Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is a four-year degree programme that studies human society, social relationships, and social structures.

The curriculum covers sociological theory, social research methods, social statistics, social psychology, rural and urban sociology, industrial sociology, political sociology, sociology of development, and demographic studies.

Students develop competencies in critical thinking, research design, data analysis, social analysis, report writing, and ethical reasoning. The programme combines lectures, seminars, fieldwork, and research projects.

Graduates pursue careers as research analysts, social policy officers, community development officers, human resources officers, and programme coordinators.

The programme is offered at multiple institutions including Chuka University, Karatina University, Technical University of Mombasa, Maasai Mara University, Pwani University, Rongo University, and Kenyatta University (public, KSH 122,400 to KSH 153,000 per year), as well as Mount Kenya University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (private, KSH 105,000 to KSH 150,000 per year).

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 cluster subjects in English or Kiswahili, Mathematics, and two other subjects from the KUCCPS cluster list.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Sociological Theory
Social Research Methods
Social Statistics
Social Psychology
Rural Sociology
Urban Sociology
Industrial Sociology
Political Sociology
Sociology of Development
Demographic Studies

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Sociology: Foundational concepts, perspectives, and theories in sociology. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Classical Sociological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical Sociological Theory: Works of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and other classical sociological theorists. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Social Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychological processes in social contexts, including socialisation and group dynamics.
Social Statistics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Statistical methods for social science research, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
Rural Sociology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social structures and processes in rural communities, including agricultural change.
Social Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social Research Methods: Research design, data collection, and analysis methods for social research. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Urban Sociology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Urban Sociology: Urbanisation, city life, and social problems in urban environments. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Industrial Sociology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Industrial Sociology: Workplace relations, labour dynamics, and organisational behaviour. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Sociology of Development
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Sociology of Development: Development theories, social change, and development policy analysis. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Political Sociology
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Political Sociology: Power structures, governance, and political behaviour in society. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research Project: Final-year research project on a sociological topic, including dissertation. Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.
Demographic Studies
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Demographic Studies: Population dynamics, migration patterns, and demographic analysis. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.

Specialisations

Rural Sociology
Focus on rural communities, agricultural change, and rural development processes. 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.
Urban Sociology
Focus on urbanisation, city life, and social problems in urban environments. 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.
Industrial Sociology
Focus on workplace relations, labour dynamics, and organisational behaviour. 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 Sociology
Focus on power structures, governance, and political behaviour in society. 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.
Sociology of Development
Focus on development theories, social change, and development policy analysis. 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.
Demography
Focus on population dynamics, migration, and demographic analysis. 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, seminars, and research activities. Morning sessions cover sociological theory, research methods, and social statistics, while afternoons focus on data analysis, group discussions, and fieldwork preparation. Students design surveys, analyse social data, and debate contemporary social issues. Research projects involve fieldwork in communities, data collection, and statistical analysis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme develops strong analytical and research skills applicable across multiple sectors.
Available at nine universities across Kenya, offering wide institutional choice and fee ranges.
Graduates can pursue diverse careers in research, policy, HR, and community development.
Programme provides deep understanding of social issues relevant to Kenya's development challenges.

Against it

Sociology is sometimes perceived as less practical than professional degrees.
Entry-level salaries in research and social sectors are moderate compared to technical fields.
Some graduates may need additional training for specialised roles like data analysis or HR.
Job market can be competitive for pure sociology roles without additional skills.

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 150k

105k at Mount Kenya University150k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

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 153K; UoN 189,004/yr. MKU 105,000; CUEA 150,000/yr. Src: educationnewshub KUCCPS

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available. Universities offer internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University 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.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points.
University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need at respective universities.

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 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, research assignments, and seminar presentations.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering sociological theory, research methods, and social analysis.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on a sociological topic, including dissertation and oral defence.
Fieldwork Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of supervised fieldwork, including community research and report.

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

Research Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Designs and conducts social research for research institutions, NGOs, or government.
Social Policy Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Analyses and develops social policies for government departments or think tanks.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manages community development programmes in NGOs and government departments.
Human Resources Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages employee relations, recruitment, and organisational development in companies.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Monitors and evaluates programme outcomes in NGOs and development organisations.
Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Coordinates social programmes in NGOs, managing implementation and reporting.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as research analysts, social policy officers, and community development officers. Demand is moderate with opportunities in research, government, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for social research and data analysis.
Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for research reports, presentations, and documentation.
R Studio
Data analysis
Statistical computing software for advanced data analysis and visualisation.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for document sharing and team projects.
Zotero
Reference management
Reference management tool for academic research and citations.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sociology is just common sense about society.
Sociology is a rigorous academic discipline using scientific methods to study social phenomena.
Sociology graduates can only become social workers.
Graduates work in research, policy analysis, HR, marketing, community development, and international development.
Sociology is not a practical degree.
Sociology develops analytical, research, and critical thinking skills valued across multiple sectors.
Sociology has no career prospects in Kenya.
Sociology graduates are employed in government, NGOs, research institutions, and private sector companies.