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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.

Duration
4 Years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 189,004
Ksh 756,016 total
Private tuition
Ksh 242,800
Ksh 971,200 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 189,004 a year at a public institution, Ksh 756,016 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 242,800 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 9 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Programme combines social work and community development, broadening career options.Only offered at one university, limiting institutional choice.
High demand for graduates in Kenya's growing NGO and community development sectors.Social work and community development can be emotionally demanding.
Programme includes supervised fieldwork providing practical experience.Salaries in the social sector are generally lower than in corporate or technical fields.
Offered at a public university with relatively affordable fees.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.

Scholarships you could apply for

10 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)minimum entry
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.

When it next starts

Taught at 9 institutions
January 20279 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Kisii University, Maasai Mara University.

May 20279 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Kisii University, Maasai Mara University.

September 20279 institutions

Including Technical University of Kenya, Kisii University, Maasai Mara 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

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

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.

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

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.

Further reading

Read next