Business

Bachelor of Science in Security Science and Management

The Bachelor Of Science In Security Science And Management is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in security science and management. The programme falls under the Business & Economics category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Security Science and Management, Security Management, Risk Assessment, Security Operations, Emergency Response, Security Technology. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Advertising, Business Process Modeling, Data Visualization, Entrepreneurship, Financial Analysis. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Risk Assessment, Physical Security, Introduction to Security Science and Management, Security Management, Strategic Management. 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 Emergency Response, Risk Assessment, Security Management. 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 Security Science And Management pursue careers as Risk Assessor, Security Officer, Security Manager, Security Consultant. 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
Public, up to: Ksh 259,000
Private, up to: Ksh 255,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Security Science and Management
Security Management
Risk Assessment
Security Operations
Emergency Response
Security Technology

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Security Science and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Comprehensive introduction to security science and management, covering security concepts, management principles, and approaches to security operations.
Security Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of security management, covering security planning, security strategy, security coordination, and security administration.
Risk Assessment
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Examination of risk assessment, covering risk analysis, threat assessment, vulnerability assessment, and risk evaluation.
Security Operations
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of security operations, covering security procedures, security monitoring, security enforcement, and security coordination.
Emergency Response
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of emergency response, covering emergency procedures, crisis management, incident response, and emergency coordination.
Security Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of security technology skills, covering security systems, surveillance technology, access control, and security analytics.
Physical Security
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of physical security, covering perimeter security, facility security, security design, and security infrastructure.
Security Law
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of security law, covering security legislation, regulatory frameworks, compliance, and legal frameworks for security.
Strategic Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of strategic management, covering strategic analysis, strategy formulation, and strategic implementation in security context.
Security Ethics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of ethical issues in security science, covering professional ethics, security ethics, and ethical decision-making in security practice.
Security Science and Management Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical security work where students apply learned skills in security management, risk assessment, and security operations.
Security Science and Management Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project on security topic, demonstrating mastery of security science and management theory and practice.

Specialisations

Emergency Response
Focus on emergency procedures, crisis management, and incident response. 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.
Risk Assessment
Specialization in risk analysis, threat assessment, and vulnerability assessment. 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.
Security Management
Focus on security planning, security strategy, and security coordination for security management careers.
General Practice
Broad foundational knowledge covering core principles and practices in the field. 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

Students attend lectures, conduct security management, participate in case studies, and engage in risk assessment.

The trade offs

In its favour

Diverse career opportunities in security science across government, security firms, and corporate security.
Strong foundation in both security management and risk assessment skills.
Security operations and risk assessment provide hands-on experience with emergency response and security technology.

Against it

Security roles often involve high pressure and responsibility for safety and security.
Security management requires continuous learning of new security technologies and threat patterns.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public153k to 259k

153k at Kenyatta University259k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 256k

105k at Mount Kenya University256k 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 BSc Finance 259K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke); KU BA 153K/yr (mawese); Daystar 255.8K/yr; MKU 105K/yr.

HELB loans available for eligible students. Some universities offer scholarships based on academic performance.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating 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
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Security Management, Criminology, Disaster Management, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

English/Kiswahili
C
Mathematics
C
Business Studies/Economics/Geography
C
Any Group II subject
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research project on security topic, demonstrating mastery of security science and management theory and practice.
End of Semester Examinations
Exam70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester testing understanding of security management, risk assessment, and security operations.
Practice Assessments
Practicum100% of the mark
Evaluation of security science skills, security work, and practical applications through security management and case studies.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, and security exercises throughout the semester evaluating knowledge and practical skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Risk Assessor
High demandKsh 52,000 to Ksh 115,000
Conduct risk assessments, develop risk strategies, and support threat assessment and vulnerability assessment.
Security Officer
High demandKsh 48,000 to Ksh 105,000
Support security operations, implement security procedures, and work in security monitoring and security enforcement.
Security Manager
High demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 120,000
Manage security operations, develop security strategies, and coordinate security planning and security administration.
Security Consultant
Medium demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Provide security expertise, consult on security strategy, and support organizations in security improvement.
Emergency Response Coordinator
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Support emergency response, implement emergency procedures, and work in crisis management and incident response.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in security science and management across Kenya's security and safety sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Power BI
AnalyticsPrimary
QuickBooks
Accounting
SAP
Enterprise
Google Workspace
Cloud
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.
The programme is only for top-performing students.
While academic excellence is valued, the programme accepts students meeting the minimum KCSE requirements and supports diverse learners.
Graduates cannot find employment in Kenya.
Kenya's growing economy creates demand for qualified graduates across public, private, and NGO sectors.
The degree is not recognised internationally.
The programme is accredited by CUE and is recognised under regional and international qualification frameworks.