Environmental Science

Bachelor of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development

The Bachelor of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development is a four-year degree programme offered at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) through its School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.

The curriculum covers disaster theory, sustainable development frameworks, risk assessment, environmental management, climate change adaptation, geographic information systems, early warning systems, community resilience, project management, research methodology, environmental policy, humanitarian evaluation, and integrated emergency management.

Students develop skills in risk assessment, sustainable development planning, GIS mapping, environmental impact assessment, project management, policy analysis, community engagement, research methodology, and early warning system design.

Graduates pursue careers as disaster risk reduction officers, sustainable development officers, environmental managers, project coordinators, policy analysts, and researchers. They find employment in government agencies, NGOs, international organisations, environmental bodies, and research institutions.

The programme is offered at MMUST (public, KES 153,000 per year for KUCCPS-sponsored students) at the main campus in Kakamega County. MMUST's Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development focuses on frameworks and skills for addressing contemporary hazards, disasters, and complex emergencies. The KUCCPS code is 1082744.

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 science or geography subjects.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 153,000
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

Disaster Theory
Sustainable Development Frameworks
Risk Assessment
Environmental Management
Climate Change Adaptation
Geographic Information Systems
Early Warning Systems
Community Resilience
Project Management
Environmental Policy

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of disaster management, disaster types, and the disaster management cycle.
Sustainable Development Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of sustainable development, the SDGs, and their relationship to disaster risk reduction.
Environmental Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental management principles, natural resource conservation, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.
Geographic Information Systems for Risk Mapping
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
GIS tools and techniques for hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment, and spatial analysis.
Climate Change and Disaster Risk
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Climate change science, climate-induced disasters, and adaptation strategies for sustainable development.
Early Warning Systems and Response
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Design and implementation of early warning systems for natural and human-induced hazards.
Community Resilience and Livelihoods
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Building community resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and integrating DRR with local development.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
National and international environmental policies, governance frameworks, and the Sendai Framework.
Research Methods in Disaster and Development
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to disaster management and development studies.
Project Management for Development
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for disaster and development programmes.
Humanitarian Evaluation and Impact Assessment
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development programmes, including impact assessment methods.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a disaster management, environmental, or development organisation and a final-year research project.

Specialisations

Disaster Risk Reduction
Focus on risk assessment, prevention strategies, 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.
Sustainable Development Planning
Focus on integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development planning and policy. 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.
Climate Change Adaptation
Focus on climate-related disaster risks, adaptation strategies, and 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.
Environmental Management
Focus on environmental degradation, natural resource management, and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.
Early Warning Systems
Focus on designing and implementing early warning systems for natural and human-induced hazards. 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.
Humanitarian Evaluation
Focus on monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development programmes in disaster contexts. 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 MMUST combines lectures, GIS practicals, and fieldwork. Morning sessions cover disaster theory, sustainable development frameworks, and environmental management, while afternoons focus on GIS laboratory work, risk mapping exercises, and community engagement planning. Students participate in environmental impact assessments, visit disaster-affected areas, and engage with guest speakers from NEMA, UNDP, and humanitarian organisations. The Kakamega campus provides diverse ecological settings for practical learning.

The trade offs

In its favour

Integrates disaster management with sustainable development, addressing the root causes of disaster risk.
Offered at MMUST, a pioneer in disaster management education in Kenya with a dedicated department.
Affordable public university tuition at KES 153,000/year with HELB funding available.
High demand with growing global focus on climate resilience and the SDGs.

Against it

Only offered at one institution (MMUST) in Kakamega County, limiting geographic choice.
Requires strong foundation in both sciences and social sciences, which may challenge some students.
Fieldwork may involve working in disaster-affected or environmentally degraded areas.
Career advancement may require additional certifications or postgraduate qualifications.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public153k to 153k

153k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology153k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

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

MMUST 153K/yr (KUCCPS 2025). Private: unverified - no private univ found.

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

Funding options

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

Scholarships

3 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.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with at least two principal passes, one of which must be in Biology or Geography; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution (may be exempted in relevant units); OR any other qualification accepted by the MMUST Senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, research papers, case analyses, and assignments throughout the semester.
Fieldwork and GIS Practicals
Practical20% of the mark
Field visits, GIS laboratory exercises, risk mapping assignments, and environmental assessments.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment at a disaster management, environmental, or development organisation 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

Disaster Risk Reduction Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000
Assesses disaster risks, develops reduction strategies, and implements community resilience programmes.
Sustainable Development Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 170,000
Plans and implements sustainable development programmes integrating disaster risk reduction.
Environmental Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages environmental resources, conducts impact assessments, and ensures regulatory compliance.
Project Coordinator (DRR and Development)
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Coordinates disaster risk reduction and development projects for NGOs and international organisations.
Policy Analyst (Environment and DRR)
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Analyses environmental and disaster risk reduction policies, providing recommendations to government.
Research Officer (Disaster and Development)
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 170,000
Conducts research on disaster-development linkages, vulnerability, and resilience.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as disaster risk reduction officers, sustainable development officers, and environmental managers in government, NGOs, and international organisations. Demand is high with growing focus on climate resilience and sustainable development.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
MappingPrimary
GIS software for hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment, and spatial analysis of disaster data.
Microsoft Office Suite
ProductivityPrimary
Essential tools for report writing, project planning, and data presentation.
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis software for disaster and development research.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery and geospatial analysis platform for environmental monitoring and disaster assessment.
KoBoToolbox
Data collection
Open-source data collection tool for field surveys and vulnerability assessments.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Disaster management and sustainable development are separate fields.
The programme integrates both fields, recognising that disasters undermine development and poor development increases disaster risk.
This is purely an environmental science programme.
The programme combines social sciences, environmental management, and development studies with disaster risk reduction.
Graduates only work in disaster response.
Graduates work in sustainable development planning, environmental management, policy analysis, and long-term risk reduction, not just emergency response.
The programme is only relevant to disaster-prone areas.
Sustainable development and disaster risk reduction are relevant everywhere, as climate change increases risks globally.