Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Justice, Peace and Cohesion

The Master of Arts in Justice, Peace and Cohesion is a two-year postgraduate programme offered by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa through its Center for Social Justice and Ethics. The programme provides advanced training in peace studies, conflict resolution, social justice, and cohesion building, preparing graduates for roles in peace-building, governance, and social development.

The programme addresses the critical need for peace and justice expertise in Kenya and the East African region, equipping graduates with theoretical knowledge and practical skills in conflict transformation, peace-building, human rights, and social cohesion. It draws on Catholic social teaching alongside secular peace and conflict studies frameworks.

Core areas of study include peace and conflict theory, justice and human rights, conflict resolution and mediation, social cohesion and reconciliation, governance and peace-building, and research methods in peace studies. Students examine the root causes of conflict and strategies for sustainable peace in African contexts.

The programme is offered through full-time and part-time modes at CUEA's Langata Main Campus in Nairobi, with evening lectures from 5:30pm to 8:30pm accommodating working professionals. Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) options are also available with January, May, and September intakes.

The curriculum integrates theoretical foundations with practical applications, including case studies of conflict situations, peace-building initiatives, and reconciliation processes. Students engage with real-world peace and justice challenges through coursework, fieldwork, and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for roles as peace-building specialists, conflict resolution officers, human rights advocates, programme officers in NGOs, and governance advisors. Kenya's active NGO sector and numerous peace-building initiatives create strong demand for qualified peace and justice professionals.

Skills Required

Conflict Analysis and Transformation
Peace-building Theory and Practice
Mediation and Negotiation
Human Rights Advocacy
Social Cohesion and Reconciliation
Justice and Ethics
Research Methods in Peace Studies
Governance and Peace-building
Community Engagement and Dialogue
Policy Analysis for Peace

Key Subjects

Peace and Conflict Theory
Justice and Human Rights
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Social Cohesion and Reconciliation
Governance and Peace-building
Research Methods in Peace Studies
Catholic Social Teaching and Justice
Transitional Justice
Gender, Peace and Security
Community Dialogue and Engagement

Certifications

Mediation Council of Kenya Certification
ACCORD Peacebuilding Training Certification

Specializations

Conflict Resolution and Mediation

Focuses on practical skills in mediation, negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and conflict transformation in community and institutional settings.

Human Rights and Social Justice

Examines human rights frameworks, social justice principles, and advocacy strategies for promoting justice in African contexts.

Peace-building and Development

Explores the intersection of peace-building and development, including post-conflict reconstruction, peace dividends, and sustainable development.

Governance and Cohesion

Covers governance frameworks, social cohesion strategies, and the role of institutions in promoting peaceful coexistence.

Reconciliation and Transitional Justice

Examines transitional justice mechanisms, reconciliation processes, and post-conflict healing in societies emerging from violence.

Religion and Peace-building

Explores the role of religious institutions and faith-based approaches in peace-building and conflict transformation.

Gender, Peace and Security

Focuses on gender dimensions of conflict and peace-building, including women's participation in peace processes and gender-based violence in conflict.

Environmental Justice and Conflict

Examines environmental conflicts, resource-based conflicts, and environmental justice in the context of peace and cohesion.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 220,800
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

Peace and Conflict Theory
Justice and Human Rights
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Social Cohesion and Reconciliation
Governance and Peace-building
Research Methods in Peace Studies
Catholic Social Teaching and Justice
Transitional Justice
Gender, Peace and Security
Community Dialogue and Engagement

Modules

10 in the programme

Peace and Conflict Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines theoretical foundations of peace and conflict studies, including causes of conflict, conflict dynamics, and frameworks for conflict transformation.
Justice and Human Rights
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human rights frameworks, social justice principles, and the relationship between justice and sustainable peace.
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Develops practical skills in mediation, negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and conflict transformation techniques.
Catholic Social Teaching and Justice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines Catholic social teaching principles and their application to justice, peace, and cohesion in African contexts.
Social Cohesion and Reconciliation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Explores strategies for building social cohesion, promoting reconciliation, and healing divided communities post-conflict.
Governance and Peace-building
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines the role of governance institutions, democratic processes, and policy frameworks in promoting peace and preventing conflict.
Research Methods in Peace Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in peace, justice, and conflict studies.
Transitional Justice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Examines transitional justice mechanisms including truth commissions, reparations, and accountability processes in post-conflict societies.
Gender, Peace and Security
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Focuses on gender dimensions of conflict and peace-building, including women's participation in peace processes and UNSCR 1325.
Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a justice, peace, and cohesion topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Focuses on practical skills in mediation, negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and conflict transformation in community and institutional settings.
Human Rights and Social Justice
Examines human rights frameworks, social justice principles, and advocacy strategies for promoting justice in African contexts.
Peace-building and Development
Explores the intersection of peace-building and development, including post-conflict reconstruction, peace dividends, and sustainable development.
Governance and Cohesion
Covers governance frameworks, social cohesion strategies, and the role of institutions in promoting peaceful coexistence.
Reconciliation and Transitional Justice
Examines transitional justice mechanisms, reconciliation processes, and post-conflict healing in societies emerging from violence.
Religion and Peace-building
Explores the role of religious institutions and faith-based approaches in peace-building and conflict transformation.
Gender, Peace and Security
Focuses on gender dimensions of conflict and peace-building, including women's participation in peace processes and gender-based violence in conflict.
Environmental Justice and Conflict
Examines environmental conflicts, resource-based conflicts, and environmental justice in the context of peace and cohesion.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on peace and conflict theory, human rights, or mediation at the Center for Social Justice and Ethics. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing case studies of conflicts in Kenya and the region, participate in mediation role-plays and dialogue simulations, and present research on peace-building initiatives. Those in the research phase conduct fieldwork in communities affected by conflict, collect data on peace and cohesion indicators, and work on their thesis under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Offered through a dedicated Center for Social Justice and Ethics, ensuring specialised faculty and focused curriculum.
Strong demand for peace-building expertise in Kenya's NGO sector, with peacebuilding specialists earning KES 325,000 to 361,000 per month.
Flexible study modes including full-time, part-time evening, and ODeL with multiple intakes throughout the year.
Programme integrates Catholic social teaching with secular peace studies, providing a unique interdisciplinary perspective.

Against it

Only one institution offers this exact programme, limiting choice and geographic accessibility.
CUEA is a private university with fees of approximately KES 178,126 per year, which may be challenging for self-sponsored students.
Career opportunities are concentrated in the NGO and development sector, with fewer options in private industry.
Fieldwork in conflict-affected communities can be emotionally challenging and may require travel to sensitive areas.

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

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private178k to 221k

178k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa221k 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 proxy ~220.5K/yr. Maseno proxy. CUEA 178.1K/yr (PDF). Daystar 220.8K/yr.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, CUEA postgraduate bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme for academically talented Africans.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
CUEA Postgraduate Bursary
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
CUEA Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
Postgraduate students demonstrating financial need at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Academically talented young Africans facing economic, social, or institutional barriers.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Holders of a pass degree plus a Postgraduate Diploma in a related field may be considered. Non-English speaking applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL or equivalent. The University Senate recognises equivalent qualifications from accredited institutions.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, seminar presentations, case study analyses, and policy briefs conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering all course unit content, including essay questions and conflict analysis scenarios.
Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a justice, peace, and cohesion topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Practical Mediation Exercises
Coursework20% of the mark
Practical assessment of mediation, negotiation, and dialogue facilitation skills through role-plays and simulations.

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 Center for Social Justice and Ethics at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Mediation Council of Kenya
Professional accreditation
Kenyan professional body for mediators. Accreditation recommended for graduates pursuing mediation practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Peacebuilding Specialist
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 362,000
Provides technical expertise on peace-building in international NGOs. Peacebuilding specialists earn KES 325,000 to 361,000 per month in international NGOs based in Kenya.
Conflict Resolution Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Facilitates mediation, dialogue, and conflict transformation in community and institutional settings for NGOs and government agencies.
Human Rights Officer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 180,000
Promotes and protects human rights through advocacy, monitoring, and reporting for national and international human rights organisations.
Programme Officer (Peace and Governance)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Designs and implements peace-building and governance programmes in NGOs and international development organisations.
Community Cohesion Officer
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 150,000
Works with communities to promote social cohesion, prevent conflict, and build resilient communities at county and national levels.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches peace studies, conflict resolution, and social justice at universities, contributing to research and scholarship.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue roles as peace-building specialists, conflict resolution officers, human rights advocates, and programme officers in NGOs, with strong demand in Kenya's active peace-building and development sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for quantitative analysis in peace and conflict research, including survey data and conflict indicators.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing interview data, focus groups, and conflict narratives.
Microsoft Word
Software
Primary tool for academic writing, thesis preparation, policy briefs, and programme documentation.
Google Scholar
Platform
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature on peace studies, conflict resolution, and social justice.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Peace studies is only for those working in conflict zones.
Graduates work in diverse settings including community development, governance, human rights, education, and corporate social responsibility, applying peace-building skills to everyday challenges.
A peace studies degree has limited career prospects.
There is strong demand for peace-building expertise in Kenya's NGO sector, with peacebuilding specialists earning KES 325,000 to 361,000 per month in international NGOs.
The programme is only for Catholics or religious individuals.
While CUEA is a Catholic institution, the programme is open to all and draws on both Catholic social teaching and secular peace and conflict studies frameworks.
Peace studies is not a rigorous academic discipline.
The programme includes advanced research methodology, conflict analysis frameworks, and a thesis requiring original scholarly research on peace and justice issues.
Justice and peace work is only about mediation and dialogue.
The programme covers a wide range of topics including human rights, governance, transitional justice, gender, environmental justice, and development.
Only one institution offering the programme limits its value.
CUEA's Center for Social Justice and Ethics is a specialised hub for justice and peace studies, with strong links to faith-based and secular peace-building networks across Africa.