Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in History and Archaeology

The Master of Arts in History and Archaeology is a postgraduate programme offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of History and Archaeology. The programme provides advanced training in historical research, archaeological methods, and the interdisciplinary study of human pasts, preparing graduates for careers in heritage management, research, education, and cultural resource management.

The programme combines historical analysis with archaeological methods, equipping students with knowledge of historiography, archaeological theory, field methods, material culture analysis, and the interpretation of past societies. Students develop competence in historical research, archaeological fieldwork, heritage documentation, and the critical analysis of historical and archaeological evidence.

Core areas of study include historiography, archaeological theory, African history, prehistoric archaeology, historical archaeology, material culture studies, heritage management, museum studies, and research methods. The programme emphasises both documentary and material evidence in understanding the past.

The University of Nairobi's Department of History and Archaeology is one of the oldest history departments in Kenya, with faculty expertise spanning African history, archaeology, and heritage studies. The department offers programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and maintains links with national museums and heritage institutions.

The programme is designed for graduates with backgrounds in history, archaeology, heritage studies, or related fields seeking advanced training. Students complete coursework over three semesters followed by a research project in the fourth semester, with the programme available in full-time, part-time, and open distance and e-learning modes.

Graduates are prepared for careers as historians, archaeologists, heritage managers, museum curators, researchers, educators, and cultural resource management specialists in universities, museums, government heritage agencies, research institutions, and international cultural organisations.

Skills Required

Historical Research and Analysis
Archaeological Field Methods
Historiography
Material Culture Analysis
Heritage Management
African History
Archaeological Theory
Museum Studies
Cultural Resource Management
Research Methods in History and Archaeology

Key Subjects

Historiography
Archaeological Theory
African History
Prehistoric Archaeology
Historical Archaeology
Material Culture Studies
Heritage Management
Museum Studies
Research Methods in History and Archaeology
Cultural Resource Management

Certifications

ICOMOS Kenya Membership
National Museums of Kenya Heritage Certification

Specializations

African History

Focuses on the study of African history from pre-colonial to contemporary periods, including political, economic, social, and cultural history.

Archaeology

Examines archaeological theory, field methods, material culture analysis, and the interpretation of past societies through material remains.

Heritage Management

Covers cultural heritage management including heritage legislation, conservation, heritage tourism, and community engagement in heritage preservation.

Prehistoric Archaeology

Focuses on prehistoric archaeology in East Africa, including early human evolution, Stone Age cultures, and prehistoric technology.

Historical Archaeology

Examines the archaeology of historically documented periods, combining documentary evidence with material culture analysis.

Museum Studies

Covers museum management, collections management, exhibition design, and the role of museums in heritage preservation and education.

Women in History

Examines women's roles and experiences in African history, including gender analysis in historical research and feminist historiography.

Armed Conflict and Peace Studies

Focuses on the history of armed conflict and peace processes, including conflict analysis, peace studies, and historical perspectives on warfare.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Low

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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Historiography
Archaeological Theory
African History
Prehistoric Archaeology
Historical Archaeology
Material Culture Studies
Heritage Management
Museum Studies
Research Methods in History and Archaeology
Cultural Resource Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Historiography and Historical Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines historiographical approaches, historical methodology, and the philosophy of history, including major historiographical traditions and debates.
Archaeological Theory and Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers archaeological theory including processual, post-processual, and contemporary approaches, and field methods including excavation, survey, and recording techniques.
African History to 1800
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines African history from pre-colonial periods to 1800, including political, economic, social, and cultural developments across the continent.
African History Since 1800
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers African history from 1800 to the present, including colonialism, independence movements, post-colonial developments, and contemporary challenges.
Prehistoric Archaeology of East Africa
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines prehistoric archaeology in East Africa including early human evolution, Stone Age cultures, and prehistoric technology and subsistence.
Material Culture Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers the analysis and interpretation of material culture including artefact classification, typology, technology, and the social context of material culture.
Heritage Management and Museum Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines cultural heritage management including heritage legislation, conservation, museum management, and community engagement in heritage preservation.
Historical Archaeology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers the archaeology of historically documented periods, combining documentary evidence with material culture analysis to interpret recent pasts.
Research Methods in History and Archaeology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in history and archaeology, including archival research and field methods.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a history or archaeology topic, demonstrating mastery of historical or archaeological analysis, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

African History
Focuses on the study of African history from pre-colonial to contemporary periods, including political, economic, social, and cultural history.
Archaeology
Examines archaeological theory, field methods, material culture analysis, and the interpretation of past societies through material remains.
Heritage Management
Covers cultural heritage management including heritage legislation, conservation, heritage tourism, and community engagement in heritage preservation.
Prehistoric Archaeology
Focuses on prehistoric archaeology in East Africa, including early human evolution, Stone Age cultures, and prehistoric technology.
Historical Archaeology
Examines the archaeology of historically documented periods, combining documentary evidence with material culture analysis.
Museum Studies
Covers museum management, collections management, exhibition design, and the role of museums in heritage preservation and education.
Women in History
Examines women's roles and experiences in African history, including gender analysis in historical research and feminist historiography.
Armed Conflict and Peace Studies
Focuses on the history of armed conflict and peace processes, including conflict analysis, peace studies, and historical perspectives on warfare.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on historiography, African history, or archaeological theory at the University of Nairobi's Department of History and Archaeology. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing historical texts, archaeological reports, and interpretive frameworks. The programme includes practical sessions in material culture analysis, where students examine artefacts and learn cataloguing and documentation techniques. Field visits to archaeological sites and museums provide practical exposure to heritage contexts. Students participate in research methodology workshops and present their research findings in seminars. Those in the research phase conduct independent field or archival research on historical or archaeological topics, working on their project paper under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines history and archaeology, providing interdisciplinary training in both documentary and material evidence analysis.
Offered at UoN, a public university with affordable fees and one of the oldest history departments in Kenya.
Available in full-time, part-time, and open distance and e-learning modes, accommodating diverse student needs.
Kenya's rich archaeological heritage and growing cultural tourism sector create opportunities for heritage professionals.

Against it

Job market demand for history and archaeology graduates is relatively low compared to more applied fields.
Fieldwork and archaeological excavations may present logistical and financial challenges.
Only one institution offers this specific combined programme, limiting choice and comparison.
The programme requires a research project, which may extend completion time beyond the standard 2 years for some students.

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 221k

171k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

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

UoN 220.5K, Daystar 249.8K verified. Maseno, KCA unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, UoN bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and research grants from the British Institute in Eastern Africa for archaeological fieldwork.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Bursary
BIEA Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Nairobi Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
UoN students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.
BIEA Research Grants
ScholarshipKsh 150,000
Researchers conducting archaeological or historical fieldwork in Eastern Africa, administered by the British Institute in Eastern Africa.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is offered in full-time, part-time, and open distance and e-learning modes. One intake per year in September. Students complete 12 course units plus a research project equivalent to 4 course units.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, historical analysis essays, archaeological reports, seminar presentations, and research assignments conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering historiography, archaeological theory, and African history, including essay questions and source analysis.
Field Report
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving field visits to archaeological sites or museums, demonstrating ability to document and analyse material culture.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a history or archaeology topic, equivalent to four course units, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi's Department of History and Archaeology, one of the oldest history departments in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
International Council on Monuments and Sites
Professional membership
International heritage organisation. ICOMOS Kenya membership recommended for heritage management professionals.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Historian
Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 200,000
Conducts historical research and analysis for universities, research institutions, government agencies, or cultural organisations, producing scholarly publications and reports.
Archaeologist
Low demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 250,000
Conducts archaeological fieldwork and analysis for museums, research institutions, or cultural resource management firms, excavating and interpreting material remains.
Heritage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages cultural heritage sites and resources for government agencies, museums, or international organisations, overseeing conservation and public engagement.
Museum Curator
Low demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages museum collections, develops exhibitions, and conducts research on collections for museums and cultural institutions.
Cultural Resource Management Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Assesses and manages cultural resources for development projects, ensuring compliance with heritage legislation and conducting impact assessments.
History Educator
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches history at universities, colleges, or secondary schools, combining academic knowledge with pedagogical skills to educate the next generation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as historians, archaeologists, heritage managers, museum curators, and educators in universities, museums, government heritage agencies, and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic Information Systems software for mapping archaeological sites, analysing spatial distributions of artefacts, and visualising historical geography.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for analysing quantitative historical and archaeological data, including demographic trends and artefact distributions.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing historical documents, interview data, and archaeological field notes in research.
Adobe Illustrator
Software
Vector graphics software used for creating archaeological illustrations, site maps, and publication-quality figures for research outputs.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

History and archaeology is only about studying the past with no practical application.
The programme develops critical analytical, research, and interpretive skills applicable to heritage management, cultural resource management, education, policy research, and tourism.
Archaeology in Kenya is limited to early human evolution.
Kenya has rich archaeological heritage spanning prehistoric, Iron Age, historical, and maritime archaeology, with active research across multiple periods and regions.
There are no jobs for history and archaeology graduates in Kenya.
Graduates work in national museums, heritage agencies, universities, cultural tourism, international heritage organisations, and cultural resource management consultancies.
You need to go on excavations to study archaeology.
While fieldwork is important, the programme also covers laboratory analysis, museum studies, heritage legislation, and cultural resource management, offering diverse career paths.
History is just memorising dates and events.
The programme emphasises historiography, critical analysis, interpretation, and the construction of historical narratives, developing advanced analytical and research skills.
Heritage management is not a serious career in Kenya.
Kenya has numerous World Heritage Sites and a growing cultural tourism sector, creating demand for qualified heritage management professionals.