Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Development

The Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Development is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University and other Kenyan universities through their Schools of Education. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on curriculum development processes, frameworks, and policies, contributing to educational innovation and reform in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced curriculum development theory, educational innovation, policy analysis, research methodology, and curriculum evaluation. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to curriculum development.

Kenya is implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) as a major educational reform, creating critical demand for curriculum development researchers. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can design, evaluate, and improve curriculum frameworks for Kenyan schools and higher education institutions.

Teaching methods include lectures, research seminars, field research in schools and educational institutions, curriculum design projects, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university education resources and collaborate with KICD and the Ministry of Education.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, curriculum development researchers, curriculum specialists, educational policy analysts, and international education consultants in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in curriculum development, curriculum studies, education, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in curriculum development and educational reform.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 251,900
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 10 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Curriculum Development Theory
Educational Innovation and Change
Curriculum Policy Analysis
Research Methodology
Curriculum Evaluation
Educational Assessment
Thesis Research
Comparative Curriculum Studies
Statistics for Education
Curriculum Materials Development

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Curriculum Development Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theories of curriculum development including Tyler, Taba, Stenhouse, and post-modern perspectives on curriculum design
Curriculum Theory and Models
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical models of curriculum, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Educational Innovation and Change Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories and practices of educational innovation including change management, diffusion of innovations, and reform implementation
Curriculum Design and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Design and development of curriculum, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Curriculum Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of curriculum policy frameworks including CBC policy, education sector reforms, and international curriculum policies
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Evaluation of curriculum, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Research Methodology in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for curriculum research including design, data collection, and analysis
Curriculum Policy and Reform
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Policy and reform in curriculum, analysing policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and their impact on practice within the Kenyan and broader African context.
Curriculum Evaluation and Quality Assurance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Methods for evaluating curriculum quality including formative evaluation, summative evaluation, and quality assurance frameworks
Instructional Design and Technology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Design of instruction, covering technological tools, digital platforms, and information systems relevant to contemporary research and professional practice.
Curriculum Materials Development and Design
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles and practices of developing curriculum materials including textbooks, digital resources, and learning aids
Research Methods in Curriculum Studies
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

Specialisations

Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
School Guidance Counselling
Specialization in School Guidance Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as school-guidance-counselor.
Public Health and Education Policy
Specialization in Public Health and Education Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Health Education Research
Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.
Curriculum Development Research
Specialization in Curriculum Development Research, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Career Guidance Counselling
Specialization in Career Guidance Counselling, preparing graduates for careers such as career-guidance-lmi-counselor.
Curriculum Design
Research on curriculum design and development
Curriculum Policy
Research on curriculum policy and reform
Curriculum Evaluation
Research on curriculum evaluation
Instructional Design
Research on instructional design

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on curriculum development with data analysis from school-based studies, curriculum design projects, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KICD for curriculum development fieldwork.

The trade offs

In its favour

Directly relevant to Kenya's CBC reform creating strong demand for expertise
Kenya's CBC reforms create strong demand for curriculum expertise
Multiple study modes including school-based for working professionals
Opportunities for international collaboration through UNESCO and DAAD

Against it

Curriculum research can be politically sensitive
Requires understanding of education policy and practice
School-based research requires coordination with schools
Career advancement may require additional professional certifications

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

Public245k to 252k

245k at Kenyatta University252k at Egerton University

Private250k to 310k

250k at Mount Kenya University310k at Kabarak 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 245K verified ku.ac.ke; Egerton 252K egerton.ac.ke/phd; MKU 250K victormatara; Kabarak 310K kabarak.ac.ke

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNESCO fellowships for educational research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
UNESCO Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
UNESCO Research Grant
Grant
Education researchers
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya

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

Master's Degree
MEd or MA in Curriculum Development, Curriculum Studies, or Education from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, curriculum design projects and seminar presentations
Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
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

7 roles

University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments
Educational Researcher
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Research at education research institutes
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Policy analysis at Ministry of Education
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and evaluates curriculum at KICD, educational publishers, or international organisations
International Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises international organisations on curriculum reform and educational development
University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches curriculum development and conducts research in university education departments
Educational Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Analyses and advises on education policy for government and international organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, curriculum development researchers, curriculum specialists, and educational policy analysts in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Curriculum development is just about writing syllabi
Curriculum development encompasses theory, design, policy analysis, evaluation, innovation, and research on how curricula are created, implemented, and improved across educational systems.
A PhD in curriculum development has limited career prospects
Kenya's CBC reform creates strong demand for curriculum development researchers at universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international organisations.
Curriculum development research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's ongoing CBC reform requires evidence-based curriculum development research to inform design, implementation, and evaluation of the new curriculum framework.
Curriculum development is only for experienced teachers
While teaching experience is valuable, the programme accepts graduates with Master's degrees in education, curriculum studies, or related fields who can contribute to curriculum research and development.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction