Arts & Humanities

Bachelor of Arts in History

The Bachelor of Arts in History is a four-year degree programme that exposes students to a wide variety of historical knowledge, enabling them to understand the nature and importance of history.

The curriculum covers surveys of world history, general histories of Africa, Kenya, Europe, Latin America, Asia, the United States of America, and developing nations.

Students develop competencies in historical research, critical analysis, source evaluation, academic writing, comparative analysis, and historiography. The programme combines lectures, seminars, tutorials, and independent research.

Graduates pursue careers as history teachers, researchers, museum curators, archivists, journalists, civil servants, diplomatic officers, and cultural heritage officers. They find employment in schools, museums, archives, government ministries, NGOs, media organisations, and cultural institutions.

The programme is offered at multiple universities including Moi University, University of Nairobi, Kisii University, Maasai Mara University, Pwani University, and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Public university fees range from KSH 122,400 at Maasai Mara to KSH 153,000 at Moi University per year.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with C+ in History and Government, following KUCCPS cluster 14 requirements for History, Archaeology and Related programmes.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 202,800
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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

African History to 1884
African History since 1884
History of Kenya
European History since 1789
Historical Methods and Research
History of the Middle East
International Organisations since 1919
Economic History
Political History
Historiography

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to African History to 1884
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Survey of African history from pre-colonial societies to the eve of European colonisation, covering political, economic, and social developments.
Introduction to Historical Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to the nature of history, historical methods, source criticism, and historiographical traditions.
African History since 1884
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of African history from the Berlin Conference through colonialism to independence and post-independence developments.
History of Kenya to 1895
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Detailed study of Kenyan history from pre-colonial societies to the establishment of British colonial administration.
Historical Transformation of Europe since 1789
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of European political, economic, and social transformations from the French Revolution to the present.
History of Kenya since 1895
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of Kenyan history from colonial establishment through independence to contemporary developments.
International Organisations since 1919
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of international organisations from the League of Nations to the United Nations and contemporary bodies.
Research Methods in History
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for historical research, including source evaluation and data analysis.
Economic History of Africa
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of economic processes, trade systems, and economic transformations in African history.
Historiography
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of historical writing, philosophical approaches to history, and major historiographical debates.
Gender in African History
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of gender roles, relations, and perspectives in African history from pre-colonial to contemporary periods.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project involving original historical research, source analysis, and a written dissertation.

Specialisations

African History
Study of African history from pre-colonial to post-independence periods, including regional histories of East, West, Southern, and North Africa.
Kenyan History
Detailed study of Kenya's history from pre-colonial societies through colonialism to independence and post-independence developments.
European and World History
Study of European history since 1789, including political, economic, and social transformations, and their global impact.
Economic History
Examination of economic processes, trade systems, and economic transformations in historical perspective.
Political History
Study of political systems, governance, nationalism, and political movements in historical context. 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 lectures with independent research and discussion. Morning sessions cover African history, European history, or historiography, while afternoons focus on seminars, source analysis, and research methods. Students analyse primary and secondary sources, participate in historical debates, and develop research papers. Library research is central to the programme, with students accessing archives and digital historical databases. Field visits to historical sites and museums complement classroom learning.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is offered at six universities, providing wide institutional choice.
Develops transferable skills in critical analysis, research, and communication valued across sectors.
Diverse career paths in education, heritage, research, journalism, and public service.
Affordable fees at public universities compared to many other degree programmes.

Against it

Some career paths require additional qualifications such as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Direct employment opportunities in history-specific roles can be limited.
Perceived as less marketable compared to business or STEM degrees.
Research-intensive programme requires significant reading and writing commitment.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 203k

105k at Mount Kenya University203k at Catholic University of Eastern 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

UoN BA 189,004/yr, KU 153,000/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 105,000/yr, CUEA 202,800/yr (official).

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Universities offer internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at respective universities.
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 Diploma in Education, History, or 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 tests, essays, source analysis exercises, and seminar presentations during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering historical content, analysis, and historiographical understanding.
Research Essays
Coursework100% of the mark
Extended research essays requiring independent research, source analysis, and academic writing.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project involving original historical research, source analysis, and 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.

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

History Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000
Teaches history at secondary schools, requiring a Postgraduate Diploma in Education or BEd qualification.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Conducts historical research for academic institutions, think tanks, or research organisations.
Museum Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 75,000
Works in museums managing collections, developing exhibitions, and providing educational programmes.
Archival Assistant
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 65,000
Works at the Kenya National Archives or county archives managing historical documents and records.
Civil Servant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Works in government ministries applying analytical and research skills in administration and policy support.
Cultural Heritage Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Manages cultural heritage programmes and sites for county governments or cultural organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as history teachers, researchers, museum curators, archivists, and journalists. Demand is moderate with opportunities in education, heritage, and public service.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

EndNote
Reference managementPrimary
Reference management software for organising sources, citations, and bibliographies in historical research.
Zotero
Reference managementPrimary
Open-source reference management tool for collecting, organising, and citing research sources.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for research papers, presentations, and data management.
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis software for quantitative historical research and data analysis.
Google Scholar
Research database
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature and historical sources.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

History is just about memorising dates and events.
The programme develops critical analysis, research skills, and the ability to interpret complex historical processes and their relevance to contemporary issues.
A history degree only leads to teaching.
Graduates pursue diverse careers in research, archives, museums, journalism, diplomacy, civil service, and cultural heritage management.
History is not relevant in the digital age.
Historical analysis skills are increasingly valuable for understanding contemporary global issues, policy development, and digital archiving.
History graduates earn low salaries.
While entry-level salaries vary, history graduates in civil service, diplomacy, and heritage management can earn competitive salaries with career progression.