Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Development)

The Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Development) is a four-year degree that combines sociological analysis with development studies, preparing graduates for careers in community development, social policy, research, public service, and NGO work. Students study sociological theory, social research methods, sociology of development, rural sociology, community development, social change, project planning and evaluation, social policy, demographic studies, and gender and development.

Graduates find opportunities in government ministries, county governments, NGOs, international development agencies, research institutions, community-based organisations, and social enterprises. The programme is delivered over eight semesters at Moi University and Kenyatta University, both CUE-accredited public universities, and at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, a CUE-accredited private university.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, fieldwork, community placements, and research projects. Graduates work as community development officers, research assistants, social policy analysts, NGO programme officers, civil service officers, and project coordinators.

This programme suits students with interest in understanding social dynamics and development challenges, analytical aptitude, and desire to contribute to Kenya's social and economic development through evidence-based interventions and community engagement. Skills RequiredSociological Theory and AnalysisSociology of DevelopmentSocial Research MethodsCommunity Development PracticeProject Planning, Monitoring and EvaluationSocial Policy AnalysisData Analysis and Statistical SoftwareGender and Development AnalysisRural and Urban SociologySocial Impact AssessmentKey SubjectsSociological TheorySociology of DevelopmentSocial Research MethodsSocial Change and DevelopmentRural Sociology and DevelopmentCommunity DevelopmentProject Planning and EvaluationSocial Policy and AdministrationGender and DevelopmentSocial StatisticsCertificationsKenya Society of Sociologists MembershipKenya Institute of Management (KIM) MembershipInternational Association for Community Development (IACD)SpecializationsSociology of DevelopmentFocus on theories of development, underdevelopment, comparative development strategies, and social change — for careers in development research and policy analysis.

Community Development PracticeFocus on community organising, participatory development, needs assessment, and community project management for careers in NGOs and county governments. Social Policy and AdministrationFocus on social policy formulation, welfare systems, public administration, and social protection for careers in government and policy organisations.

Rural Sociology and DevelopmentFocus on rural communities, agricultural transformation, rural-urban migration, and rural development strategies for careers in rural development agencies.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 160,000
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

Sociological Theory
Sociology of Development
Social Research Methods
Social Change and Development
Rural Sociology and Development
Community Development
Project Planning and Evaluation
Social Policy and Administration
Gender and Development
Social Statistics

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts in sociology including social structures, institutions, social processes, classical sociological thinkers, and the sociological imagination.
Introduction to Social Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to social science disciplines, research methods, and their application to understanding social phenomena and development challenges.
Classical Sociological Theory
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical sociological theories including functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and the works of Durkheim, Weber, Marx, and Parsons.
Social Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Qualitative and quantitative research methods including survey design, interviewing, data collection, sampling techniques, and research ethics.
Social Change and Development
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of social change, modernisation, globalisation, and development — examining social transformation in African societies and development challenges.
Sociology of Planning and Development
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Sociological perspectives on development planning, policy formulation, implementation challenges, and the role of sociology in national development processes.
Social Policy and Administration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Social policy formulation, welfare systems, social protection programmes, and public administration — examining Kenya's social policy framework and devolved governance.
Rural Sociology and Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Rural social structures, agricultural transformation, rural-urban migration, community livelihoods, and rural development strategies in Kenya and Africa.
Gender and Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender analysis in development, women in development, gender mainstreaming, and social inclusion — examining gender disparities and empowerment strategies.
Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Development project design, logical frameworks, monitoring systems, impact evaluation, and project management for social development interventions.
Sociology of Development
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced theories of development and underdevelopment, comparative development strategies, dependency theory, and African development trajectories.
Field Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised field attachment in a development organisation and a final-year research project integrating sociology and development, with fieldwork, data analysis, written dissertation, and oral defe...

Specialisations

Sociology of Development
Focus on theories of development, underdevelopment, comparative development strategies, and social change — for careers in development research and policy analysis.
Community Development Practice
Focus on community organising, participatory development, needs assessment, and community project management for careers in NGOs and county governments.
Social Policy and Administration
Focus on social policy formulation, welfare systems, public administration, and social protection for careers in government and policy organisations.
Rural Sociology and Development
Focus on rural communities, agricultural transformation, rural-urban migration, and rural development strategies for careers in rural development agencies.
Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Focus on project design, logical frameworks, monitoring systems, impact evaluation, and development project management for careers in NGOs and development agencies.
Gender and Development
Focus on gender analysis, women in development, gender mainstreaming, and social inclusion for careers in gender-focused NGOs and government departments.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on sociological theory, development studies, or social research methods with afternoon seminars, group discussions, and fieldwork planning. Students analyse social problems, discuss development theories, work with statistical software, and design community interventions. Evenings involve reading sociology and development literature, writing research papers, and preparing fieldwork reports.

The trade offs

In its favour

The combination of sociology and development studies provides versatile skills for Kenya's growing development sector — devolved government, NGOs, and international agencies need professionals who understand both social dynamics and development processes.
Graduates can work in diverse settings including government, NGOs, research institutions, international development agencies, and community organisations — providing multiple career pathways.
The programme develops strong analytical, research, and project management skills — valuable for evidence-based policy making, programme design, and social impact assessment.
Offered at both public and private universities, giving students options in terms of cost, location, and institutional culture.

Against it

The programme enters through the general BA route, meaning students take common courses in years 1-2 before specialising — this can feel slow for students eager to focus on development content.
Entry-level positions in NGOs and government pay modestly (KES 35,000–59,120/month), with higher-paying positions requiring experience, postgraduate qualifications, and specialised skills.
The development sector in Kenya is competitive — many graduates compete for limited NGO and government positions, and funding fluctuations affect job security in development organisations.

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 160k

105k at Mount Kenya University160k 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 105K; CUEA 160,000/yr. Src: educationnewshub KUCCPS

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

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.
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 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+ or KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary pass, or a Diploma in Sociology, Community Development, Social Work, Development Studies, 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, development studies, research methods, and social policy, assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.
Fieldwork and Community Placement Practicals
Coursework25% of the mark
Community placements, fieldwork reports, project design exercises, monitoring and evaluation assignments, and fieldwork presentations assessed through practical submissions.
Research Papers and Policy Briefs
Coursework15% of the mark
Research papers, policy briefs, literature reviews, and development analysis essays 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 development, with fieldwork, written dissertation, and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Moi University and Kenyatta University (public) and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (private), all CUE-accredited universities. Students enter through the general BA programme and specialise in Sociology with development-focused courses.

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

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 county governments and NGOs.
NGO Programme Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Designs, implements, and monitors development programmes in NGOs — handling project coordination, beneficiary engagement, reporting, and stakeholder management.
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.
Project Coordinator
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000
Coordinates development projects including planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement in NGOs and development agencies.
Civil Service Officer (CSG 10)
High demandKsh 42,970 to Ksh 59,120
Entry-level government position in ministries and county governments handling social development, community programmes, policy implementation, and administrative duties.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as community development officers, research assistants, NGO programme officers, social policy analysts, civil service officers, and project coordinators in government, NGOs, research institutions, 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, project reports, data management, and professional communication.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for coding interviews, focus group data, and field notes — essential for qualitative social research and community studies.
Google Workspace
Software
Collaboration and productivity tools for document creation, project coordination, email communication, and team collaboration in development work.
KoboToolbox
Software
Open-source data collection tool for field surveys — widely used by NGOs and researchers for community assessments, baseline surveys, and M&E data collection.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sociology and Development is just theory with no practical application.
The programme includes fieldwork, community placements, project planning, and monitoring and evaluation — graduates develop practical skills for designing and implementing development interventions.
Development studies is the same as community development.
Development studies is broader, examining theories of development, global inequality, policy analysis, and comparative development strategies — while community development focuses on local-level practice.
This degree only leads to NGO work.
Graduates work in government ministries, county governments, research institutions, international agencies, private sector CSR departments, and academia — the skills are applicable across multiple sectors.
Sociology and Development is not relevant in modern Kenya.
Kenya's devolved government, SDG implementation, community development, and social policy formulation all require professionals who understand both social dynamics and development processes.
This is an easy degree for students who cannot handle science.
The programme involves rigorous research methods, statistical analysis, theoretical frameworks, and fieldwork — requiring strong analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills.