Social Sciences

Bachelor of Gender and Development

The Bachelor of Gender and Development is a four-year programme that prepares students for gender advocacy, development planning and social policy roles. Students study gender studies, development theory, sociology, social policy and community development. The programme focuses on gender equality, women's empowerment and inclusive development.

Students develop competencies in gender analysis, development planning, social research, policy advocacy, community engagement and programme management. They learn to analyse gender issues, develop inclusive programmes, advocate for policy change and manage development projects. The programme covers gender theory, development studies, sociology, economics and research methods.

In Kenya, gender and development is critical for achieving equality and inclusive growth. Kenya's constitutional gender provisions and women's empowerment agenda create demand. NGOs, government agencies and international organisations require gender specialists. Graduates find roles in NGOs, government ministries, international organisations, county governments and research institutions.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, community engagement, industrial attachment and research projects. Students conduct gender analysis, develop programmes, engage communities and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as gender officers, development officers, programme managers, social researchers and policy analysts. Some work for NGOs or government ministries. Others join international organisations, county governments or research institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with social awareness, advocacy skills and passion for gender equality and development.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 182,440
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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Gender Theory and Analysis
Development Studies and Theory
Sociology and Social Structures
Gender and Development Policy
Social Research Methods
Community Development and Participation
Women's Empowerment and Rights
Project Planning and Management
Gender and Economics
Advocacy and Communication

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Gender Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Gender Studies: Fundamentals of gender theory, concepts and gender analysis frameworks Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Development Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Development theories, paradigms and development practice. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...
Sociology and Social Structures
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Social structures, institutions and social change. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cour...
Gender and Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender and Economics: Gender dimensions of economics, labour and economic empowerment Covers economic theory, market analysis, and policy evaluation.
Women's Empowerment and Rights
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Women's rights, empowerment strategies and legal frameworks. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Social Research Methods
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design, qualitative and quantitative methods. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, ...
Gender and Development Policy
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender policy analysis, development policy and governance. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Community Development and Participation
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Community development approaches and participatory methods. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Project Planning and Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Gender-Based Violence and Response
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
GBV prevention, response mechanisms and support systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...
Advocacy and Communication
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Advocacy strategies, communication and social mobilisation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on gender and development. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursew...

Specialisations

Social Research
Specialization in Social Research, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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.
Community Development
Specialization in Community Development, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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.
Women's Empowerment
Specialization in Women's Empowerment, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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.
Development Planning
Specialization in Development Planning, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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.
Gender-Based Violence
Specialization in Gender-Based Violence, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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.
Gender Policy
Specialization in Gender Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as social-worker. 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 gender theory or development studies with afternoon case studies, community engagement or project work. Students may conduct gender analysis, develop programmes, engage communities or work on advocacy projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's gender equality and development agenda
Diverse career paths in NGOs, government and international organisations
Opportunity to contribute to social change
Growing recognition of gender in development

Against it

Some positions depend on donor funding
Advocacy work can be challenging and slow
Fieldwork and community engagement can be demanding
May require postgraduate study for advanced roles

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 182k

153k at Kenyatta University182k at Egerton 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

KU 153K (ku.ac.ke), UoN 180K (uonbi.ac.ke), Egerton 182.4K (campus.co.ke). Private: unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some NGOs and international organisations offer internship stipends.

Funding options

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

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
NGAAF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Women, youth and persons with disabilities from vulnerable backgrounds
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

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

How you are assessed

4 components

Final Examination
Coursework30% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Project Work and Community Engagement
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Gender Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Manages gender programmes and ensures gender mainstreaming
Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Implements development programmes with gender perspective
Social Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts research on gender and social development issues
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Analyses and develops gender and social policy
Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages development and gender programmes in organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as gender officers, development officers, programme managers, social researchers and policy analysts in NGOs, government ministries, international organisations, county governments and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
SPSS
Data analysis
Google Workspace
Collaboration
KOBO Toolbox
Data collection
SPSS/Stata
Statistical software
Gender research data analysis.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Gender studies is only for women
Gender studies is relevant to all genders and focuses on equality and inclusive development.
There are no jobs in gender and development
NGOs, government and international organisations create demand for gender specialists.
Gender and development is just about women's issues
Gender and development covers men, boys, LGBTQ+ issues and broader social inclusion.
Gender studies is not a serious academic field
Gender studies involves rigorous social science research and policy analysis.