Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Egerton University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in crime prevention, security management, and criminal justice system reform. The programme prepares graduates for leadership positions in criminal justice, law enforcement, and security sector agencies.

The curriculum covers criminological theory, criminal justice administration, security management, penology, research methods, crime prevention, and policy analysis. Students develop a thorough understanding of contemporary theoretical perspectives, policy issues, and practical skills required by a reformed criminal justice system and security sector in Kenya and beyond.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in arts, social sciences, law, or related disciplines with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from a recognised institution. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and two years of relevant experience may be considered. An interview may be required to determine eligibility. The programme is offered through coursework, examination, and thesis over two years.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Egerton University, a public university in Njoro, Nakuru County. The programme is available through both regular and e-learning modes.

Career prospects include roles in police service, criminal justice administration, correctional institutions, private security firms, consultancy, teaching, and research. Graduates work in law enforcement agencies, government ministries, security companies, research institutions, and academic organisations.

The programme addresses the critical role of effective crime prevention and management in creating a conducive environment for development. Crime remains a major impediment to development in Kenya and other developing countries, requiring skilled professionals who can design and implement evidence-based crime prevention strategies and contribute to criminal justice reform.

Skills Required

Criminological theory and analysis
Criminal justice administration
Security management
Crime prevention and control
Penology and correctional management
Research methods in criminology
Policy analysis and development
Criminal justice reform
Crime data analysis
Academic writing and thesis research

Key Subjects

Criminological Theory
Criminal Justice Administration
Security Management
Penology and Corrections
Research Methods in Criminology
Crime Prevention and Control
Criminal Law and Procedure
Policy Analysis
Victimology
Crime Data Analysis

Certifications

International Criminology Society Membership
ASIS Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
UNODC Crime Prevention Certification
Kenya National Police Service Certification

Specializations

Criminal Justice Administration

Focuses on the management and administration of criminal justice institutions, including police, courts, and correctional services.

Security Management

Covers security sector governance, risk management, threat assessment, and the management of security operations in public and private sectors.

Penology and Correctional Studies

Examines theories of punishment, prison management, offender rehabilitation, and alternative correctional approaches.

Crime Prevention and Control

Addresses crime prevention theories and strategies, including community policing, situational prevention, and evidence-based crime reduction programmes.

Criminological Research

Develops research skills for studying crime patterns, evaluating criminal justice interventions, and contributing to evidence-based policy.

Policy and Reform

Focuses on criminal justice policy development, reform processes, and the translation of research findings into policy recommendations.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 168,650
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Criminological Theory
Criminal Justice Administration
Security Management
Penology and Corrections
Research Methods in Criminology
Crime Prevention and Control
Criminal Law and Procedure
Policy Analysis
Victimology
Crime Data Analysis

Modules

11 in the programme

Criminological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical and contemporary theories of crime causation, including strain theory, labelling theory, social learning theory, and critical criminology.
Criminal Justice Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Management and administration of criminal justice institutions, including organisational structures, leadership, and reform processes.
Research Methods in Criminology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for criminological research, including research design, data collection, and analysis.
Security Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Security sector governance, risk management, threat assessment, and management of security operations in public and private sectors.
Penology and Corrections
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of punishment, prison management, offender rehabilitation, and alternative correctional approaches.
Crime Prevention and Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Crime prevention theories and strategies, including community policing, situational prevention, and evidence-based crime reduction programmes.
Criminal Law and Procedure
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal frameworks governing criminal justice, including criminal law principles, procedural law, and rights of the accused.
Victimology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Study of crime victims, including victimisation patterns, victim support services, and the role of victims in criminal justice processes.
Policy Analysis in Criminal Justice
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of criminal justice policy, policy development processes, and translation of research findings into policy recommendations.
Crime Data Analysis
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Methods for collecting, analysing, and interpreting crime data, including crime mapping, statistical analysis, and trend forecasting.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a criminology and criminal justice topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Criminal Justice Administration
Focuses on the management and administration of criminal justice institutions, including police, courts, and correctional services.
Security Management
Covers security sector governance, risk management, threat assessment, and the management of security operations in public and private sectors.
Penology and Correctional Studies
Examines theories of punishment, prison management, offender rehabilitation, and alternative correctional approaches.
Crime Prevention and Control
Addresses crime prevention theories and strategies, including community policing, situational prevention, and evidence-based crime reduction programmes.
Criminological Research
Develops research skills for studying crime patterns, evaluating criminal justice interventions, and contributing to evidence-based policy.
Policy and Reform
Focuses on criminal justice policy development, reform processes, and the translation of research findings into policy recommendations.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with morning lectures on criminological theory, criminal justice administration, or security management, followed by seminar discussions on contemporary crime and security challenges in Kenya. Afternoons involve case study analysis, crime data workshops, or research methodology sessions. Students regularly engage with guest speakers from police services, correctional facilities, and security agencies. The e-learning option provides flexibility for working professionals, with online modules supplemented by occasional campus sessions. Independent reading, crime data analysis, and thesis research occupy significant time, with regular consultations with academic supervisors.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme specifically designed for aspiring leaders in criminal justice and security sector, addressing national needs for skilled professionals.
E-learning mode provides flexibility for working professionals in law enforcement and security sectors.
Affordable tuition at a public university, with transparent per-unit fee structure.
Comprehensive curriculum covering theory, administration, management, research, and policy in criminology and criminal justice.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Located in Njoro, Nakuru County, which may require relocation for students from other regions.
Limited scholarship opportunities specifically for criminology at the postgraduate level.
Interview requirement for admission may add an additional barrier for some applicants.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public100k to 169k

100k at Kisii University169k at Egerton 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

Kisii 100K/yr(kisiiuniv.ac.ke). Egerton 168,650/yr(egerton.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students at public universities. Egerton University may offer institutional postgraduate scholarships. Security sector agencies may sponsor employees pursuing criminology qualifications as part of professional development.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Egerton University Postgraduate Scholarships
Security Sector Sponsorships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
Security Sector Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Employees of security sector agencies may receive sponsorship for criminology qualifications as part of professional development.
Egerton University Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Qualifying postgraduate students at Egerton University based on academic merit and financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: In exceptional cases, the Senate may admit non-holders of Upper Second Class Honours who can demonstrate research and scholarly work qualifications. Applicants may be required to appear for an interview (oral or written) to determine eligibility. The programme is available through regular and e-learning modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through assignments, seminar presentations, case study analyses, and crime data exercises throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a criminology and criminal justice topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Admission Interview
Interview0% of the mark
Applicants may be required to appear for an oral or written interview to determine eligibility for admission to the programme.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Egerton 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. Egerton University is a CUE-accredited public university.
National Police Service Commission
Professional alignment
Kenyan government body overseeing police service standards. Graduates entering police careers should align with NPSC recruitment and training requirements.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Criminal Justice Administrator
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages criminal justice programmes and institutions, overseeing operations, policy implementation, and service delivery in justice sector agencies.
Security Manager
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages security operations for private firms, government agencies, or security companies, overseeing risk assessment and threat mitigation.
Crime Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts research on crime trends, criminal justice effectiveness, and security issues for research institutions, government, and international organisations.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Analyses crime and security policy, develops evidence-based recommendations, and advises government and NGOs on criminal justice reform.
University Lecturer in Criminology
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches criminology and criminal justice courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in police service, criminal justice administration, correctional institutions, private security firms, consultancy, teaching, and research across law enforcement, government, and academic institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Research softwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for crime data analysis, survey research, and criminological research.
NVivo
Research softwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, case studies, and qualitative criminological research.
GIS Software (QGIS)
Crime mapping
Geographic information system software for crime mapping, spatial analysis of crime patterns, and hotspot identification.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising citations and bibliographies in academic writing and thesis preparation.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysis
Spreadsheet software for crime data organisation, basic statistical analysis, and data visualisation.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Criminology and criminal justice is only for police officers.
The programme prepares graduates for diverse roles including administration, research, policy analysis, consultancy, teaching, and security management.
The programme is the same as a law degree.
While it covers criminal law elements, the programme is a social science focusing on crime causes, prevention, and justice system management, not legal practice.
E-learning mode is less rigorous than regular study.
The e-learning option delivers the same curriculum and assessment standards, designed for working professionals with online modules and occasional campus sessions.
Criminology graduates can only work in government.
Graduates work in private security firms, consultancies, NGOs, research institutions, and academic organisations, in addition to government agencies.
The programme focuses only on street crime.
The programme covers diverse crime types including white-collar crime, cybercrime, transnational crime, and emerging security threats.
A criminology degree is not useful for career advancement in security.
The programme is specifically designed for aspiring leaders in criminal justice and security, providing advanced skills for management and policy roles.