Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Penology and Security Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Penology and Security Studies is a four-year degree programme that examines penal systems, corrections, and security management. The curriculum covers penology, criminology, correctional administration, criminal law, security management, probation and parole, prison systems, human rights in corrections, rehabilitation and reintegration, criminal psychology, research methods, and security studies. Students develop competencies in correctional administration, security management, offender rehabilitation, criminal justice analysis, research, and policy development.

The programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, field visits to correctional facilities, and research projects. Graduates pursue careers as correctional officers, probation officers, security managers, criminal justice analysts, rehabilitation officers, and policy analysts. They find employment in the Kenya Prison Service, probation services, private security firms, NGOs, government agencies, and international organisations.

The programme is offered at Moi University, a public university, with annual tuition fees of KSH 153,000. Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with appropriate subject grades, following KUCCPS cluster 20 subject requirements.

The programme also accepts diploma holders and A-level holders with appropriate qualifications. Skills RequiredPenologyCorrectional administrationSecurity managementCriminal justice analysisOffender rehabilitationCriminal lawResearch methodsPolicy developmentKey SubjectsPenologyCriminologyCorrectional AdministrationCriminal LawSecurity ManagementProbation and ParolePrison SystemsHuman Rights in CorrectionsRehabilitation and ReintegrationResearch MethodsCertificationsSecurity Professional Certification (ASIS International)Correctional Services Certification (Kenya Prison Service)SpecializationsCorrectional AdministrationFocus on managing correctional institutions, including prisons, probation services, and rehabilitation programmes.

Security ManagementFocus on security operations, risk assessment, and security system management in public and private sectors.

Offender RehabilitationFocus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, including counselling, education, and vocational training programmes. Criminal Justice PolicyFocus on developing and analysing criminal justice policies, including sentencing, corrections, and human rights.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 227,500
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

Penology
Criminology
Correctional Administration
Criminal Law
Security Management
Probation and Parole
Prison Systems
Human Rights in Corrections
Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Penology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of penology, including history and theories of punishment, penal systems, and correctional philosophy.
Introduction to Criminology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of criminology, including crime causes, typologies, and criminological theories.
Criminal Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of criminal law, including offences, defences, and criminal procedure in Kenya.
Correctional Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of managing correctional institutions, including organisational structure, staff management, and facility operations.
Security Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of security management, including risk assessment, security planning, and physical security systems.
Probation and Parole
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Community-based corrections, including probation supervision, parole management, and aftercare services.
Human Rights in Corrections
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Human rights standards in correctional settings, including prisoner rights, international conventions, and oversight mechanisms.
Criminal Psychology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological aspects of criminal behaviour, including offender profiling, risk assessment, and psychological interventions.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategies for offender rehabilitation and community reintegration, including counselling, education, and vocational programmes.
Prison Systems and Administration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Comparative study of prison systems, including administration, classification, and management of correctional facilities.
Security Studies and Risk Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced security studies, including threat analysis, security risk management, and critical infrastructure protection.
Research Project in Penology and Security Studies
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a penology or security topic, including field research, data analysis, and written dissertation.

Specialisations

Correctional Administration
Focus on managing correctional institutions, including prisons, probation services, and rehabilitation programmes.
Security Management
Focus on security operations, risk assessment, and security system management in public and private sectors.
Offender Rehabilitation
Focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, including counselling, education, and vocational training programmes.
Criminal Justice Policy
Focus on developing and analysing criminal justice policies, including sentencing, corrections, and human rights.
Probation and Parole Services
Focus on community-based corrections, including probation supervision, parole management, and aftercare services.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and case study discussions. Morning sessions cover penology, criminology, or criminal law, while afternoons focus on correctional administration workshops, security management practicals, or research methods. Students analyse case studies of correctional systems, participate in mock security assessments, and develop rehabilitation programme proposals. Field visits to prisons and probation offices provide practical exposure. Group projects involve designing rehabilitation programmes, conducting security risk assessments, and preparing policy briefs on criminal justice reform.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses critical criminal justice and security challenges relevant to Kenya's reform agenda.
Graduates develop specialised knowledge in penology and security management valued in government and private sectors.
Programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical field visits to correctional facilities.
Kenya's criminal justice reform and private security sector growth create demand for trained professionals.

Against it

Programme is offered at only one university, limiting institutional choice.
Field work in correctional facilities can be emotionally challenging.
Government correctional services may have limited career progression opportunities.
Entry-level salaries in government correctional services may be modest.

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 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 228k

105k at Mount Kenya University228k at Africa Nazarene 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 BA 153K, UoN BA 189K/yr. MKU 105K, ANU 227.5K/yr. KUCCPS+univ sites

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Moi University offers internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Moi University Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at Moi University.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points for participating universities.
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+ with appropriate subject grades; OR KACE with two principal passes; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution with at least a credit pass; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, case study analyses, seminar presentations, and group projects during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering penology, criminology, criminal law, and security management.
Field Placement Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of supervised attachment at correctional facilities or security organisations, including supervisor evaluation and reflection reports.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on a penology or security topic, including field research, data analysis, and 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

Correctional Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Manages and supervises offenders in correctional institutions, ensuring security and rehabilitation.
Probation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 95,000
Supervises offenders in the community, conducting assessments and coordinating rehabilitation services.
Security Manager
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Manages security operations for organisations, including risk assessment, security planning, and staff supervision.
Criminal Justice Analyst
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Analyses criminal justice data and develops policy recommendations for government and research institutions.
Rehabilitation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Designs and implements rehabilitation programmes for offenders in correctional and community settings.
Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 140,000
Analyses and develops policies on criminal justice, corrections, and security for government and NGOs.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as correctional officers, probation officers, and security managers. Demand is moderate with opportunities in government, private security, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for research projects and crime data analysis.
NVivo
Qualitative researchPrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing interview and field research data.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for research papers, policy briefs, and security reports.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for team projects, programme coordination, and document sharing.
GIS Software
Mapping
GIS software for crime mapping and spatial analysis of security incidents.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Penology and Security Studies is only for those who want to become prison wardens.
Graduates work as probation officers, security managers, criminal justice analysts, and policy advisors across diverse sectors.
The programme is about punishing criminals.
The programme emphasises rehabilitation, reintegration, and human rights alongside correctional management and security.
There are no career opportunities outside government.
Graduates find employment in private security firms, NGOs, international organisations, and research institutions.
Penology is the same as criminology.
Penology focuses specifically on penal systems and corrections, while criminology studies crime causes and prevention more broadly.