Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Community Development

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and Community Development is a four-year degree programme that combines professional social work practice with community development principles. The curriculum covers social work theory, community development, social welfare policy, counselling methods, project management, research methods, human behaviour, and fieldwork practice. Students develop competencies in counselling, community mobilisation, project management, research, advocacy, and ethical practice.

The programme combines lectures, seminars, role-plays, and supervised fieldwork. Graduates pursue careers as social workers, community development officers, project coordinators, counsellors, and programme managers. The programme is offered at the Technical University of Kenya (public, approximately KSH 193,800 per year) through the Department of Psychology and Human Development, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with passes in English or Kiswahili, Mathematics, and cluster subjects, or a relevant diploma in Social Work and Community Development. Skills RequiredSocial work practiceCommunity developmentCounsellingProject managementCommunity mobilisationResearch methodsSocial policy analysisAdvocacyProgramme

managementEthical practiceKey SubjectsSocial Work TheoryCommunity DevelopmentSocial Welfare PolicyCounselling MethodsProject ManagementResearch MethodsHuman Behaviour and the Social EnvironmentCommunity MobilisationProgramme ManagementFieldwork PracticeCertificationsKenya National Association of Social Workers (KNASW) RegistrationKenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC)SpecializationsCommunity DevelopmentFocus on community-level interventions, social mobilisation, and participatory development planning.

Clinical Social WorkFocus on individual and family counselling, mental health support, and psychosocial interventions. Project ManagementFocus on designing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects. Child and Family WelfareFocus on child protection, family support, and welfare services for vulnerable populations.

Social Policy and AdvocacyFocus on policy formulation, social justice advocacy, and rights-based development.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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

Social Work Theory
Community Development
Social Welfare Policy
Counselling Methods
Project Management
Research Methods
Human Behaviour and the Social Environment
Community Mobilisation
Programme Management
Fieldwork Practice

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Social Work
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Social Work: Foundational concepts, history, and values of the social work profession. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Introduction to Community Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Community Development: Principles and practices of community development and participatory approaches. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant ...
Human Behaviour and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Human Behaviour and Development: Theories of human development across the lifespan within social contexts. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Social Welfare Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Social Welfare Policy: Analysis of social welfare systems, policies, and their impact on communities. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Counselling Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling Methods: Theories and techniques of counselling for individuals, families, and groups. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Community Mobilisation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Community Mobilisation: Strategies for community engagement, participation, and collective action. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Project Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Project Management: Designing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects. Covers project lifecycle, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Fieldwork Practice I
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
Supervised fieldwork placement in a social work or community development setting.
Research Methods
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research Methods: Research methodology for social work and community development studies. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Programme Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Management of social programmes, including planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research Project: Final-year research project on a social work or community development topic. Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.
Fieldwork Practice II
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Fieldwork Practice II: Advanced supervised fieldwork placement in a specialised setting. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.

Specialisations

Community Development
Focus on community-level interventions, social mobilisation, and participatory development planning.
Clinical Social Work
Focus on individual and family counselling, mental health support, and psychosocial interventions. 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.
Project Management
Focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects. 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.
Child and Family Welfare
Focus on child protection, family support, and welfare services for vulnerable populations. 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.
Social Policy and Advocacy
Focus on policy formulation, social justice advocacy, and rights-based development. 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.
Disaster Management
Focus on humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, and community resilience building. 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, counselling skills practice, and community development project work. Morning sessions cover social work theory, community development, and social policy, while afternoons focus on counselling methods, project planning, and fieldwork preparation. Students engage in role-plays, analyse case studies, and develop community intervention plans. Supervised fieldwork provides hands-on experience with communities and vulnerable populations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines social work and community development, broadening career options.
High demand for graduates in Kenya's growing NGO and community development sectors.
Programme includes supervised fieldwork providing practical experience.
Offered at a public university with relatively affordable fees.

Against it

Only offered at one university, limiting institutional choice.
Social work and community development can be emotionally demanding.
Salaries in the social sector are generally lower than in corporate or technical fields.
Fieldwork placements require significant time and may involve travel to remote areas.

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

Private78k to 243k

78k at Management University of Africa243k at Daystar 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

Moi/KU 153K; UoN 189,004/yr. MUA 78,000; Daystar 242,800/yr. Src: educationnewshub KUCCPS

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

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
Technical University of Kenya 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
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Technical University of Kenya Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at TUK.
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+ or equivalent; OR KCSE mean grade C- (Minus) with a Diploma in Social Work and Community Development or its equivalent recognised by the TUK Senate; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, essays, case studies, and seminar presentations.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering social work and community development.
Fieldwork Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of supervised fieldwork performance, including agency report and supervisor evaluation.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on a social work or community development topic, including 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

Social Worker
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Provides direct social services to individuals, families, and communities.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manages community development programmes in NGOs and government.
Project Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Coordinates development projects in NGOs, managing implementation and reporting.
Counsellor
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Provides counselling and psychosocial support in various settings.
Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages social programmes in NGOs, overseeing planning and delivery.
Community Mobiliser
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Mobilises communities for development initiatives and collective action.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as social workers, community development officers, and project coordinators. Demand is high in NGOs, government, and community-based organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for case reports, project proposals, and documentation.
SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for social research and project evaluation.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for document sharing and team coordination.
Project Management Tools
Project management
Tools for planning, tracking, and managing community development projects.
Zotero
Reference management
Reference management tool for academic research and citations.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is the same as a general social work degree.
The programme combines social work with community development, preparing graduates for both clinical and community-level interventions.
Graduates can only work in government social services.
Graduates work in NGOs, CBOs, international agencies, hospitals, schools, and private consultancies.
Community development is just about organising community events.
Community development involves systematic planning, needs assessment, project management, and sustainable development strategies.
The programme is less rigorous than a pure social work degree.
The programme covers both social work and community development competencies, requiring fieldwork in both areas.