Social Sciences

Master of Arts (Sociology)

The Master of Arts in Sociology is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced study of social structures, social processes, social change, and social research. The programme trains graduates for careers in academia, research, policy, community development, and social analysis.

Core areas include sociological theory, research methods, social statistics, demography, rural sociology, urban sociology, gender and development, criminology, and globalisation. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and empirical social research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, and Moi University. UoN charges KES 21,000 per unit with total programme cost of approximately KES 441,000. KU charges KES 216,000/year. Moi offers three options: Sociology, Community Development and Rural Sociology, and Criminology.

Students develop competencies in sociological analysis, research design, data analysis, social theory, policy analysis, and community development. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field research, thesis, and oral defence.

UoN tuition is KES 21,000 per unit with total programme cost of approximately KES 441,000 over four semesters (~KES 220,500/year). KU charges KES 216,000/year. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in Sociology or related discipline.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, social researchers, policy analysts, community development officers, criminologists, and NGO programme managers in universities, research institutes, government, and NGOs.

Skills Required

Sociological Theory and Analysis
Research Methods and Design
Social Statistics and Data Analysis
Social Demography and Population Studies
Gender and Development Analysis
Rural and Community Development
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Policy Analysis and Development
Globalisation and Social Change
Project Management and Evaluation

Key Subjects

Sociological Theory
Research Methods
Social Statistics
Social Demography
Gender and Development
Rural Sociology
Urban Sociology
Criminology
Globalisation and Social Change
Community Development

Certifications

ISA Sociology Certification
Monitoring and Evaluation Certification

Specializations

General Sociology

Focuses on sociological theory, social structures, social change, globalisation, and understanding society through sociological analysis.

Rural Sociology and Community Development

Examines rural sociology, community development, rural development, participatory development, and developing and supporting rural communities.

Criminology

Covers criminology, criminal justice, deviant behaviour, crime in Kenya, community policing, and understanding crime and criminal justice.

Gender and Development

Focuses on gender and development, gender analysis, women's studies, gender policy, and understanding gender in development contexts.

Social Demography

Examines social demography, population studies, migration, fertility, mortality, and understanding population dynamics and their social implications.

Urban Sociology

Covers urban sociology, urbanisation, urban development, cities, and understanding urban social processes and development.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 297,140
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Sociological Theory
Research Methods
Social Statistics
Social Demography
Gender and Development
Rural Sociology
Urban Sociology
Criminology
Globalisation and Social Change
Community Development

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Sociological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines classical and contemporary sociological theory, functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, structuration, and understanding society through theory.
General Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods, quantitative and qualitative methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting social research, preparing students for their thesis.
Sociology of Globalisation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines globalisation, global social change, transnationalism, global institutions, and understanding globalisation and its social impacts.
Gender and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers gender and development, gender analysis, women's studies, gender policy, and understanding gender in development contexts.
Advanced Social Statistics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines social statistics, data analysis, SPSS, inferential statistics, regression, and analysing social data.
Social Demography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers social demography, population studies, migration, fertility, mortality, and understanding population dynamics and their social implications.
Rural Sociology and Rural Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines rural sociology, rural communities, rural development, agriculture, land, and understanding and developing rural communities.
Urbanisation and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers urbanisation, urban development, cities, urban social problems, and understanding urban social processes and development.
Theoretical Criminology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines criminological theory, crime, deviance, criminal behaviour, and understanding crime and criminal behaviour through theory.
Political Sociology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers political sociology, power, state, democracy, social movements, and understanding politics and society.
Environmental Sociology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental sociology, environment and society, climate change, natural resources, and understanding environment-society relationships.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a sociology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

General Sociology
Focuses on sociological theory, social structures, social change, globalisation, and understanding society through sociological analysis.
Rural Sociology and Community Development
Examines rural sociology, community development, rural development, participatory development, and developing and supporting rural communities.
Criminology
Covers criminology, criminal justice, deviant behaviour, crime in Kenya, community policing, and understanding crime and criminal justice.
Gender and Development
Focuses on gender and development, gender analysis, women's studies, gender policy, and understanding gender in development contexts.
Social Demography
Examines social demography, population studies, migration, fertility, mortality, and understanding population dynamics and their social implications.
Urban Sociology
Covers urban sociology, urbanisation, urban development, cities, and understanding urban social processes and development.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Sociology programme begins with morning lectures on sociological theory, research methods, or social statistics. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and empirical social research. Theory sessions cover classical and contemporary sociological theory, globalisation, social change, and understanding society through theory. Research methods sessions cover quantitative and qualitative methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting social research. Statistics sessions cover social statistics, data analysis, SPSS, and analysing social data. Demography sessions examine population studies, migration, fertility, mortality, and understanding population dynamics. Gender sessions cover gender and development, gender analysis, women's studies, and understanding gender in society. Rural sociology sessions examine rural communities, community development, participatory development, and developing rural communities. Criminology sessions cover crime, criminal justice, deviance, policing, and understanding crime and justice. Urban sociology sessions examine urbanisation, urban development, cities, and understanding urban social processes. Guest lectures from researchers, government officials, NGO leaders, and international sociologists provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in field research and thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's development challenges, social research needs, NGO sector growth, and policy development create demand for qualified sociology professionals.
KU offers the programme at KES 216,000/year with full-time and part-time modes providing flexibility.
Career opportunities in academia, research, government, NGOs, international development, and policy analysis.
Programme provides versatile analytical, research, and policy skills applicable across multiple sectors.

Against it

Sociology is a broad field, which may limit depth in any single specialisation.
Academic and research positions are competitive and may require doctoral qualifications.
Maseno and Moi fee structures for this exact programme not independently verified.
Some employers may prefer professional degrees over a general sociology master's.

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

Public187k to 221k

187k at Moi University221k at University of Nairobi

Private156k to 297k

156k at KCA University297k at United States International University Africa

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 MA Sociology 441K/2=220.5K/yr (Tuko). Moi 187.2K. KCA ~155.8K. USIU ~297K.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. ISA supports sociology research globally. UNDP supports social research in Kenya. The programme's sociology and social research focus attracts ISA, UNDP, and research funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ISA Research Funding
UNDP Social Research Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate sociology studies at recognised universities.
ISA Research Funding
FellowshipKsh 300,000
ISA supports sociology research globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in sociology.
UNDP Social Research Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
UNDP supports social research in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in sociology and 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 accepts graduates from sociology, social sciences, anthropology, community development, and related fields. KU requires Sociology as major or regular subject at degree level. Moi offers three options: General Sociology, Community Development and Rural Sociology, and Criminology. Two-year programme with field research and thesis.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework essays, seminar presentations, research analysis papers, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering sociological theory, research methods, statistics, and substantive areas, conducted at end of each semester.
Research Seminar and Proposal
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of research seminar and proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a sociology 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). University of Nairobi offers MA in Sociology through its Department of Sociology, Social Work and African Women Studies. Kenyatta University offers MA in Sociology. Maseno University offers MA in Sociology. Moi University offers MA in Sociology with three options. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate sociology training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Sociology through its Department of Sociology. KU offers MA in Sociology. Maseno offers MA in Sociology. Moi offers MA in Sociology with three options. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate sociology training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches sociology in universities, conducting research and training future sociologists and social science professionals.
Social Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts social research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and supporting evidence-based social policy and practice.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses social policy, overseeing policy research, analysis, development, and supporting evidence-based policy and governance.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Supports community development, overseeing community programmes, mobilisation, participation, and supporting community empowerment.
NGO Programme Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages NGO programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, M&E, and supporting development outcomes.
Criminologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses crime and criminal justice, overseeing research, policy, and supporting crime prevention and justice.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, social researchers, policy analysts, community development officers, and NGO programme managers.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for social research, survey analysis, quantitative data analysis, and social statistics.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for social research, interviews, focus groups, and qualitative data analysis.
Stata
Software
Statistical software for social research, econometric analysis, and quantitative data analysis.
KoboToolbox
Software
Data collection platform for field research, social surveys, and collecting social research data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sociology is just common sense about society.
Sociology involves rigorous theory, research methods, statistical analysis, and empirical study of social structures and processes.
Sociology only leads to teaching careers.
Sociology opens careers in research, policy, community development, criminology, NGOs, international development, and social analysis.
There is no demand for sociology graduates in Kenya.
Kenya's development challenges, social research needs, NGO sector, and policy development create demand for qualified sociology professionals.
Sociology is not a rigorous discipline.
Sociology involves rigorous research methods, statistical analysis, theory, and empirical investigation comparable to other social sciences.
A master's in sociology is redundant after a BA.
The master's provides advanced analytical skills, research capability, specialisation, and career progression to senior research and policy positions.
Sociology is just about social problems.
Sociology studies all aspects of social life including institutions, organisations, culture, religion, education, politics, and development, not just problems.