Engineering

Bachelor of Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management

The Bachelor of Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management is a four-year degree programme offered at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) through its Department of Disaster Preparedness and Engineering Management (DPEM).

The curriculum covers disaster management, engineering geology, environmental science, natural hazards, atmospheric sciences, structural engineering for disaster resilience, fire safety management, search and rescue, risk assessment, geographic information systems, early warning systems, emergency response planning, and.

Students develop skills in engineering risk assessment, structural vulnerability analysis, disaster preparedness planning, fire safety management, search and rescue operations, GIS mapping, environmental monitoring, emergency response coordination, and research methodology.

Graduates pursue careers as disaster preparedness officers, engineering risk consultants, fire safety managers, emergency response coordinators, environmental compliance officers, and infrastructure resilience specialists. They find employment in government agencies, engineering firms, fire departments, emergency services, NGOs, and international organisations.

The programme is offered at MMUST (public, KES 153,000 per year for KUCCPS-sponsored students) at the main campus in Kakamega County. The DPEM department was established in 2010 as one of four departments in the School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. The KUCCPS code is 1082844.

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, Mathematics or Physics, and Biology or Chemistry.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 153,000
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Disaster Management
Engineering Geology
Environmental Science
Natural Hazards
Structural Engineering for Disaster Resilience
Fire Safety Management
Search and Rescue
Risk Assessment
Geographic Information Systems
Early Warning Systems

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of disaster management, hazard types, and the disaster management cycle.
Engineering Geology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Geological processes, rock and soil mechanics, and geological hazards relevant to engineering and disasters.
Environmental Science and Natural Hazards
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental systems, natural hazard processes, and atmospheric sciences in disaster contexts.
Structural Engineering for Disaster Resilience
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Structural design principles for disaster resilience, vulnerability assessment, and retrofitting.
Fire Safety Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fire science, fire prevention systems, suppression technologies, and fire safety regulations.
Search and Rescue Operations
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Urban and wilderness search and rescue techniques, incident command systems, and field skills practicum.
Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Methods for assessing engineering risks, structural vulnerability, and community hazard exposure.
GIS for Hazard Mapping
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
GIS tools for hazard mapping, spatial risk analysis, and emergency response planning.
Research Methods in Disaster and Engineering Studies
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to disaster preparedness and engineering management.
Early Warning Systems and Technology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Design and implementation of technological early warning systems for natural and technological hazards.
Emergency Response Planning and Coordination
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Emergency operations planning, inter-agency coordination, and incident command systems.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a disaster management, engineering, or emergency services organisation and a final-year research project.

Specialisations

Engineering Risk Assessment
Focus on structural vulnerability, infrastructure risk analysis, and engineering solutions for disaster resilience.
Fire Safety Management
Focus on fire prevention, suppression systems, and fire safety regulations in buildings and industrial settings.
Search and Rescue Operations
Focus on urban and wilderness search and rescue, incident command systems, and emergency response coordination.
Environmental Hazard Management
Focus on natural hazards, atmospheric sciences, and environmental monitoring for disaster preparedness.
Infrastructure Resilience
Focus on designing and retrofitting infrastructure to withstand natural and technological disasters.
Early Warning Systems
Focus on designing and implementing technological early warning systems for natural 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.

A day as a student

A typical day at MMUST combines engineering lectures, laboratory practicals, and field exercises. Morning sessions cover engineering geology, structural engineering, and disaster management theory, while afternoons focus on GIS practicals, fire safety demonstrations, and search and rescue simulations. Students participate in a mandatory field skills practicum in Budalangi or similar locations, practising survival skills, search and rescue, and leadership. The Kakamega campus provides diverse terrain for practical disaster preparedness training.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique programme combining engineering with disaster preparedness, not offered at other Kenyan universities.
DPEM department established in 2010 with experienced faculty and four technical divisions.
Mandatory field skills practicum including search and rescue, survival, and leadership training.
Affordable public university tuition at KES 153,000/year with HELB funding available.

Against it

Only offered at one institution (MMUST) in Kakamega County, limiting geographic choice.
Requires strong foundation in both sciences and mathematics, which may challenge some students.
Graduates are not licensed engineers, which may limit some career paths in traditional engineering.
Fieldwork involves working in hazardous environments and disaster-affected areas.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering 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

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.
Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) Student Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Student members of IEK pursuing accredited engineering programmes
KCDF More Girls for Engineering Opportunities
ScholarshipKenyan
Young women from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing engineering

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 and one subsidiary pass; 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, engineering problem sets, risk assessment reports, and assignments throughout the semester.
Laboratory Practicals and Field Exercises
Practical20% of the mark
GIS practicals, fire safety demonstrations, search and rescue simulations, and field skills practicum.
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, engineering, or emergency services 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 Preparedness Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000
Develops and implements disaster preparedness plans, conducts risk assessments, and coordinates training.
Engineering Risk Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 220,000
Assesses structural vulnerability and engineering risks for buildings, infrastructure, and industrial facilities.
Fire Safety Manager
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages fire safety programmes, ensures regulatory compliance, and coordinates fire emergency response.
Emergency Response Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Coordinates emergency response operations, manages incident command, and liaises with agencies.
Environmental Compliance Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 170,000
Ensures environmental compliance and manages environmental risks for organisations and government.
Infrastructure Resilience Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs and implements infrastructure resilience programmes for governments and development organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as disaster preparedness officers, engineering risk consultants, and fire safety managers in government, engineering firms, and emergency services. Demand is moderate with growing focus on infrastructure resilience.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
MappingPrimary
GIS software for hazard mapping, spatial risk analysis, and emergency response planning.
Microsoft Office Suite
ProductivityPrimary
Essential tools for report writing, risk assessment documentation, and project planning.
AutoCAD
Engineering
CAD software for structural drawings and infrastructure vulnerability assessment.
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis software for risk assessment research and disaster data analysis.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery platform for environmental monitoring and hazard assessment.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is a pure engineering degree.
The programme combines engineering principles with disaster management, focusing on resilience and preparedness rather than traditional engineering design.
Graduates become licensed engineers.
Graduates work in disaster preparedness and risk management roles, not as licensed professional engineers. Engineering licensure requires a separate engineering degree.
The programme only covers natural disasters.
The programme covers both natural hazards and technological disasters, including fires, structural failures, and industrial accidents.
Disaster preparedness is only about emergency response.
The programme emphasises proactive preparedness, risk assessment, infrastructure resilience, and prevention, not just response.