cross-cultural contexts.
Gender and Culture
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examination of how cultural practices and beliefs shape gender relations and roles across different societies.
Women in the Developing World
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of women's experiences in developing countries, including economic, social, political, and cultural dimensions.
Gender and Development Theory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theoretical frameworks linking gender and development, including Women in Development (WID) and Gender and Development (GAD) approaches.
Gender Mainstreaming
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategies and tools for integrating gender perspectives into policies, programmes, and institutional practices.
Gender Statistics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Collection, analysis, and interpretation of sex-disaggregated data for gender-responsive planning and monitoring.
Gender, Poverty and Sustainable Livelihoods
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Gender dimensions of poverty, livelihood strategies, and economic empowerment approaches in developing contexts.
Gender and Governance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender issues in governance, political participation, leadership, and democratic processes.
Industrial Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Practical attachment in an NGO, government department, or international organisation working on gender and development issues.
Gender and Human Rights
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Human rights frameworks for gender equality, including women's rights, gender-based violence, and legal protections.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a gender and development topic, involving field research and a written dissertation.

Specialisations

Gender and Policy Analysis
Analysis of gender-responsive policies, legislative frameworks, and governance structures promoting gender equity.
Gender and Development Theory
Theoretical frameworks for understanding gender relations in development contexts, including feminist theory and development paradigms.
Gender Mainstreaming
Strategies and tools for integrating gender perspectives into development policies, programmes, and institutional practices.
Gender, Poverty and Livelihoods
Study of gender dimensions of poverty, sustainable livelihoods, and economic empowerment strategies.
Gender and Governance
Gender issues in governance, political participation, leadership, and democratic processes. 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.
Gender and Human Rights
Gender-based violence, women's rights, human rights frameworks, and legal protections for gender equity.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theoretical study with practical analysis. Morning sessions cover gender theory, development theory, or research methods, while afternoons focus on seminars, group discussions, case studies, and fieldwork. Students analyse policies, conduct community assessments, and design gender-responsive interventions. Guest lectures from NGO practitioners and government officials provide real-world insights. The industrial attachment offers hands-on experience in a gender-focused organisation.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's constitution requires two-thirds gender representation, creating strong policy demand for gender specialists.
Programme is offered at six universities, providing wide institutional choice across Kenya.
Diverse career paths in NGOs, government, international organisations, and community development.
Programme combines theoretical rigour with practical skills in gender analysis, research, and policy formulation.

Against it

Many gender-focused roles are in the NGO sector, which can be vulnerable to funding fluctuations.
Entry-level positions may require additional qualifications or experience in project management or monitoring and evaluation.
Some employers may undervalue gender studies qualifications compared to more traditional social science degrees.
Fieldwork and community engagement can be challenging, requiring travel to remote areas and sensitive topic discussions.

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 176k

153k at Kenyatta University176k at University of Nairobi

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 153,000/yr; UoN 175,950/yr (KUCCPS prog 1263302). No private univ verified. Src: mawese, campus.co.ke

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Some international organisations offer internship stipends and scholarships for gender studies students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University Internal Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
NGAAF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Women, youth and persons with disabilities from vulnerable backgrounds
University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need.
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 subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points.

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; OR a Diploma in Gender Studies, Social Work, Community Development, or a related field from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the University Senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written assignments, essays, presentations, group discussions, and class participation during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering gender theory, development studies, and research methods.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment performance in a gender-focused organisation, including supervisor evaluation and report.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project involving field research, data analysis, and a written dissertation on a gender and development topic.

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.

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

Gender Officer
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 120,000
Designs and implements gender-responsive programmes and policies in NGOs, government, or international organisations.
Programme Coordinator
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Coordinates development programmes with gender components, managing implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Analyses and develops gender-responsive policies for government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Conducts research on gender and development topics for academic institutions, NGOs, or research organisations.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Works with communities to implement gender-responsive development initiatives and programmes.
Advocacy Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 110,000
Advocates for gender equality and women's rights through campaigns, policy engagement, and public awareness.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as gender officers, development workers, policy analysts, and programme coordinators in NGOs, government, and international organisations. Demand is high due to Kenya's constitutional gender requirements and global development agendas.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for gender statistics and social research data analysis.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Spreadsheet software for data management, analysis, and reporting in development projects.
NVivo
Qualitative research
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interviews, focus groups, and text data.
Google Workspace
Productivity
Cloud-based productivity tools for collaboration, document sharing, and project coordination.
KoboToolbox
Data collection
Open-source data collection tool widely used in development research for field surveys.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Gender studies is only about women's issues.
The programme examines gender as a social system affecting all genders, including masculinity studies, men's roles in gender equality, and intersectional analysis.
A gender studies degree has limited career prospects.
Kenya's constitution requires two-thirds gender representation, and NGOs, government, and international organisations actively recruit gender specialists.
Gender and development studies is just common sense.
The programme involves rigorous theoretical frameworks, research methods, statistical analysis, and policy analysis skills grounded in social science methodologies.
Gender studies is only for women.
The programme is open to all genders, and male graduates are increasingly sought after as gender mainstreaming requires engagement from all members of society.