Media & Communication

Master of Arts in Kiswahili and Communication

The Master of Arts in Kiswahwili and Communication is a two-year postgraduate programme offered by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa through its Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The programme provides advanced training in Kiswahili language, linguistics, and communication studies, preparing graduates for roles in education, media, translation, and cultural preservation.

The programme combines linguistic analysis of Kiswahili with communication theory, examining the role of Kiswahili as a regional and continental language in East Africa and beyond. Students explore the structure, evolution, and sociolinguistic dynamics of Kiswahili alongside modern communication practices.

Core areas of study include advanced Kiswahili linguistics, sociolinguistics, communication theory, discourse analysis, Kiswahili literature, media communication in Kiswahili, translation and interpretation, and research methods in language and communication studies.

The programme is offered through full-time, part-time, and Open Distance and E-Learning (ODeL) modes at CUEA's Langata Main Campus in Nairobi. Multiple intakes are available in January, May, and September, providing flexibility for working professionals in education, media, and public service.

The curriculum integrates theoretical foundations with practical applications, including language analysis projects, communication campaigns, and translation exercises. Students engage with the growing importance of Kiswahili as an official language in Kenya and a lingua franca across East Africa.

Graduates are prepared for roles as Kiswahili teachers, language consultants, translators and interpreters, media practitioners, cultural officers, and university lecturers. The expanding use of Kiswahili in regional integration, media, and education creates growing demand for advanced Kiswahili and communication expertise.

Skills Required

Advanced Kiswahili Linguistics
Sociolinguistics
Communication Theory
Discourse Analysis
Kiswahili Literature Analysis
Translation and Interpretation
Media Communication in Kiswahili
Research Methods in Language Studies
Intercultural Communication
Language Policy Analysis

Key Subjects

Advanced Kiswahili Linguistics
Sociolinguistics of Kiswahili
Communication Theory
Discourse Analysis
Kiswahili Literature
Translation and Interpretation
Media Communication in Kiswahili
Research Methods in Language Studies
Intercultural Communication
Language Policy and Planning

Certifications

CHAKITA Professional Membership
East African Kiswahili Commission Certification

Specializations

Kiswahili Linguistics

Focuses on the linguistic structure of Kiswahili including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, with emphasis on descriptive and theoretical linguistics.

Sociolinguistics and Language Policy

Examines the social dimensions of Kiswahili use, language policy, language planning, and the role of Kiswahili in East African societies.

Kiswahili Literature

Studies Kiswahili literary traditions including poetry, prose, drama, and oral literature, with critical analysis of literary works.

Translation and Interpretation

Develops practical skills in translation and interpretation between Kiswahili and other languages, including literary, technical, and conference translation.

Media Communication in Kiswahili

Focuses on the use of Kiswahili in print, broadcast, and digital media, including journalism, broadcasting, and content creation in Kiswahili.

Intercultural Communication

Examines communication across cultures in East Africa, with emphasis on Kiswahili as a bridge language in multilingual contexts.

Language and Technology

Explores the intersection of Kiswahili and digital technology, including natural language processing, digital content, and language resources.

Education and Pedagogy in Kiswahili

Covers teaching methodologies for Kiswahili at secondary and tertiary levels, including curriculum development and assessment.

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

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

Advanced Kiswahili Linguistics
Sociolinguistics of Kiswahili
Communication Theory
Discourse Analysis
Kiswahili Literature
Translation and Interpretation
Media Communication in Kiswahili
Research Methods in Language Studies
Intercultural Communication
Language Policy and Planning

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Kiswahili Linguistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the linguistic structure of Kiswahili including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics at an advanced level.
Sociolinguistics of Kiswahili
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Analyses the social dimensions of Kiswahili use, including dialectal variation, language contact, code-switching, and language attitudes.
Communication Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers major communication theories including agenda-setting, framing, uses and gratifications, and their application to Kiswahili media contexts.
Kiswahili Literature
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Studies Kiswahili literary traditions including classical poetry, modern prose, drama, and oral literature with critical analysis.
Translation and Interpretation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Develops practical skills in translation and interpretation between Kiswahili and English, including literary, technical, and conference translation.
Media Communication in Kiswahili
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines the use of Kiswahili in print, broadcast, and digital media, including journalism, broadcasting, and content creation.
Research Methods in Language Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in language and communication studies.
Discourse Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Examines methods for analysing spoken and written discourse in Kiswahili, including conversation analysis and critical discourse analysis.
Language Policy and Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Examines language policy frameworks, language planning, and the role of Kiswahili in national and regional integration.
Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a Kiswahili and communication topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Kiswahili Linguistics
Focuses on the linguistic structure of Kiswahili including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, with emphasis on descriptive and theoretical linguistics.
Sociolinguistics and Language Policy
Examines the social dimensions of Kiswahili use, language policy, language planning, and the role of Kiswahili in East African societies.
Kiswahili Literature
Studies Kiswahili literary traditions including poetry, prose, drama, and oral literature, with critical analysis of literary works.
Translation and Interpretation
Develops practical skills in translation and interpretation between Kiswahili and other languages, including literary, technical, and conference translation.
Media Communication in Kiswahili
Focuses on the use of Kiswahili in print, broadcast, and digital media, including journalism, broadcasting, and content creation in Kiswahili.
Intercultural Communication
Examines communication across cultures in East Africa, with emphasis on Kiswahili as a bridge language in multilingual contexts.
Language and Technology
Explores the intersection of Kiswahili and digital technology, including natural language processing, digital content, and language resources.
Education and Pedagogy in Kiswahili
Covers teaching methodologies for Kiswahili at secondary and tertiary levels, including curriculum development and assessment.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on Kiswahili linguistics, sociolinguistics, or communication theory at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing Kiswahili texts, discourse patterns, and media content in Kiswahili. Practical sessions include translation exercises, language analysis projects, and media content production in Kiswahili. Those in the research phase conduct fieldwork on language use patterns, analyse Kiswahili discourse, and work on their thesis under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kiswahili is an official language in Kenya and a working language of the EAC, creating growing demand for advanced Kiswahili expertise.
Flexible study modes including full-time, part-time, and ODeL with multiple intakes throughout the year.
International media services including BBC Swahili, Deutsche Welle, and Voice of America require Kiswahili-language expertise.
Programme combines linguistics with communication studies, providing versatile skills applicable across education, media, and translation sectors.

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 for full-time study.
Career prospects in pure Kiswahili linguistics research are limited, with most opportunities in education and media.
The programme requires strong proficiency in Kiswahili, which may be a barrier for non-native speakers without prior language training.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public169k to 216k

169k at Egerton University216k 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

Egerton ~168,650/yr avg (egerton.ac.ke). KU 216,000/yr (humanities.ku.ac.ke). Private unverified.

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, language analysis projects, and translation exercises conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering all course unit content, including essay questions and language analysis.
Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a Kiswahili and communication topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Practical Language Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Practical assessment of translation, interpretation, and media communication skills in Kiswahili.

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 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 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.
Chama cha Kiswahili cha Taifa (CHAKITA)
Professional membership
Kenyan national body promoting Kiswahili development and standardisation. Membership recommended for professional practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Kiswahili Teacher
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches Kiswahili language and literature at secondary schools and tertiary institutions, with salaries ranging from KES 45,000 to KES 120,000 per month.
Translator and Interpreter
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides translation and interpretation services between Kiswahili and English for government, international organisations, and media.
Broadcast Journalist (Kiswahili)
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Produces and presents news and content in Kiswahili for television, radio, and digital media platforms.
Language Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides consultancy on Kiswahili language use, terminology development, and language policy for organisations and government agencies.
Cultural Program Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 150,000
Coordinates cultural programmes and events promoting Kiswahili language and East African cultural heritage.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches Kiswahili language, linguistics, and literature at universities, contributing to research and scholarship.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue roles as Kiswahili teachers, translators and interpreters, media practitioners, language consultants, and university lecturers, with growing demand driven by Kiswahili's expanding role in East African integration.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Praat
SoftwarePrimary
Phonetic analysis software for analysing speech sounds, prosody, and phonological patterns in Kiswahili.
AntConc
SoftwarePrimary
Corpus analysis toolkit for analysing large collections of Kiswahili texts, including concordance and collocation analysis.
Microsoft Word
Software
Primary tool for academic writing, thesis preparation, and translation documentation.
Google Scholar
Platform
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature on Kiswahili linguistics and communication studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Kiswahili studies only leads to teaching careers.
Graduates pursue diverse careers in translation, media, diplomacy, cultural preservation, publishing, language technology, and international organisations.
Kiswahili is a simple language that doesn't require advanced study.
Kiswahili has complex linguistic structures, rich literary traditions, and significant sociolinguistic dynamics that require rigorous academic study at the postgraduate level.
A Kiswahili degree has limited career prospects.
Kiswahili is an official language in Kenya and Tanzania, a working language of the EAC, and is expanding across Africa, creating growing demand for advanced Kiswahili expertise.
Kiswahili and communication is only relevant in East Africa.
Kiswahili is spoken across Africa and globally, with international media services including BBC Swahili, Deutsche Welle, and Voice of America requiring Kiswahili expertise.
Digital technology is making Kiswahili less relevant.
Digital technology is creating new opportunities for Kiswahili including natural language processing, digital content creation, and online media, increasing demand for Kiswahili-language expertise.
Only native Kiswahili speakers benefit from this programme.
The programme is open to all qualified applicants, and non-native speakers bring valuable perspectives on language learning, translation, and intercultural communication.