Arts & Humanities

Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in doctor of philosophy in pastoral theology. The programme falls under the Social Sciences & Humanities category and typically spans 3-5 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Pastoral Theology, Practical Theology, Ministry Studies, Theological Research, Research Methods, Thesis Research. 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 Field Attachment / Community Placement, Social Policy & Administration, Research Project / Dissertation, Ethics & Professional Practice. 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 Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology 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: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 212,050
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: 15 students
Award: PhD

What you study

6 subjects

Pastoral Theology
Practical Theology
Ministry Studies
Theological Research
Research Methods
Thesis Research

Modules

8 in the programme

Advanced Pastoral Care and Counselling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of pastoral care theories, counselling methodologies, and pastoral interventions for individuals, families, and communities in African contexts.
Field Attachment / Community Placement
Year 1Semester 16 creditsCore
Supervised placement with NGO, government agency or community organisation, covering theoretical foundations, practical methodologies, and contemporary research developments relevant to doctoral.
Pastoral Theology and Praxis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Critical examination of the relationship between pastoral theology and pastoral practice, including contextual analysis of pastoral ministry in contemporary Africa.
Social Policy & Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Policy analysis, social welfare, public administration and social programme evaluation.
African Contextual Theology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Exploration of African theological perspectives, inculturation theology, and contextual approaches to pastoral ministry in African church and society settings.
Research Project / Dissertation
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
Independent social research project: design, fieldwork, analysis and report, involving original research, literature review, data analysis, and the production of a doctoral dissertation.
Ethics & Professional Practice
Year 2Semester 22 creditsCore
Professional ethics, research ethics, social responsibility and ethical decision-making.
Doctoral Thesis in Pastoral Theology
Year 3Semester 112 creditsCore
Independent doctoral research on a specialised topic in pastoral theology, culminating in an original thesis contributing new knowledge to the field.

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.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public186k to 245k

186k at Egerton University245k at Kenyatta University

Private210k to 212k

210k at Tangaza University212k at Africa International 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 ku.ac.ke. AIU 212K victormatara. Tangaza 210K tangaza.ac.ke. Egerton unverified

HELB loans, county scholarships and university bursaries available.

Funding options

HELB Loan
Government Bursary
CDF Scholarship
Self-sponsored

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Humanities Loan
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Humanities/social sciences; Financial need
Chevening Scholarships Kenya
FullKsh 5,000,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizen; Leadership potential; Postgraduate study in UK
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
County Government Bursary
PartialKsh 60,000Kenyan
Resident of county; Financial need

Getting in

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

What you need

Alternative entry: A relevant Master's degree and a research proposal.

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 (Commission for University Education) and the relevant professional body.

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

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
SPSS
AnalyticsPrimary
Google Scholar
Research
NVivo
Analytics
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.