Education

Bachelor of Education in Educational Psychology

The Bachelor of Education in Educational Psychology is a four-year degree programme that combines teacher education with specialised training in educational psychology. The curriculum covers educational psychology foundations, human growth and development, learning theories, educational measurement and evaluation, guidance and counselling, educational research methods, curriculum development, educational foundations, and teaching methodology. Students develop skills in classroom teaching, psychological assessment, student guidance and counselling, behaviour management, lesson planning, educational measurement and evaluation, curriculum design, educational research, and inclusive education practices.

Graduates pursue careers as secondary school teachers, school counsellors, educational psychologists, guidance officers, education officers, and education consultants. They find employment in public and private secondary schools, counselling centres, educational NGOs, and government education offices. The programme is offered at Kenyatta University (public, KES 183,600 per year, KUCCPS code 1111135 for B.

Ed Arts). Educational Psychology is a specialisation within the B. Ed programme at Kenyatta University's Department of Educational Psychology.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as teachers. Skills RequiredClassroom teachingPsychological assessmentStudent guidance and counsellingBehaviour managementLesson planningEducational measurement and evaluationCurriculum designEducational researchInclusive education practicesChild and adolescent developmentKey SubjectsEducational Ps

ychologyHuman Growth and DevelopmentLearning TheoriesEducational Measurement and EvaluationGuidance and CounsellingCurriculum DevelopmentEducational FoundationsResearch Methods in EducationTeaching MethodologyBehaviour ManagementCertificationsTeacher Registration - Teachers Service Commission (TSC)Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationKenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) MembershipSpecializationsEducational PsychologyFocus on learning theories, cognitive development, and psychological principles applied to education.

Guidance and CounsellingFocus on providing psychological support, career guidance, and counselling services in schools. Educational Measurement and EvaluationFocus on psychological testing, assessment design, and educational programme evaluation.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 263,000
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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

Educational Psychology
Human Growth and Development
Learning Theories
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Guidance and Counselling
Curriculum Development
Educational Foundations
Research Methods in Education
Teaching Methodology
Behaviour Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Overview of educational psychology, its history, and key theories of learning and development.
Human Growth and Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from childhood through adolescence.
Educational Foundations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Educational Foundations: Philosophical, sociological, and historical foundations of education in Kenya. Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Curriculum Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum design, the Kenyan secondary curriculum, and competency-based assessment.
Teaching Methodology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching in secondary schools, including learner-centred approaches.
Theories of Learning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Behaviourist, cognitive, constructivist, and social learning theories and their application in education.
Behaviour Management in Classrooms
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories and strategies for managing student behaviour and creating positive learning environments.
Guidance and Counselling
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories and techniques of guidance and counselling in educational settings, including career guidance.
Research Methods in Education
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, data collection, and analysis methods applied to educational psychology research.
Inclusive Education Practices
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategies for supporting learners with diverse needs, including disabilities and special talents, in mainstream classrooms.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of educational assessment, test construction, interpretation of scores, and programme evaluation.
Teaching Practice and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice at a secondary school and a final-year research project in educational psychology.

Specialisations

Educational Psychology
Focus on learning theories, cognitive development, and psychological principles applied to education.
Guidance and Counselling
Focus on providing psychological support, career guidance, and counselling services in schools. 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.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Focus on psychological testing, assessment design, and educational programme evaluation. 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.
Inclusive Education
Focus on supporting learners with diverse needs including those with disabilities and special talents.
Child and Adolescent Development
Focus on developmental psychology applied to teaching and learning in schools. 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 education lectures, psychology seminars, and teaching methodology sessions. Morning sessions cover educational psychology, human development, and learning theories, while afternoons focus on micro-teaching, counselling skills practice, and assessment design. Students participate in teaching practice at secondary schools and supervised psychological practicum in counselling centres, developing practical skills for both teaching and student support.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines teaching qualification with psychological training, making graduates more versatile.
Growing demand for school counsellors and guidance teachers in Kenyan schools.
KES 183,600/year at Kenyatta University is affordable compared to science-based B.Ed programmes.
Psychological training is valuable for classroom management and student support.

Against it

Not a separately coded KUCCPS programme — it is a specialisation within the B.Ed Arts programme.
Only offered at Kenyatta University, limiting geographic choice.
Not a clinical psychology qualification — graduates cannot practise as clinical psychologists.
Career advancement in psychology may require postgraduate study.

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

Public184k to 263k

184k at Kenyatta University263k at University of Nairobi

Private188k to 243k

188k at Kabarak University243k at Daystar University

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

UoN 263,000/yr; KU 183,600/yr; Daystar 242,800/yr; Kabarak 188,100/yr. Src: educationnewshub, Elimu, Kabarak

HELB loans and Higher Education Fund (HEF) support are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries 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.
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Student Support
BursaryKenyan
Students pursuing counselling and psychology programmes

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 in relevant subjects; OR a Diploma in Education from a recognised institution; OR P1 certificate with minimum KCSE mean grade C (Plain); OR any other qualification recognised by the university senate and CUE.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, case studies, counselling skills demonstrations, and micro-teaching evaluations throughout the semester.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice at a partner secondary school with assessment of classroom performance.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year research project investigating a relevant educational psychology issue.

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. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as teachers.

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

Secondary School Teacher (with Psychology)
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Teaches in secondary schools with specialised knowledge in educational psychology and student support.
School Counsellor / Guidance Teacher
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provides guidance and counselling services to students in secondary schools.
Educational Psychologist
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Applies psychological principles to education, supporting learners and advising schools.
Guidance Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Works in government education offices supporting guidance and counselling programmes in schools.
Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises schools and organisations on educational psychology and student support strategies.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs and evaluates curricula incorporating psychological principles of learning.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as secondary school teachers with additional psychological training, school counsellors, and guidance officers. Demand is growing with Kenya's emphasis on learner wellbeing and guidance counselling in schools.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Classroom
Learning managementPrimary
Learning management platform for organising classes, assignments, and student communication.
Microsoft PowerPoint
PresentationPrimary
Presentation tool for lesson delivery and instructional materials.
SPSS
Data analysis
Statistical analysis software for educational research and psychological assessment data.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysis
Spreadsheet tool for assessment record-keeping and student data analysis.
Zoom
Communication
Video conferencing tool for online counselling sessions and parent-teacher meetings.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is a psychology degree, not a teaching degree.
This is a professional education degree with TSC registration, combining psychology content with pedagogical training for teaching.
Graduates can only work as teachers.
Graduates can work as teachers, school counsellors, guidance officers, and educational consultants with their psychological training.
Educational psychology is the same as clinical psychology.
Educational psychology focuses on learning, development, and assessment in educational settings, not on clinical mental health treatment.
This is a separate programme from the regular B.Ed.
Educational Psychology is a specialisation within the B.Ed programme at Kenyatta University, not a separately coded KUCCPS programme.