Media & Communication

Bachelor of Corporate Communication and Management

The Bachelor of Corporate Communication and Management is a four-year degree programme offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) through its College of Human Resource Development (COHRED), School of Communication and Development Studies.

The curriculum covers corporate communication theory, public relations, marketing communication, organisational behaviour, brand management, media relations, strategic communication, digital communication, event management, crisis communication, business writing, research methodology, project management, and human resource management.

Students develop skills in corporate communication strategy, public relations, brand management, media relations, crisis communication, digital communication, event management, business writing, research, and project management. The programme combines lectures, case studies, practical projects, industrial attachment, and research projects to provide comprehensive professional education.

Graduates pursue careers as corporate communication officers, public relations officers, brand managers, marketing communication officers, event managers, media relations officers, and communication consultants. They find employment in corporate organisations, government departments, NGOs, PR agencies, media houses, and consulting firms.

The programme is offered at JKUAT (public, KES 168,967 per year) at the main campus in Juja, Kiambu County, and the Westlands Campus in Nairobi. JKUAT is a public university established in 1994 and is one of Kenya's leading institutions of technology and innovation.

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+ (Plus) with at least C (Plain) in English or Kiswahili and a pass in Mathematics.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 283,000
Private, up to: Ksh 364,900
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: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Corporate Communication
Public Relations
Marketing Communication
Organisational Behaviour
Brand Management
Media Relations
Strategic Communication
Digital Communication
Crisis Communication
Research Methodology

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Corporate Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of corporate communication, its history, theories, and role in organisations.
Principles of Public Relations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
PR theory, PR process, stakeholder management, and media relations fundamentals.
Business Communication and Writing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Business writing skills, report writing, business correspondence, and presentation skills.
Marketing Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Marketing principles, advertising, promotional strategies, and integrated marketing communication.
Organisational Behaviour
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Organisational structures, culture, leadership, change management, and internal communication.
Brand Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Brand strategy, brand positioning, corporate identity, and brand equity management.
Digital Communication and Social Media
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Digital media strategy, social media management, content marketing, and online reputation management.
Crisis Communication
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Crisis communication theory, crisis management plans, reputation management, and emergency response communication.
Strategic Communication Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic communication planning, communication audits, and measurement of communication effectiveness.
Research Methods in Communication
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to corporate communication research.
Event Management and Corporate Communication
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Corporate event planning, conference management, and event-based communication strategies.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment in a corporate communication department and a final-year research project.

Specialisations

Public Relations
Focus on media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, and stakeholder communication. 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.
Brand Management
Focus on corporate identity, brand strategy, brand positioning, and brand communication. 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.
Marketing Communication
Focus on marketing strategy, advertising, promotional communication, and consumer 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.
Digital Communication
Focus on digital media strategy, social media management, and online corporate communication. 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.
Crisis Communication
Focus on crisis management, reputation management, and emergency communication strategies. 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.
Organisational Communication
Focus on internal communication, change management, and organisational 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.

A day as a student

A typical day at JKUAT combines lectures, group discussions, and practical communication projects. Morning sessions cover corporate communication theory, PR principles, and marketing communication, while afternoons focus on case studies, brand strategy exercises, and digital communication workshops. Students work on corporate communication campaigns, PR plans, brand audits, and research projects. Industrial attachment in corporate communication departments provides real-world experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Trimester system allows accelerated completion in three calendar years instead of four.
Integrates communication theory with management principles providing a versatile skill set.
Offered at JKUAT, a well-established public university with strong industry connections.
Affordable public university tuition at KES 168,967/year with HELB funding available.

Against it

Trimester system is intensive, requiring year-round study with shorter breaks.
Only offered at JKUAT, limiting institutional choice for this specific programme.
Programme name varies between BSc and BA across different sources, potentially causing confusion.
Corporate communication roles in Kenya often require additional professional certifications beyond the degree.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public204k to 283k

204k at Kenyatta University283k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 365k

105k at Mount Kenya University365k at United States International University 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 204K, UoN 283K/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 105K, USIU 364.9K/yr (usiu.ac.ke).

HELB loans and Higher Education Fund (HEF) support are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries and JKUAT internal scholarships may also be available.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

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 fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
Government bursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
Media Council of Kenya Journalism Training Fund
BursaryKenyan
Journalism and communication students accredited by the Media Council of Kenya
Nation Media Group Journalism Graduate Trainee Programme
ScholarshipKenyan
Recent journalism, media and communication graduates with strong digital skills

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with a minimum of two principal passes and one subsidiary pass with a credit pass in English at KCE; OR a diploma or professional certificate in a relevant discipline from a recognised institution; OR any other qualification accepted by the JKUAT Senate with KCSE mean grade of C (Plain).

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, communication assignments, and project work throughout the trimester.
Practical Projects and Presentations
Practical20% of the mark
Communication campaign projects, PR plans, brand audits, and oral presentations.
End of Trimester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the trimester.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment in a corporate communication department plus a final-year research project.

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

Corporate Communication Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages internal and external corporate communication, including media relations, stakeholder communication, and corporate messaging.
Public Relations Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Develops and implements PR strategies, manages media relations, and maintains organisational reputation.
Brand Manager
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages brand strategy, brand positioning, and brand communication for organisations.
Marketing Communication Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops marketing communication materials, manages campaigns, and coordinates promotional activities.
Digital Communication Officer
Very high demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 170,000
Manages digital communication channels, social media strategy, and online corporate presence.
Event Manager
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Plans and manages corporate events, conferences, and promotional activities for organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as corporate communication officers, PR officers, and brand managers in corporate organisations, government, and NGOs. Demand is high with growing recognition of strategic communication in Kenyan organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
ProductivityPrimary
Essential tools for business writing, presentations, and corporate communication materials.
Adobe Creative Suite
DesignPrimary
Design tools for creating corporate communication materials, brand assets, and marketing collateral.
Hootsuite
Social media management
Social media management platform for scheduling, monitoring, and analysing corporate social media.
Canva
Design
Online design tool for creating social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials.
Google Analytics
Analytics
Web analytics tool for measuring digital communication effectiveness and online campaign performance.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Corporate communication is the same as journalism.
Corporate communication focuses on organisational communication strategy, brand management, and stakeholder relations, unlike journalism which focuses on news gathering and reporting.
Graduates only work in PR agencies.
Graduates work in diverse sectors including banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, government, NGOs, and as independent communication consultants.
Corporate communication is just about writing press releases.
The field encompasses strategic communication, crisis management, brand management, internal communication, digital strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
The management component makes it a business degree.
The programme integrates management principles with communication theory, but its primary focus is on communication strategy and practice, not general business management.