Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Social Transformation

The Master of Arts in Social Transformation is a postgraduate programme that equips students with knowledge, skills, and values needed to understand and influence the forces shaping contemporary society. It is the first programme of its kind in East Africa, aimed at empowering students to solve contemporary global challenges.

Core areas include organisational management, security and sustainable peace, sustainable development, governance, social entrepreneurship, and research methods. The programme brings together theory and action, transforming them into practice that transforms society.

The programme is offered by Tangaza University through its Institute for Social Transformation under the School of Arts and Social Sciences. Tangaza offers flexible modes: a regular student programme with classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, and a professional student programme with classes on Friday and Saturday for working professionals.

Students develop competencies in social analysis, organisational management, peace-building, sustainable development, governance, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, research project, and oral defence.

Tangaza (private) charges approximately KES 58,000 per trimester with 6 trimesters over 2 years (~KES 174,000/year). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as social transformation practitioners, NGO programme managers, community development officers, peace-building coordinators, and governance advisors in NGOs, community organisations, government, and international development agencies.

Skills Required

Social Analysis and Transformation
Organisational Management and Leadership
Peace-Building and Conflict Transformation
Sustainable Development Planning
Governance and Policy Advocacy
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Research Methods for Social Change
Community Development and Mobilisation
Project Planning and Management
Ethics and Social Responsibility

Key Subjects

Social Analysis and Transformation Theory
Organisational Management
Security and Sustainable Peace
Sustainable Development
Governance and Policy
Social Entrepreneurship
Research Methods for Social Change
Community Development
Project Planning and Management
Ethics and Social Responsibility

Certifications

UNRISD Social Development Certification
ISTR Civil Society Research Certification

Specializations

Organisational Management

Focuses on organisational management, leadership, strategy, change management, and managing organisations for social transformation.

Security and Sustainable Peace

Examines security, peace-building, conflict transformation, peace processes, and building and sustaining peace in societies.

Sustainable Development

Covers sustainable development, development theory, poverty, environment, SDGs, and promoting sustainable development in communities and societies.

Governance

Focuses on governance, good governance, democracy, accountability, transparency, and promoting good governance in organisations and societies.

Social Entrepreneurship

Examines social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, innovation, business models, and using entrepreneurship for social transformation.

Community Development

Covers community development, community mobilisation, participation, empowerment, and supporting community-led development and transformation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 205,600
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Social Analysis and Transformation Theory
Organisational Management
Security and Sustainable Peace
Sustainable Development
Governance and Policy
Social Entrepreneurship
Research Methods for Social Change
Community Development
Project Planning and Management
Ethics and Social Responsibility

Modules

12 in the programme

Social Analysis and Transformation Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines social analysis, social structures, inequality, poverty, transformation theory, and understanding forces shaping society and transformation.
Organisational Management and Leadership
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers organisational management, leadership, strategy, change management, and managing organisations for social transformation.
Research Methods for Social Change
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research for social change, preparing students for their project.
Security and Sustainable Peace
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers security, peace-building, conflict transformation, peace processes, reconciliation, and building and sustaining peace in societies.
Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines sustainable development, development theory, SDGs, environment, poverty, and promoting sustainable development in communities and societies.
Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers governance, good governance, democracy, accountability, transparency, policy, and promoting good governance in organisations and societies.
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, innovation, business models, and using entrepreneurship for social transformation.
Community Development and Mobilisation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers community development, community mobilisation, participation, empowerment, and supporting community-led development and transformation.
Project Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines project planning, project management, project cycle, M&E, and planning and managing projects for social transformation.
Ethics and Social Responsibility
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers ethics, social responsibility, moral reasoning, professional ethics, and promoting ethical practice and social responsibility.
Research Proposal Defence
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation and defence of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Original research project on a social transformation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Organisational Management
Focuses on organisational management, leadership, strategy, change management, and managing organisations for social transformation.
Security and Sustainable Peace
Examines security, peace-building, conflict transformation, peace processes, and building and sustaining peace in societies.
Sustainable Development
Covers sustainable development, development theory, poverty, environment, SDGs, and promoting sustainable development in communities and societies.
Governance
Focuses on governance, good governance, democracy, accountability, transparency, and promoting good governance in organisations and societies.
Social Entrepreneurship
Examines social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, innovation, business models, and using entrepreneurship for social transformation.
Community Development
Covers community development, community mobilisation, participation, empowerment, and supporting community-led development and transformation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Social Transformation programme at Tangaza University varies by mode. In the regular student programme, students attend classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. In the professional student programme, students attend on Friday and Saturday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Sessions cover social analysis, organisational management, peace-building, sustainable development, and governance. Social analysis sessions examine social structures, inequality, poverty, and understanding forces shaping society. Organisational management sessions cover leadership, strategy, change management, and managing organisations for social transformation. Peace-building sessions examine conflict, conflict transformation, peace processes, reconciliation, and building and sustaining peace. Sustainable development sessions cover development theory, SDGs, environment, poverty, and promoting sustainable development. Governance sessions examine good governance, democracy, accountability, transparency, and promoting good governance. Social entrepreneurship sessions cover social enterprise, innovation, business models, and using entrepreneurship for social transformation. Research methods sessions prepare students for their project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. The programme uses a hands-on approach and impact-driven results, with students developing skills to be change makers. Guest lectures from practitioners, NGO leaders, peace-builders, and development experts provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project defended at the institute.

The trade offs

In its favour

First programme of its kind in East Africa, offering unique specialisation in social transformation.
Flexible regular and professional modes designed for both full-time students and working professionals.
Programme uses hands-on approach and impact-driven results, developing practical change-making skills.
Career opportunities across NGOs, government, private sector, and international development agencies.

Against it

Programme is only offered at Tangaza University (private), limiting university choice.
Tuition fees are moderate for a private university but may be challenging for self-sponsored students.
Career paths are primarily in NGO and development sectors, which may have funding-dependent positions.
Programme is relatively niche, which may limit broader recognition compared to established disciplines.

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

Private116k to 206k

116k at Tangaza University206k at St. Paul's 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

SPU 102.8K/sem=205.6K/yr. Tangaza 58K/sem=116K/yr. UoN 220.5K/yr

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Tangaza University offers financial aid for qualifying students. UNRISD supports social development research globally. The programme's social transformation focus attracts UNRISD, ISTR, and development funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Tangaza University Financial Aid
UNRISD Research Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate social transformation studies at recognised universities.
Tangaza University Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Tangaza University offers financial aid for qualifying students based on merit and need.
UNRISD Research Funding
GrantKsh 250,000
UNRISD supports social development research globally, providing grants for postgraduate study and research in social development.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme requires two written confidential recommendations from former lecturers, research supervisors, or recognised authorities. Applicants must submit a two-page personal essay expressing interest, career plans, and autobiographical statement. Non-English speaking candidates must provide TOEFL proof or pass Tangaza's English Language Test. Updated 2-3 page CV required. Tangaza offers regular mode (Mon-Wed evenings) and professional mode (Fri-Sat). Blended learning: online and face-to-face. Intakes in January, May, and September.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, project proposals, presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering social analysis, organisational management, peace-building, development, and research methods.
Research Proposal Defence
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of research proposal defence, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation within six months of provisional admission.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a social transformation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Tangaza University offers MA in Social Transformation through its Institute for Social Transformation under the School of Arts and Social Sciences. It is the first programme of its kind in East Africa. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate social transformation training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Tangaza University offers MA in Social Transformation through its Institute for Social Transformation. It is the first programme of its kind in East Africa. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate social transformation training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Social Transformation Practitioner
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Drives social transformation initiatives, overseeing analysis, design, implementation, and supporting systemic change in communities and organisations.
NGO Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages NGO programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, M&E, partnerships, and supporting programme delivery and impact.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Supports community development, overseeing mobilisation, participation, planning, and supporting community-led development and transformation.
Peace-Building Coordinator
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Coordinates peace-building activities, overseeing dialogue, conflict transformation, reconciliation, and supporting peace and security.
Governance Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Advises on governance, overseeing governance reform, policy, institutions, and supporting good governance and democracy.
Social Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 600,000
Leads social enterprises, overseeing business models, innovation, impact, and using entrepreneurship for social transformation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as social transformation practitioners, NGO programme managers, community development officers, and peace-building coordinators in NGOs, community organisations, and international development agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet software for project planning, budgeting, data analysis, M&E, and managing social transformation data and analysis.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for social research, survey analysis, community assessment, and quantitative data analysis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for social research, interviews, focus groups, and qualitative data analysis.
KoboToolbox
Software
Data collection platform for field research, surveys, community assessments, and collecting social transformation research data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Social transformation is just about charity and volunteering.
Social transformation involves rigorous analysis of social structures, governance, development, peace, and strategic interventions for systemic change.
The programme is only for those working in NGOs.
The programme prepares students for roles in organisational management, security and peace, sustainable development, and governance across NGOs, government, private sector, and international agencies.
Social transformation is not a serious academic discipline.
The programme involves rigorous research methods, social analysis, policy analysis, and scholarly writing comparable to other social sciences.
There are no career opportunities in social transformation.
Kenya's development challenges, governance reforms, peace-building needs, and NGO sector create demand for qualified social transformation professionals.
The programme is only offered at Tangaza.
Tangaza is the primary institution offering this exact programme in East Africa, but related programmes exist at other universities with different emphases.
Social transformation is the same as social work.
While related, social transformation focuses on systemic change, governance, and development at macro level, while social work focuses on individual and community-level interventions.