Environmental Science

Master of Arts in Environmental Security and Sustainable Development

The Master of Arts in Environmental Security and Sustainable Development is a postgraduate programme offered by Mount Kenya University. The programme examines the critical intersection of environmental security and sustainable development, preparing graduates to address complex environmental challenges that threaten human security and development.

The programme combines environmental science with security studies and development theory, equipping students with knowledge of environmental threats, resource conflicts, climate change impacts, and sustainable development frameworks. Students develop competence in environmental policy analysis, risk assessment, sustainability planning, and natural resource management.

Core areas of study include environmental security theory, sustainable development frameworks, climate change and security, natural resource governance, environmental policy, conflict and resource management, environmental law, and research methods. The programme emphasises the connections between environmental degradation, human security, and development outcomes.

Mount Kenya University is a large private university in Kenya with a strong focus on market-oriented programmes. The university offers flexible study modes including regular, weekend, and digital learning, making the programme accessible to both recent graduates and working professionals.

The programme is designed for graduates and professionals seeking expertise in environmental security, sustainability, and development. Students complete coursework over four semesters, with the programme available in full-time and flexible learning modes to accommodate diverse student needs.

Graduates are prepared for careers as environmental security analysts, sustainability managers, environmental policy advisors, natural resource managers, climate change specialists, and development consultants in government, international organisations, NGOs, and private sector organisations engaged in environmental and sustainability work.

Skills Required

Environmental Security Analysis
Sustainable Development Planning
Climate Change Impact Assessment
Natural Resource Governance
Environmental Policy Analysis
Resource Conflict Management
Environmental Risk Assessment
Sustainability Frameworks
Environmental Law
Research Methods in Environmental Studies

Key Subjects

Environmental Security Theory
Sustainable Development Frameworks
Climate Change and Security
Natural Resource Governance
Environmental Policy
Resource Conflict Management
Environmental Law
Environmental Risk Assessment
Sustainability Planning
Research Methods in Environmental Studies

Certifications

IUCN Membership Certification
NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Certification

Specializations

Climate Security

Focuses on the security implications of climate change including climate-induced migration, resource conflicts, and climate adaptation strategies.

Natural Resource Governance

Examines governance of natural resources including water, land, forests, and minerals, with focus on conflict prevention and sustainable management.

Sustainable Development

Covers sustainable development frameworks including SDGs, circular economy, green growth, and sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Environmental Conflict Resolution

Focuses on resolving environmental conflicts through mediation, negotiation, and participatory resource management approaches.

Water Security

Examines water security challenges including water scarcity, transboundary water management, and water-related conflict and cooperation.

Food Security and Environment

Covers the intersection of food security and environmental sustainability, including sustainable agriculture and food system resilience.

Environmental Policy

Examines environmental policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation at national, regional, and international levels.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Focuses on disaster risk reduction, environmental hazard management, and building resilience to environmental shocks.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
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

Environmental Security Theory
Sustainable Development Frameworks
Climate Change and Security
Natural Resource Governance
Environmental Policy
Resource Conflict Management
Environmental Law
Environmental Risk Assessment
Sustainability Planning
Research Methods in Environmental Studies

Modules

10 in the programme

Environmental Security Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental security theory including the concept of environmental security, threat frameworks, and the relationship between environmental change and human security.
Sustainable Development Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sustainable development frameworks including the SDGs, circular economy, green growth, and sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Climate Change and Security
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the security implications of climate change including climate-induced migration, resource conflicts, and climate adaptation as a security strategy.
Natural Resource Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers governance of natural resources including water, land, forests, and minerals, with focus on conflict prevention and sustainable management frameworks.
Environmental Policy and Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines environmental policy formulation and environmental law at national, regional, and international levels, including environmental compliance and enforcement.
Resource Conflict Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers resource conflict theory and management including environmental conflict resolution, mediation, and participatory resource management approaches.
Environmental Risk Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental risk assessment methodologies including hazard identification, risk analysis, vulnerability assessment, and risk management planning.
Sustainability Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sustainability planning and management including sustainability strategies, environmental management systems, and organisational sustainability practices.
Research Methods in Environmental Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in environmental security and sustainable development.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on an environmental security or sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of environmental analysis and policy evaluation.

Specialisations

Climate Security
Focuses on the security implications of climate change including climate-induced migration, resource conflicts, and climate adaptation strategies.
Natural Resource Governance
Examines governance of natural resources including water, land, forests, and minerals, with focus on conflict prevention and sustainable management.
Sustainable Development
Covers sustainable development frameworks including SDGs, circular economy, green growth, and sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Environmental Conflict Resolution
Focuses on resolving environmental conflicts through mediation, negotiation, and participatory resource management approaches.
Water Security
Examines water security challenges including water scarcity, transboundary water management, and water-related conflict and cooperation.
Food Security and Environment
Covers the intersection of food security and environmental sustainability, including sustainable agriculture and food system resilience.
Environmental Policy
Examines environmental policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation at national, regional, and international levels.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Focuses on disaster risk reduction, environmental hazard management, and building resilience to environmental shocks.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on environmental security theory, sustainable development frameworks, or climate change impacts at Mount Kenya University. Students engage in seminar discussions on contemporary environmental challenges, participate in environmental risk assessment exercises, and analyse case studies of resource conflicts and environmental disasters. The programme includes field visits to environmentally sensitive areas and guest lectures from environmental practitioners. Students also participate in sustainability planning workshops. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on environmental security topics, analysing environmental data and working on their research project under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique programme addressing the critical intersection of environmental security and sustainable development, a growing field with increasing relevance.
Offered at MKU with flexible study modes including regular, weekend, and digital learning, accommodating working professionals.
Nairobi hosts UNEP headquarters and numerous environmental organisations, providing exceptional career and networking opportunities.
MKU offers flexible payment plans in instalments, making the programme more affordable than lump-sum payment requirements.

Against it

Private university fees are higher than public university alternatives for environmental programmes.
Only one institution offers this specific programme, limiting choice and comparison.
The programme is relatively new and may lack the established reputation of older environmental programmes at public universities.
Large class sizes at MKU may limit individual attention from faculty compared to smaller programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta 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 KES 295,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi ~KES 187,200/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

MKU offers flexible payment plans in instalments of 40:20:20:20, making tuition more manageable. HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. The university also provides financial aid for students demonstrating need.

Funding options

MKU Financial Aid
HELB Postgraduate Loan
MKU Flexible Payment Plan

Scholarships

3 recorded

MKU Flexible Payment Plan
ScholarshipKsh 56,800
All MKU postgraduate students can access flexible payment in instalments of 40:20:20:20, reducing upfront financial burden.
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MKU Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 50,000
MKU students demonstrating academic merit and financial need, applied for through the financial aid office.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Relevant professional qualifications and experience in environmental management, security, or development sectors may be considered. The programme is available in regular, weekend, and digital learning modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, environmental analysis assignments, policy briefs, seminar presentations, and research assignments conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering environmental security theory, sustainable development, and policy analysis, including essay questions and case studies.
Environmental Risk Assessment Project
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving environmental risk assessment of a real-world environmental security challenge, demonstrating analytical and assessment skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on an environmental security or sustainable development topic, demonstrating mastery of environmental analysis and policy evaluation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by Mount Kenya University, a chartered private university, through its Institute of Security Studies, Justice and Ethics.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
National Environment Management Authority
Professional certification
Kenyan environmental regulatory authority. NEMA certification in Environmental Impact Assessment is recommended for environmental practice in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Security Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Analyses environmental security threats and risks for government agencies, international organisations, or security firms, providing assessments and recommendations.
Sustainability Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages sustainability programmes for corporations, government agencies, or NGOs, developing and implementing sustainability strategies and reporting frameworks.
Environmental Policy Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Advises government officials or organisations on environmental policy formulation, implementation, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Climate Change Specialist
High demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 320,000
Works on climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes for government, international organisations, or NGOs, applying security and development perspectives.
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages natural resources for government agencies, conservation organisations, or private sector, applying sustainable development principles.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 350,000
Consults on environmental compliance, impact assessment, and sustainability strategies for private sector clients, government agencies, or international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as environmental security analysts, sustainability managers, environmental policy advisors, and climate change specialists in government, international organisations, NGOs, and private sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic Information Systems software for mapping environmental data, analysing spatial patterns of environmental risks, and visualising resource distribution.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for environmental data analysis, risk assessment modelling, and research in environmental security studies.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing policy documents, interview data, and environmental impact reports in research.
Google Earth Engine
Software
Cloud-based platform for environmental monitoring, satellite imagery analysis, and tracking environmental change over time.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental security is just about protecting nature.
Environmental security examines how environmental degradation threatens human security, including conflict, displacement, food insecurity, and health risks, alongside nature conservation.
This programme is only for environmental science graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from various disciplines including social sciences, security studies, development studies, and law, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of environmental security.
Sustainable development is an abstract concept with no practical application.
The programme covers practical sustainability frameworks including SDGs, circular economy, and green growth strategies that are actively implemented by governments, businesses, and international organisations.
Environmental security jobs are limited in Kenya.
Kenya hosts UNEP headquarters and numerous environmental organisations, creating strong demand for environmental security professionals across government, NGOs, and international bodies.
Climate change is separate from security studies.
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a security threat multiplier, with the programme specifically examining climate-security linkages including climate-induced conflict and migration.
This degree only leads to NGO work.
Graduates work in government environmental agencies, corporate sustainability departments, international organisations, consulting firms, and academia, applying environmental security expertise across sectors.