Education

Bachelor of Education in Arts (History, CRE, Geography, English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Business Studies)

The Bachelor of Education in Arts is a four-year programme that prepares students for teaching multiple arts and humanities subjects in secondary schools. Students study education theory, teaching methods and content across History, Christian Religious Education, Geography, English, Kiswahili, Mathematics and Business Studies, developing versatile teaching skills. The programme prepares graduates for multi-subject teaching roles common in Kenyan secondary schools.

Students develop competencies in teaching multiple subjects, curriculum development, classroom management, educational assessment and interdisciplinary instruction. They learn to teach combinations of arts and humanities subjects, manage diverse classrooms, develop curricula and assess learning across disciplines. The programme covers broad subject content with education training.

In Kenya, secondary school teachers often handle multiple subjects, especially in smaller schools. The Competency-Based Curriculum integrates subjects and emphasises cross-curricular competencies. TSC employs teachers with multi-subject qualifications. Schools in rural and sub-county settings particularly value teachers who can handle multiple subjects. Graduates find roles in secondary schools, teacher training colleges and educational organisations.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, subject content sessions, teaching practice, micro-teaching and research projects. Students develop lesson plans across subjects, teach multiple classes and undertake teaching practice. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as multi-subject teachers, subject teachers, curriculum developers and education officers. Some work in secondary schools teaching various subject combinations. Others join educational organisations or training institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with broad academic interests and teaching aptitude. Students who enjoy multiple humanities subjects and want versatility in teaching will find this programme particularly suitable.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 283,135
Private, up to: Ksh 188,500
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Psychology and Learning Theory
Teaching Methods for Arts and Humanities
History and Government Education
Christian Religious Education (CRE)
Geography Education
English and Kiswahili Language Education
Mathematics for Secondary Teaching
Business Studies Education
Curriculum Development and CBC Implementation
Educational Assessment and Evaluation

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of education, including history, philosophy and sociology of education
Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Psychological principles of learning, development and motivation in educational settings
History and Government Content
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
History and Government Content: Content knowledge in History and Government for secondary school teaching Covers historical analysis, source evaluation, and interpretation of past events.
Geography and CRE Content
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Geography and CRE Content: Content knowledge in Geography and Christian Religious Education for teaching Covers spatial analysis, human-environment interactions, and geographic methods.
Teaching Methods for Arts and Humanities
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Teaching Methods for Arts and Humanities: Teaching strategies and methods for arts and humanities subjects Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
English and Kiswahili Language Content
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Content knowledge in English and Kiswahili for secondary school language teaching
Mathematics and Business Studies Content
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Mathematics and Business Studies Content: Content knowledge in Mathematics and Business Studies for secondary teaching Covers theoretical foundations, problem-solving techniques, and practical appl...
Curriculum Development and CBC Implementation
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Curriculum Development and CBC Implementation: Curriculum design principles and Competency-Based Curriculum implementation Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relev...
Educational Assessment and Evaluation
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Educational Assessment and Evaluation: Assessment methods for multiple subjects and competency-based evaluation Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Classroom Management and Behaviour Support
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Classroom Management and Behaviour Support: Classroom management strategies for diverse learning environments Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research on a selected education topic producing a scholarly dissertation
Teaching Practice
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice in a secondary school, delivering lessons across multiple subjects

Specialisations

History and CRE
Specialization in History and CRE, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher. 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.
Mathematics and Business Studies
Specialization in Mathematics and Business Studies, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher.
English and History
Specialization in English and History, preparing graduates for careers such as language-teacher. 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.
Curriculum Development
Specialization in Curriculum Development, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Geography and English
Specialization in Geography and English, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher. 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.
Kiswahili and Business Studies
Specialization in Kiswahili and Business Studies, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher. 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 combines morning lectures on education theory or subject content with afternoon teaching practice or micro-teaching. Students may develop lesson plans across multiple subjects, teach different classes or work on interdisciplinary curriculum projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Multi-subject qualification increases employability
Versatile teaching skills valued in Kenyan schools
Diverse career paths in education
Particularly valuable in rural and sub-county schools

Against it

Requires competence across multiple subject areas
Balancing multiple subjects can be demanding
May limit depth in any single subject
Some schools may prioritise single-subject specialists

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public110k to 283k

110k at Garissa University283k at Kisii University

Private96k to 189k

96k at Islamic University of Kenya189k at Marist International University College

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

Kisii 283,135/yr; Garissa 109,650/yr; Marist 188,500/yr; Islamic 96,000/yr. Src: educationnewshub KUCCPS, Tuko

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some schools offer stipends during teaching practice periods.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions
Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) Training Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Students in geospatial sciences, GIS and remote sensing

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English/Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Any Group III subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Teaching Practice and Micro-Teaching
Coursework35% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework25% of the mark
Research Project
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). TSC registration is required for teaching in public schools in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired
Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Multi-Subject Teacher
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches multiple arts and humanities subjects in secondary schools
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Develops educational curricula across multiple subject areas
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages education programmes and supports school administration
Subject Teacher
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches specific arts subjects in secondary schools
Teacher Educator
Low demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Trains future teachers at teacher training colleges

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as multi-subject teachers, subject teachers, curriculum developers and education officers in secondary schools, teacher training colleges and educational organisations across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for educational data management, extension planning and IT project tracking.
PowerPoint
SoftwarePrimary
Presentation tool for teaching, farmer training and extension education sessions.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for educational and extension research.
Google Classroom
Software
Learning management system for agricultural education and online teaching.
KoboToolbox
Software
Mobile data collection tool for field surveys and extension needs assessment.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Multi-subject teachers are less qualified
Multi-subject qualification is an advantage, especially in schools where teachers handle several subjects.
This programme covers too many subjects superficially
Students typically specialise in two or three teaching subjects while gaining exposure to others.
Multi-subject teachers only work in rural schools
Multi-subject teachers are valued in all types of schools for their versatility.
This is a generalist degree with no focus
Students develop depth in selected teaching subjects while maintaining breadth across disciplines.