Education

Doctor of Philosophy in History Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in History Education is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the School of Education. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on history education, including history pedagogy, curriculum design, historical consciousness, and history teacher education, contributing to improved history teaching and learning in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced history education theory, history pedagogy, curriculum studies, historical consciousness research, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field and classroom research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to history education.

Kenya's education system is undergoing reforms including the CBC which emphasises competency-based history and social studies education, creating demand for history education researchers. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 by training researchers who can improve history curriculum design, teaching methods, and teacher education.

Teaching methods include lectures, research seminars, classroom-based research, curriculum analysis, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's education and humanities resources and conduct research in secondary schools, teacher training colleges, and universities.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, history education researchers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, and 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 history education, education, history, or related fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in history education.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 320,000
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
Job market: Low

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 6 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

History Education Theory
History Pedagogy
Curriculum Design for History
Historical Consciousness
Research Methodology
History Teacher Education
Thesis Research
Assessment in History Education
Statistics for Education
Comparative History Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced History Education Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced theories of history education including historical thinking, disciplinary literacy, and history learning progressions
History Education Theory and Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory and pedagogy of history education, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
History Pedagogy and Instructional Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced pedagogy for history teaching including inquiry-based learning, source analysis, and historical argumentation in classrooms
History Curriculum Development and Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Curriculum development for history, exploring development theories, sustainable practices, and their application in addressing contemporary challenges in Kenya and beyond.
Curriculum Design for History Education
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles and practices of designing history curricula including CBC alignment, content selection, and curriculum evaluation
Historical Consciousness and Identity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Research on historical consciousness including collective memory, national identity, and history education's role in citizenship formation
History Teacher Education and Professional Development
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on history teacher education including teacher knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and professional development
Heritage Education and Public History
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Heritage education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Assessment in History Education
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Assessment methods for history education including formative assessment, historical thinking assessment, and examination design
Research Methods in History Education
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.
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for education research including classroom observation and action research
Departmental Seminars
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research presentations and peer review of doctoral work, providing a platform for doctoral candidates to present research findings, engage with peer feedback, and explore contemporary debates in.

Specialisations

Public History Practice
Specialization in Public History Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as public-historian.
Museum Education Research
Specialization in Museum Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as museum-education-officer.
Education Policy Analysis
Specialization in Education Policy Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as education-policy-analyst.
Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Curriculum Development Research
Specialization in Curriculum Development Research, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
School Counselling Practice
Specialization in School Counselling Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Heritage Education
Research on heritage education
History Pedagogy
Research on history teaching and learning
History Curriculum
Research on history curriculum development
History Teacher Education
Research on history teacher education

A day as a student

A typical day combines classroom-based research on history teaching with curriculum analysis, data analysis from school-based studies, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with KICD and schools for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to Kenya's CBC reform which includes history and social studies education
Research contributes to education quality and national identity
Diverse career paths in academia, curriculum development, and teacher education
Opportunities for international collaboration through UNESCO and ISHD

Against it

Education research requires school access and ethical approvals
Research funding for education is limited compared to STEM fields
Balancing pedagogy and historical content is challenging
Field research in schools requires coordination with multiple stakeholders

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 320k

245k at Kenyatta University320k at University of Nairobi

Private170k to 310k

170k at Kenya Methodist 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

UoN 320K/yr; KU 244,800/yr (mawese.com). KeMU 170K; Kabarak 310K/yr (kabarak.ac.ke).

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

Funding options

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

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in recognised universities
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
UNESCO Research Grant
Grant
Education researchers

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 in History Education, MA in History, or MA in Education from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education (History) or History
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, curriculum projects and seminar presentations
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
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

6 roles

University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches history education and conducts research in university education departments
Teacher Educator
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Trains history teachers at teacher training colleges and universities
Curriculum Developer (History/Social Studies)
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and evaluates history curriculum at KICD or educational publishers
History Education Researcher
Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts history education research at research institutions or international organisations
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Curriculum at KICD

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, history education researchers, curriculum developers, and teacher educators in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

History education is just about teaching dates and facts
History education encompasses pedagogical theory, historical thinking, curriculum design, assessment, historical consciousness, and teacher education, requiring rigorous academic training.
A PhD in history education has limited career prospects
Kenya's CBC reform and the need for quality history education create demand for researchers at universities, KICD, and the Ministry of Education.
History education research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's education reforms including CBC require research on history curriculum, teaching methods, and historical consciousness to improve education quality and national identity.
History education is only for those who want to be history teachers
Graduates work as researchers, curriculum developers, teacher educators, and education consultants, not only as classroom teachers.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction