Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a Focus on Peace and Security

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a Focus on Peace and Security is a four-year degree programme at Tangaza University that combines philosophical inquiry with peace and security studies. The programme develops critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and conflict analysis skills, preparing graduates for roles in peacebuilding, security, governance, and social justice.

The curriculum covers logic, ethics, history of philosophy, African philosophy, political philosophy, peace studies, conflict transformation, security studies, human rights, international relations, and research methods. Students study philosophical foundations alongside practical peace and security frameworks.

Students develop competencies in critical thinking, ethical reasoning, conflict analysis, peacebuilding, security analysis, research, and policy development. The programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, and community engagement.

Graduates pursue careers as peacebuilding officers, security analysts, human rights advocates, NGO programme officers, and community leaders. They find employment in government, NGOs, international organisations, and religious institutions.

The programme is offered at Tangaza University, a private university, with annual tuition fees of KSH 219,350. The programme is delivered over eight semesters on a full-time basis.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with appropriate subject grades.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 219,350
Job market: Low

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Logic
Ethics
History of Philosophy
African Philosophy
Peace Studies
Conflict Transformation
Security Studies
Human Rights
Political Philosophy
Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Philosophy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts and branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic.
Introduction to Peace and Security Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of peace, security, and conflict, including definitions, theories, and key debates.
Logic and Critical Thinking
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of logic, argumentation, and analytical reasoning applied to peace and security issues.
Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethics and Moral Philosophy: Ethical theories and their application to peace, security, and justice. Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsibility.
History of Philosophy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Survey of Western philosophy from ancient to contemporary, including key thinkers and movements.
Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories and practices of conflict transformation, mediation, and peacebuilding.
African Philosophy and Peace
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
African philosophical traditions and their contributions to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
Human Rights and Justice
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Philosophical foundations of human rights, transitional justice, and restorative justice.
Security Studies and Governance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of security, security governance, and ethical dimensions of security policy.
Political Philosophy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of justice, political authority, rights, and the relationship between individuals and the state.
International Relations and Conflict
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
International relations theories and their application to conflict, peace, and security.
Research Project in Philosophy, Peace and Security
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a philosophy, peace, and security topic, including field research and written dissertation.

Specialisations

Peace and Conflict Transformation
Focus on philosophical foundations of peace, conflict transformation, and nonviolent approaches to social change.
Security Studies
Focus on human security, security governance, and ethical dimensions of security policy. 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.
Human Rights and Justice
Focus on philosophical foundations of human rights, transitional justice, and restorative justice. 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.
Political Philosophy and Governance
Focus on theories of justice, governance, and political authority in the context of peace and security.
African Philosophy and Peace
Focus on African philosophical traditions and their contributions to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and case study discussions. Morning sessions cover philosophy, ethics, or political theory, while afternoons focus on peace studies, conflict analysis, and security studies. Students analyse case studies of conflicts in Africa, participate in mock mediation exercises, and develop peacebuilding project proposals. Group discussions explore ethical dimensions of security policy and human rights.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines philosophical foundations with practical peace and security studies.
Tangaza University's mission-focused approach emphasises social transformation and community engagement.
Graduates develop analytical and peacebuilding skills valued in NGOs and international organisations.
Kenya's regional peacekeeping role creates demand for peace and security professionals.

Against it

Programme is offered at only one university, limiting institutional choice.
Tuition fees are relatively high compared to public university alternatives.
Job market demand for philosophy-focused peace and security roles is low.
Career advancement may require additional qualifications in security or international relations.

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 219k

105k at Mount Kenya University219k at Tangaza University College

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, Tangaza 219.4K/yr. KUCCPS+univ sites

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available. Tangaza University offers internal bursaries and church-sponsored scholarships for needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University 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.
Tangaza University Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at Tangaza University.
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: KCSE mean grade C+ with appropriate subject grades; OR KACE with two principal passes; OR a relevant diploma 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, seminar presentations, and case study analyses.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering philosophy, peace, and security topics.
Community Engagement Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of peacebuilding project design and community engagement activities.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on philosophy, peace, and security, including field research and 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

Peacebuilding Officer
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Facilitates peacebuilding initiatives in communities and organisations.
Security Analyst
Low demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Analyses security threats and develops policy recommendations for government and NGOs.
Human Rights Advocate
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 110,000
Advocates for human rights protection in NGOs and international organisations.
NGO Programme Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages peacebuilding and development programmes in non-governmental organisations.
Community Leader
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 90,000
Leads community development and peacebuilding initiatives at the grassroots level.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Supports research on peace, security, and conflict in academic and policy institutions.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in peacebuilding, security analysis, and human rights advocacy. Demand is low but specialised skills are valued in NGOs and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

JSTOR
Research databasePrimary
Digital library for academic journals in philosophy, peace, and security studies.
SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for research projects and survey data.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for research papers, policy briefs, and presentations.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for team projects and document sharing.
Zotero
Reference management
Reference management software for organising research sources.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is just a standard philosophy degree with a different name.
The programme has a specialised focus on peace and security, combining philosophy with practical conflict analysis and peacebuilding skills.
Graduates can only work as philosophers or teachers.
Graduates work in peacebuilding, security analysis, human rights, NGOs, and international organisations.
Peace and security studies is not relevant in Kenya.
Kenya's role in regional peacebuilding and internal security challenges create demand for trained professionals.
The programme is only for those interested in military careers.
The programme focuses on human security, peacebuilding, and conflict transformation, not military operations.