Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Justice and Security Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Justice and Security Studies is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in justice and security studies. The programme falls under the Security & Criminology category and typically spans 4 Years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Criminal Justice Systems, Criminology, Security Management, Criminal Law, Forensic Investigation, Criminal Psychology. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Conflict Resolution, Criminal Investigation, Ethical Reasoning, Legal reasoning, Policy Analysis. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Criminology, Criminal Law, Security Management, Forensic Criminal Investigation. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Criminal Justice, Security Management, Forensic Criminal Investigation. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Justice and Security Studies pursue careers as Security Officer, Criminal Investigator, Probation Officer, Policy Analyst. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 183,600
Private, up to: Ksh 91,100
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Criminal Justice Systems
Criminology
Security Management
Criminal Law
Forensic Investigation
Criminal Psychology
Human Rights
Governance and Ethics
Conflict Resolution
Terrorism Studies

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Criminal Justice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of criminal justice systems, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
Introduction to Criminology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Criminology: Study of crime, its causes, consequences, and theories of criminal behaviour. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Criminal Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of criminal law in Kenya, including offences, defences, and criminal liability.
Security Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and practices of security management in organisational and national contexts.
Forensic Criminal Investigation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Forensic techniques and investigation methods used in solving crimes, including evidence collection and analysis.
Criminal Psychology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychological factors underlying criminal behaviour, including profiling and rehabilitation approaches.
Human Rights and Justice
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Human rights frameworks in the context of criminal justice and security operations.
Governance and Ethics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of governance, ethics, and accountability in security and justice institutions.
Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques for conflict resolution, mediation, and peace building in security contexts.
Terrorism and Transnational Crime
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of terrorism, transnational organised crime, and counter-terrorism strategies.
Research Methods in Security Studies
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Research design and methodology for studying crime, justice, and security phenomena.
Research Project and Attachment
Year 4Semester 29 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a justice or security topic, plus industry attachment in a security or justice institution.

Specialisations

Criminal Justice
Focus on criminal justice systems, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.
Security Management
Focus on organisational and national security management, including risk assessment and security planning.
Forensic Criminal Investigation
Focus on forensic techniques and criminal investigation methods used in solving crimes. 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.
Criminal Psychology
Focus on psychological factors underlying criminal behaviour and rehabilitation approaches. 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.
Rehabilitation and Probation Studies
Focus on offender rehabilitation, probation services, and reintegration programmes. 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 classroom learning with case studies and practical exercises. Morning sessions cover criminal justice theory, criminology, or security management, while afternoons focus on forensic investigation techniques, criminal psychology, or conflict resolution scenarios. Students engage in case study analysis, field trips to security installations and courts, and class exercises simulating real-world security challenges. Group discussions on contemporary security issues including terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational crime complement academic instruction. Guest lectures by security professionals and law enforcement officers provide industry insights.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's evolving security challenges including terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational crime.
Diverse career paths in government security agencies, private security, corrections, probation, and corporate security.
Programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical case studies and field exercises.
MKU offers flexible study modes including full-time and digital learning options.

Against it

Programme is offered at only one university, limiting institutional choice.
Some employers may prefer degrees from public universities or specialised law enforcement training.
Security sector jobs may involve risks and challenging working conditions.
Programme is not currently listed in the KUCCPS placement cycle, limiting government sponsorship options.

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 184k

153k at Chuka University184k at Kibabii University

Private91k to 91k

91k at Mount Kenya University91k at Mount Kenya 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

MKU BAJSS 45,550/sem=91,100/yr. Public: Criminology&Security Studies 153K-183.6K/yr (educationnewshub KUCCPS)

HELB loans are available for eligible students. Mount Kenya University offers financial aid and bursaries for needy students. Government sponsorship is available through KUCCPS for eligible students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Loan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited undergraduate programmes
Mount Kenya University Financial Aid
Scholarship
Academically outstanding and financially needy students
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
Scholarship
Students placed by KUCCPS in recognised universities

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Mount Kenya University Financial Aid
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at Mount Kenya University.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS requirements, subject to programme availability in the placement cycle.
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)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ or equivalent; OR KACE with at least two principal passes and two subsidiary passes; OR relevant Diploma with at least a credit pass from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, case study analyses, seminar presentations, and practical exercises during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering criminal justice, criminology, security management, and law.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project involving original research on a justice or security studies topic.
Industry Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of industry attachment in a security or justice institution, including supervisor evaluation and reports.

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

Security Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Manages security operations for organisations, including risk assessment, access control, and incident response.
Criminal Investigator
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 95,000
Conducts criminal investigations, gathers evidence, and supports prosecution of criminal cases.
Probation Officer
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000
Supervises offenders on probation and supports their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000
Analyses security and justice policies and provides recommendations to government and organisations.
Security Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Provides security advisory services to organisations, including risk assessment and security planning.
Correctional Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages correctional facilities and supervises inmates in prisons and remand centres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as security officers, criminal investigators, probation officers, and policy analysts. Demand is moderate with Kenya's evolving security landscape.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for research papers, case reports, and policy briefs.
SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for crime data analysis and research projects.
GIS Software
Mapping
Geographic information systems for crime mapping and security analysis.
Google Scholar
Research database
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature on criminology and security studies.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising sources and citations in research papers.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Justice and Security Studies is only for those wanting to join the police.
Graduates work in diverse fields including private security, corrections, probation, policy analysis, NGOs, and corporate security.
The programme is a law degree.
While it covers criminal law, the programme focuses on justice systems, security management, and criminology rather than legal practice.
Security studies graduates can only work in government agencies.
Private security firms, corporate security departments, NGOs, and international organisations actively employ security studies graduates.
The programme does not lead to meaningful careers.
Kenya's evolving security challenges including terrorism, cybercrime, and transnational crime create growing demand for trained professionals.