Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Anthropology)

The Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Anthropology, With IT) is a four-year degree that combines sociological analysis with anthropological study, preparing graduates for careers in research, community development, cultural preservation, public service, and social policy. Students study sociological theory, social research methods, cultural anthropology, ethnography, African cultures, social change, development studies, kinship and family systems, political anthropology, and computer applications.

Graduates find opportunities in research institutions, government, NGOs, cultural organisations, community development, heritage management, and international development agencies. The programme is delivered over eight semesters at Maseno University and Tom Mboya University, both CUE-accredited public universities.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, ethnographic fieldwork, computer laboratory sessions, and research projects. Graduates work as research assistants, community development officers, cultural officers, social workers, civil service officers, and NGO programme officers.

This programme suits students with interest in understanding human societies and cultures, analytical aptitude, and desire to work in research, development, or cultural sectors. The combination of sociology and anthropology with IT provides versatile skills for Kenya's social development needs.

Skills RequiredSociological Theory and AnalysisCultural Anthropology and EthnographySocial Research MethodsAfrican Cultural StudiesCommunity Development PracticeData Analysis and Statistical SoftwareComputer Applications and IT SkillsSocial Impact AssessmentQualitative and Quantitative ResearchCross-Cultural CommunicationKey SubjectsSociological TheoryCultural AnthropologyEthnographic Research MethodsAfrican Cultures and SocietiesSocial Change and DevelopmentKinship and Family SystemsPolitical AnthropologyResearch Methods in Social SciencesComputer Applications and Information SystemsSocial Statistics and Data AnalysisCertificationsKenya Society of Sociologists MembershipPan African Anthropological Association (PAAA)Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) MembershipSpecializationsCultural Anthropology and EthnographyFocus on ethnographic research, cultural analysis, and African cultural systems for careers in research, cultural preservation, and heritage management. Sociology of DevelopmentFocus on development sociology, social change, and community development for careers in NGOs, government, and development agencies.

Social Research and Data AnalysisFocus on research methods, statistical analysis, and social survey design for careers in research institutions and government planning.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 223,000
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Sociological Theory
Cultural Anthropology
Ethnographic Research Methods
African Cultures and Societies
Social Change and Development
Kinship and Family Systems
Political Anthropology
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Computer Applications and Information Systems
Social Statistics and Data Analysis

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Sociological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts in sociology including classical and modern sociological theories, social structures, institutions, and the sociological imagination.
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts in cultural anthropology including culture, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, fieldwork, and introduction to ethnographic methods.
Foundations of Information Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of computing including computer hardware, software, operating systems, networks, internet basics, and computer security for developing IT literacy.
African Cultures and Societies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Survey of African cultures including kinship systems, religious beliefs, economic systems, political organisation, and cultural change in African societies.
Social Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Qualitative and quantitative research methods including survey design, interviewing, ethnographic fieldwork, data collection, and research ethics.
Ethnographic Research and Fieldwork
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethnographic research methods including participant observation, field notes, interviewing techniques, cultural documentation, and ethnographic writing.
Social Change and Development
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of social change, modernisation, globalisation, and development — examining social transformation in African societies and development challenges.
Kinship and Family Systems
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Anthropological study of kinship, marriage, family systems, descent groups, and social organisation in African and global societies.
Social Statistics and Data Analysis
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Statistical methods for social research including descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, and data analysis using statistical software.
Political Anthropology and Governance
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Political systems in traditional and modern societies, power structures, authority, governance, and social movements in African contexts.
Computer-Based Information Systems
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Information systems concepts including database design, system analysis, information management, and data visualisation for social research.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project integrating sociology and anthropology, with ethnographic fieldwork or social survey, data analysis, written dissertation, and oral defence.

Specialisations

Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography
Focus on ethnographic research, cultural analysis, and African cultural systems for careers in research, cultural preservation, and heritage management.
Sociology of Development
Focus on development sociology, social change, and community development for careers in NGOs, government, and development agencies.
Social Research and Data Analysis
Focus on research methods, statistical analysis, and social survey design for careers in research institutions and government planning.
African Studies and Cultural Heritage
Focus on African cultures, indigenous knowledge systems, and heritage management for careers in cultural institutions and museums.
Community Development and Social Policy
Focus on community development practice, social policy analysis, and participatory development for careers in county governments and NGOs.
Political Anthropology and Governance
Focus on political systems, governance, power structures, and social movements for careers in public service and policy research.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on sociological theory, cultural anthropology, or African societies with afternoon IT practicals and ethnographic fieldwork discussions. Students analyse social structures, discuss cultural practices, work with statistical software, and conduct community studies. Evenings involve reading anthropology and sociology texts, writing ethnographic reports, and preparing research presentations.

The trade offs

In its favour

The combination of sociology and anthropology provides a comprehensive understanding of both social structures and cultural systems — valuable for research, development, and community work in Kenya's diverse society.
The IT component adds data analysis and computer skills that enhance employability in research, government, and development sectors increasingly requiring digital literacy.
Ethnographic fieldwork and research methods training provides practical skills for conducting community studies, social impact assessments, and cultural research.
Offered at two public universities, providing geographic choice — Maseno in Kisumu region and Tom Mboya in Homa Bay region.

Against it

Career prospects are more limited compared to professional degrees — many positions require postgraduate qualifications for advancement in research and academia.
The broad scope of both sociology and anthropology means less specialisation depth compared to single-subject degrees.
Entry-level positions in research, NGOs, and government pay modestly (KES 35,000–59,120/month), with higher-paying positions requiring experience and postgraduate qualifications.

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 223k

153k at Kenyatta University223k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 243k

105k at Mount Kenya University243k 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

UoN BA Anthropology 223,000; KU 153,000/yr. MKU 105K; Daystar 242,800/yr. Src: educationnewshub

Students can access HELB loans, county government bursaries, and university-specific scholarships and bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
University Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Students from the respective county, applied through county education offices.
University Internal Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Needy students enrolled at the respective university, applied through the financial aid office.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
NGAAF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Women, youth and persons with disabilities from vulnerable backgrounds

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with a pass in English and Humanities, or C (plain) in KCSE with a relevant Diploma in Sociology, Anthropology, Community Development, or a related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests covering sociological theory, cultural anthropology, research methods, and IT concepts, assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.
Fieldwork and Ethnographic Practicals
Coursework25% of the mark
Ethnographic fieldwork reports, community studies, IT practicals, data analysis exercises, and fieldwork presentations assessed through practical submissions.
Research Papers and Ethnographic Essays
Coursework15% of the mark
Research papers, ethnographic essays, literature reviews, and cultural analysis assignments assessed throughout each semester.
Final Examinations and Research Project
Examination30% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year research project integrating sociology and anthropology, with fieldwork, written dissertation, and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Maseno University and Tom Mboya University, both CUE-accredited public universities, through their Schools of Arts and Social Sciences. The IT component is integrated into the sociology and anthropology curriculum as approved by CUE.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Research Assistant (Social Research)
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Supports social research projects in universities, research institutions, and NGOs — conducting fieldwork, collecting data, analysing results, and contributing to publications.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Implements community development programmes, conducts community assessments, mobilises communities, and coordinates development projects in government and NGOs.
Cultural Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Works in cultural institutions, museums, and heritage organisations managing cultural programmes, documenting traditions, and promoting cultural preservation.
NGO Programme Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 65,000
Designs, implements, and monitors social development programmes in NGOs — applying sociological and anthropological knowledge to community engagement and project coordination.
Civil Service Officer (CSG 10)
High demandKsh 42,970 to Ksh 59,120
Entry-level government position in ministries and county governments handling social services, community development, cultural affairs, and administrative duties.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as research assistants, community development officers, cultural officers, social workers, civil service officers, and NGO programme officers in research, government, cultural organisations, and development agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for social research including survey analysis, cross-tabulations, regression, and demographic data analysis.
Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary
Productivity tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access for research documentation, data management, presentations, and professional communication.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for coding ethnographic field notes, interview transcripts, and qualitative data — essential for anthropological research.
Google Workspace
Software
Collaboration and productivity tools for document creation, project coordination, email communication, and team collaboration in research and development work.
KoboToolbox
Software
Open-source data collection tool for field surveys — widely used for ethnographic fieldwork, community assessments, and social research data collection.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Anthropology is just about studying old bones and fossils.
Cultural anthropology studies living human societies, cultures, beliefs, and social practices — it is about understanding how people live and organise their communities, not just archaeology.
Sociology and anthropology are the same thing.
Sociology focuses on social structures and institutions in modern societies, while anthropology emphasises cultural systems, ethnography, and comparative study of human cultures — this programme combines both perspectives.
This degree has no practical career applications.
Graduates work in research, community development, cultural preservation, public service, NGOs, and international development — the analytical and research skills are widely applicable.
The IT component makes this a computing degree.
The IT component adds computer applications and data analysis skills to enhance employability — the primary focus remains sociology and anthropology.
Studying anthropology is irrelevant in modern Kenya.
Kenya's cultural diversity, devolved governance, community land rights, and heritage preservation all require anthropological expertise — understanding cultural dynamics is essential for development and governance.