Social Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Defence and Security Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Defence and Security Studies is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in defence and security studies. The programme falls under the Social Sciences & Humanities category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Research Methods, Social Theory, Development Studies, Statistics, Communication, Ethics. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Abnormal Psychology, African Leadership Challenges, Animation Software Proficiency, Art History Research, Basic Christian Doctrine. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Introduction to Sociology, Foundations of Psychology, Research Methods in Social Sciences, Social Statistics, Development Studies. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Sociology & Community Development, Psychology & Counselling, Political Science & Public Administration. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Defence and Security Studies pursue careers as Animation Producer, Backend Developer, Chaplain, Public Administration & Civil Service. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 years
Job market: Moderate

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

6 subjects

Research Methods
Social Theory
Development Studies
Statistics
Communication
Ethics

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human behaviour, cognition, development, personality and psychological research methods.
Introduction to Sociology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Social structures, institutions, culture, socialisation and sociological theory.
Social Statistics
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Descriptive and inferential statistics, data analysis using SPSS/R for social research.
Research Methods in Social Sciences
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods in Social Sciences: Qualitative and quantitative research, survey design, data analysis and ethics. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and r...
Development Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of development, poverty, inequality, globalisation and development policy.
Political Science & Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Political Science & Governance: Political systems, governance, democracy, public policy and political theory. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Community Development & Social Work
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Community organising, project management, social intervention and needs assessment.
Economics for Social Sciences
Year 2Semester 22 creditsElective
Economics for Social Sciences: Microeconomics, macroeconomics and economic policy applied to social issues. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Field Attachment / Community Placement
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
Field Attachment / Community Placement: Supervised placement with NGO, government agency or community organisation. Provides hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and professional skills develo...
Social Policy & Administration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Policy analysis, social welfare, public administration and social programme evaluation.
Research Project / Dissertation
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research Project / Dissertation: Independent social research project: design, fieldwork, analysis and report. Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.
Ethics & Professional Practice
Year 4Semester 22 creditsCore
Professional ethics, research ethics, social responsibility and ethical decision-making.

Specialisations

Sociology & Community Development
Social research, community organising, project management and social policy. Students learn to analyse social issues and drive community empowerment.
Psychology & Counselling
Human behaviour, mental health, counselling techniques and psychological assessment. Students gain skills for clinical, organisational and community roles.
Political Science & Public Administration
Governance, public policy, political theory and administration. Students learn to navigate government, NGOs and international organisations.
Economics & Development Studies
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, development theory and policy analysis. Students learn to address poverty, inequality and economic growth challenges.
Geography & GIS
Spatial analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing and environmental planning. Students learn to map and analyse geographic data for decision-making.

A day as a student

A typical day blends lectures, practicals and group work, with attachment/internship in the field.

The trade offs

In its favour

Transferable skills across sectors.
Diverse career paths.

Against it

Competitive entry-level market.
Some paths need further specialisation.

What it costs

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

The fine print

Military institution (NDU-K); fees not publicly available for civilian enrollment.

HELB loans, county scholarships and university bursaries available.

Funding options

HELB Loan
Government Bursary
CDF Scholarship
Self-sponsored

Scholarships

5 recorded

County Government Bursaries
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Financial need
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Humanities/social sciences; Financial need
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
FullKsh 6,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Academic excellence; Leadership; Community service
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma progression or bridging.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests for this programme.
Term Paper/Essay
Project20% of the mark
Term Paper/Essay for this programme.
End-of-Semester Exam
Exam50% of the mark
End-of-Semester Exam for this programme.

Accreditation

Accredited by CUE and relevant professional bodies.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits university-level programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Animation Producer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Graduates can work as animation producer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Backend Developer
High demandKsh 78,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as backend developer in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Chaplain
Medium demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 180,000
Graduates can work as chaplain in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Public Administration & Civil Service
Medium demandKsh 72,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as public administration & civil service in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Animation & Film Production
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Graduates can work as animation & film production in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.
Art Conservator
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000
Graduates can work as art conservator in Kenya's social sciences & humanities sector.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find opportunities across social sciences & humanities in Kenya's public, private and entrepreneurship sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Scholar
Research
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
NVivo
Analytics
SPSS
AnalyticsPrimary
Zotero
Research
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This course has limited career prospects.
Graduates find opportunities across the public service, private industry, entrepreneurship, and further academic study.
The course is too theoretical with no practical value.
Programmes incorporate practical training, internships, and industry attachment to ensure graduates are job-ready.
You must have a related background to enrol.
Most programmes accept students from diverse academic backgrounds, with bridging support where needed.
Graduates of this course earn very little.
Earnings grow steadily with experience, specialisation, and professional certification.