Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Community Health

The Bachelor of Science in Community Health is a programme that provides comprehensive training in public health, community health practice and health promotion. Offered at Kenyatta University, JKUAT, Maseno University, Mount Kenya University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in community health and public health practice.

The curriculum covers public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, community health practice, health promotion, environmental health, maternal and child health, nutrition, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, health policy, health systems management, health education, research methods, monitoring and evaluation, and a research project. Students develop public health and community engagement skills.

Kenya's healthcare system, universal health coverage goals and community health strategy create strong demand for community health graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, fieldwork, community outreach, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as community health officers, public health officers, health promotion officers, epidemiologists, programme officers, M&E officers, health educators, research assistants and NGO health coordinators. They work in county governments, Ministry of Health, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions and community-based organisations.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 280,000
Private, up to: Ksh 130,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Public Health
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Community Health Practice
Health Promotion
Environmental Health
Maternal and Child Health
Communicable Diseases
Health Policy
Health Systems Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Public Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Public health principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semeste...
Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Disease patterns and control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-sem...
Biostatistics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Health statistics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Community Health Practice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Community health interventions. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...
Health Promotion
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Health education and promotion. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...
Environmental Health
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental health. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Maternal and Child Health
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
MCH services. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinations.
Communicable Diseases
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Infectious disease control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Health Policy
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Health policy and planning. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

Health Systems Management
Health management. 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.
Maternal and Child Health
MCH services. 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.
Health Promotion
Health education. 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.
Epidemiology
Disease surveillance. 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 involves attending public health lectures, studying epidemiology, conducting community health assessments, researching disease patterns, learning biostatistics, participating in community outreach, analysing health data, and working on public health research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Universal health coverage creates strong demand
Diverse career paths in government, NGOs and international organisations
Socially impactful profession

Against it

Some roles require working in remote areas
Public sector salaries may be modest
May require postgraduate qualifications for advancement

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public275k to 280k

275k at Kenyatta University280k at University of Nairobi

Private100k to 130k

100k at Great Lakes University of Kisumu130k at Kenya Methodist 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 ~275K (educationnewshub). UoN ~280K (eduguide). KeMU ~130K, GLUK ~100K (eafinder).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available for eligible students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

4 recorded

NGAAF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Women, youth and persons with disabilities from vulnerable backgrounds
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students in health sciences
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili. Diploma in community health, public health, nursing or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Biology
C+
Chemistry
C+
Mathematics
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments
End of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Field Practicals
Practicum10% of the mark
Community health fieldwork
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final year research project

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at multiple public and private universities. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Community Health Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Community health practice
Programme Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Health programme management
Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Public health practice
Health Promotion Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 220,000
Health education
M&E Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Monitoring and evaluation

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as community health officers, public health officers and health promotion officers in county governments, NGOs and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Stethoscope
Medical equipmentPrimary
Primary diagnostic tool.
KenyaEMR
Health is
Electronic medical records.
Surgical Instruments
Medical equipmentPrimary
Surgical tools and equipment.
Laparoscopic Equipment
Medical equipment
Minimally invasive surgery systems.
PACS
Imaging systemPrimary
Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Community health is just about community health workers.
The programme covers epidemiology, health policy, health systems and research.
Community health graduates only work in villages.
Graduates work in government, NGOs, research institutions and international organisations.
This is less important than clinical medicine.
Community health is essential for disease prevention and health promotion.
There are no jobs in community health.
Universal health coverage and devolution create strong demand.