Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts History, Archaeology and Political Studies

The Master of Arts in History, Archaeology and Political Studies at Kenyatta University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in historical research, archaeological methods, and political analysis. The programme prepares graduates for careers in research, education, heritage management, public service, and academia.

The curriculum covers historical research methods, archaeological field methods, political theory, African history, Kenyan politics, historiography, heritage management, political economy, and research methodology. Students complete coursework in the first year and conduct independent research leading to a thesis in the second year.

Admission requires a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from Kenyatta University or a recognised university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class may be considered if they have Grade C and above in units relevant to their area of specialisation and experience in teaching or related fields. Students who majored in History, Archaeology, or Government at undergraduate level have an added advantage.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies at Kenyatta University. The programme is offered full-time and through digital learning, with coursework delivered through seminars and seminar presentations.

Career prospects include roles in education, research, heritage management, museum curation, public policy, civil service, political analysis, journalism, and academia. Graduates work in universities, research institutions, museums, government ministries, NGOs, media organisations, and international organisations.

The programme addresses Kenya's need for advanced expertise in historical research, archaeological heritage, and political analysis to support national development, cultural preservation, and democratic governance. With growing emphasis on heritage conservation, political accountability, and evidence-based policy, demand for qualified historians, archaeologists, and political scientists continues to grow across the public sector, cultural institutions, and academia.

Skills Required

Historical research and analysis
Archaeological field methods
Political theory and analysis
Historiography
Heritage management
Research methodology in social sciences
Academic writing and publication
Critical analysis of primary sources
Political economy analysis
Cultural resource management

Key Subjects

Historical Research Methods
Archaeological Field Methods
Political Theory
African History
Historiography
Heritage Management
Political Economy
Research Methodology
Kenyan Politics
Cultural Resource Management

Certifications

International Political Science Association (IPSA) Membership
World Archaeological Congress (WAC) Membership
Historical Association of Kenya Membership
National Museums of Kenya Affiliation

Specializations

History

Focuses on advanced historical research, African history, Kenyan history, historiography, and historical methodology.

Archaeology

Examines archaeological field methods, cultural heritage, prehistoric archaeology, and archaeological theory in East Africa.

Political Studies

Covers political theory, Kenyan politics, comparative politics, political economy, and governance in Africa.

Heritage Management

Focuses on cultural heritage management, museum studies, conservation, and heritage policy in Kenya and East Africa.

Political Economy

Examines the intersection of politics and economics, including development politics, economic history, and political economy of Africa.

International Relations

Covers international relations theory, African diplomacy, foreign policy analysis, and global politics from an African perspective.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Historical Research Methods
Archaeological Field Methods
Political Theory
African History
Historiography
Heritage Management
Political Economy
Research Methodology
Kenyan Politics
Cultural Resource Management

Modules

11 in the programme

Research Methods in Social Sciences
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for social science research, including qualitative and quantitative methods, source analysis, and academic writing.
Historiography and Historical Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historiographical traditions, historical methodology, source criticism, and approaches to historical research and interpretation.
African History: Themes and Debates
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Major themes and debates in African history, including precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial African historical scholarship.
Archaeological Theory and Field Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Archaeological theory, field survey methods, excavation techniques, and archaeological data analysis.
Political Theory and Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Classical and contemporary political theory, political analysis frameworks, and political philosophy.
Kenyan Politics and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Kenyan political systems, governance structures, political history, and contemporary political dynamics.
Heritage Management and Cultural Resource
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Cultural heritage management, museum studies, conservation principles, and heritage policy in Kenya and East Africa.
Political Economy of Africa
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Political economy of African development, economic history, and the intersection of politics and economics in Africa.
University Common Unit
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Common university unit covering communication skills, research ethics, or ICT for academic research.
Prehistoric Archaeology of East Africa
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Prehistoric archaeology of East Africa, including stone age cultures, human evolution, and regional archaeological sequences.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis in the student's area of specialisation (History, Archaeology, or Political Studies), conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

History
Focuses on advanced historical research, African history, Kenyan history, historiography, and historical methodology.
Archaeology
Examines archaeological field methods, cultural heritage, prehistoric archaeology, and archaeological theory in East Africa.
Political Studies
Covers political theory, Kenyan politics, comparative politics, political economy, and governance in Africa.
Heritage Management
Focuses on cultural heritage management, museum studies, conservation, and heritage policy in Kenya and East Africa.
Political Economy
Examines the intersection of politics and economics, including development politics, economic history, and political economy of Africa.
International Relations
Covers international relations theory, African diplomacy, foreign policy analysis, and global politics from an African perspective.

A day as a student

A typical day combines seminar-based learning with independent research. Mornings involve seminar presentations where students present their research work-in-progress to peers and faculty for critique and discussion. Lectures cover historical research methods, archaeological theory, political analysis, or historiography. Afternoons include independent study, library research, or fieldwork preparation. Students engage with primary sources, archaeological collections, and political data. The programme uses seminars as the primary mode of instruction, with each postgraduate student given opportunities to share work through defence presentations and departmental seminars. In the second year, students focus on fieldwork research and thesis writing, with access to the university library, archives, and museum collections.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique interdisciplinary programme combining history, archaeology, and political studies in one degree.
Seminar-based learning with opportunities for research presentation and critique.
Access to National Museums of Kenya and Kenya National Archives for research.
Offered in full-time and digital learning modes for flexibility.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Career prospects in heritage and academia may be limited compared to more applied fields.
Combining three disciplines may limit depth in any single specialisation.
Archaeological fieldwork requires travel and additional costs not included in tuition.

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

Public171k to 216k

171k at Maseno University216k at Kenyatta University

Private138k to 250k

138k at KCA University250k 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

KU 216K/yr verified. Daystar 249.8K/yr verified. Maseno, KCA unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. The British Institute in Eastern Africa may provide research grants for archaeological and historical research. KU may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. Students have won numerous research grants and participated in international workshops and conferences.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
BIEA Research Grants
KU Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
BIEA Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
The British Institute in Eastern Africa may provide research grants for archaeological and historical research in Eastern Africa.
KU Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 216,000Kenyan
Kenyatta University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Students who majored in History, Archaeology, or Government at undergraduate level have an added advantage. The programme is offered full-time and through digital learning at Kenyatta University, Main and Mombasa campuses, with intakes in September and January.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through seminar presentations, research papers, essays, class participation, and critique sessions throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for coursework units.
Seminar Presentations
Practical30% of the mark
Research seminar presentations to peers and faculty, demonstrating research progress, analytical skills, and receiving feedback.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis in the student's area of specialisation, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Kenyatta University is a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. Kenyatta University is a CUE-accredited public university.
National Museums of Kenya (NMK)
Professional alignment
Kenyan state corporation for heritage management. Graduates may access NMK research affiliation and professional networks for archaeological and heritage work.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

History Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches history and government at secondary schools or colleges, developing curriculum and mentoring students.
Heritage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages cultural heritage sites, museums, and conservation projects for National Museums of Kenya and cultural organisations.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Conducts historical, archaeological, or political research for research institutions, universities, and international organisations.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 270,000
Analyses public policy, governance issues, and political developments for government, think tanks, and international organisations.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches history, archaeology, or political studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in education, research, heritage management, museum curation, public policy, civil service, political analysis, journalism, and academia across universities, museums, government, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Statistical softwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for quantitative social science research and survey data analysis.
NVivo
Qualitative analysis softwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview transcripts, historical documents, and qualitative research data.
ArcGIS
Gis software
GIS software for archaeological site mapping, spatial analysis of historical data, and political geography research.
EndNote
Reference management software
Reference management software for academic writing, citation management, and bibliography creation in research.
Microsoft Office
Productivity software
Office suite for academic writing, data management, and professional communication in research and teaching.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

History and archaeology have no career prospects.
Heritage management, museum curation, cultural tourism, research, and education create diverse career opportunities for history and archaeology graduates.
Political studies is only for politicians.
Political studies provides analytical skills for careers in civil service, policy analysis, journalism, international relations, research, and academia.
Archaeology is just about digging.
Archaeology involves survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, cultural heritage management, museum curation, and public education.
History is only about memorising dates.
History involves critical analysis of sources, interpretation of evidence, understanding of causation, and construction of evidence-based arguments.
Combining three disciplines makes the programme superficial.
The programme allows specialisation in one area while understanding the interconnections between history, archaeology, and political studies.
These subjects are irrelevant to modern Kenya.
Historical understanding, archaeological heritage, and political analysis are essential for national identity, cultural preservation, and democratic governance.