Education

Masters of Education in Literature Education

The Masters of Education in Literature Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in literature teaching, literary criticism, and pedagogy. The programme provides specialised training in literary analysis, teaching methodology, curriculum development, and literary research.

Core areas include literary analysis and criticism, literature teaching methodology, curriculum development in literature, African literature, oral literature, comparative literature, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, teaching practice, and research.

The programme is offered by Moi University as a public institution through the School of Education. Kenyatta University offers a related MA in Literature through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in literary analysis, pedagogy, curriculum development, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, teaching practice, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for literature education and research roles.

KU charges approximately KES 142,700 per year while Moi University charges approximately KES 187,200 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Education (Literature), Literature, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as literature lecturers, literature education officers, curriculum developers, literary researchers, teacher trainers, and cultural officers across universities, secondary schools, education ministries, and cultural institutions.

Skills Required

Literary Analysis and Criticism
Literature Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Curriculum Development in Literature
African Literature Studies
Oral Literature and Folklore Analysis
Comparative Literature Studies
Literary Research Methods
Creative Writing Instruction
Assessment and Evaluation in Literature
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Literary Analysis and Criticism
Literature Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Curriculum Development in Literature
African Literature Studies
Oral Literature and Folklore Analysis
Comparative Literature Studies
Literary Research Methods
Creative Writing Instruction
Assessment and Evaluation in Literature
Thesis Research

Certifications

KICD Curriculum Developer Certification
ALA Professional Membership

Specializations

African Literature

Focuses on African literature, covering African, literature, analysis, criticism, and managing African literature studies and analysis.

Oral Literature and Folklore

Examines oral literature, covering oral, literature, folklore, analysis, and managing oral literature and folklore analysis.

Comparative Literature

Covers comparative literature, covering comparative, literature, studies, analysis, and managing comparative literature studies.

Literature Teaching Methodology

Focuses on literature teaching, covering literature, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing literature teaching methodology and pedagogy.

Creative Writing

Examines creative writing, covering creative, writing, instruction, literature, and managing creative writing instruction.

Literary Criticism

Covers literary criticism, covering literary, criticism, theory, analysis, and managing literary criticism and theory.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 246,000
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Literary Analysis and Criticism
Literature Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Curriculum Development in Literature
African Literature Studies
Oral Literature and Folklore Analysis
Comparative Literature Studies
Literary Research Methods
Creative Writing Instruction
Assessment and Evaluation in Literature
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Literary Analysis and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines literary analysis, covering literary, analysis, criticism, theory, and managing literary analysis and criticism.
Literature Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers literature teaching, covering literature, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing literature teaching methodology and pedagogy.
African Literature Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines African literature, covering African, literature, analysis, criticism, and managing African literature studies and analysis.
Oral Literature and Folklore Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers oral literature, covering oral, literature, folklore, analysis, and managing oral literature and folklore analysis.
Curriculum Development in Literature
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines curriculum development, covering curriculum, development, literature, education, and managing curriculum development in literature.
Comparative Literature Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers comparative literature, covering comparative, literature, studies, analysis, and managing comparative literature studies.
Literary Theory and Criticism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines literary theory, covering literary, theory, criticism, analysis, and managing literary theory and criticism.
Research Methods in Literature Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, literature, education, and conducting research in literature education, preparing students for their thesis.
Creative Writing Instruction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines creative writing, covering creative, writing, instruction, literature, and managing creative writing instruction.
Children's Literature and Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers children's literature, covering children's, literature, education, teaching, and managing children's literature and education.
Assessment and Evaluation in Literature
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines assessment, covering assessment, evaluation, literature, education, and managing assessment and evaluation in literature.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a literature education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and literature knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

African Literature
Focuses on African literature, covering African, literature, analysis, criticism, and managing African literature studies and analysis.
Oral Literature and Folklore
Examines oral literature, covering oral, literature, folklore, analysis, and managing oral literature and folklore analysis.
Comparative Literature
Covers comparative literature, covering comparative, literature, studies, analysis, and managing comparative literature studies.
Literature Teaching Methodology
Focuses on literature teaching, covering literature, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing literature teaching methodology and pedagogy.
Creative Writing
Examines creative writing, covering creative, writing, instruction, literature, and managing creative writing instruction.
Literary Criticism
Covers literary criticism, covering literary, criticism, theory, analysis, and managing literary criticism and theory.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, teaching practice, and independent study. Sessions cover literary analysis, literature teaching methodology, African literature, oral literature, and comparative literature. Literary analysis sessions examine literary, analysis, criticism, theory, and managing literary analysis and criticism. Teaching methodology sessions cover literature, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing literature teaching methodology. African literature sessions cover African, literature, analysis, criticism, and managing African literature studies. Oral literature sessions cover oral, literature, folklore, analysis, and managing oral literature and folklore. Comparative literature sessions cover comparative, literature, studies, analysis, and managing comparative literature studies. Seminars provide opportunities for literary analysis presentations and discussing research findings. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a literature education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses demand for literature education professionals in Kenya's education sector.
Two public universities confirmed offering related programmes, providing options for students.
Programme covers diverse areas from African literature to oral literature to creative writing.
Graduates are eligible for KICD curriculum developer certification and ALA professional membership.

Against it

Fee difference between KU (KES 142,700/year) and Moi (KES 187,200/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Literature teaching roles may require TSC registration in Kenya.
Career paths may be more limited compared to broader education programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public187k to 246k

187k at Moi University246k at Kenyatta University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International 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

KU 246K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi ~187K/yr. Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. ALA and ICLA may offer fellowships for literature research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
ALA Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 187,200Kenyan
Moi University and KU may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate literature students.
ALA Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
ALA and ICLA may offer fellowships for literature research and education.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Moi University and KU require at least Upper Second Class Honours in Education or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with teaching experience or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, literary analysis reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering literary analysis, teaching methodology, African literature, and curriculum development.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through teaching practice, demonstrating literature teaching methodology and pedagogy skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a literature education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and literature knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University (public) offers MEd in Literature Education through the School of Education. KU (public) offers MA in Literature. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in literature education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and ALA for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and ALA literature education frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University (public) offers MEd in Literature Education through the School of Education. KU (public) offers MA in Literature. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in literature education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and ALA for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and ALA literature education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Literature Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches literature at university or college level, covering literature, lecturer, teaching, education, and managing literature instruction.
Literature Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages literature education, covering literature, education, officer, programmes, and managing literature education programmes.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops literature curriculum, covering curriculum, developer, literature, education, and managing curriculum development in literature.
Literary Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Conducts literary research, covering literary, researcher, research, literature, and managing literary research.
Teacher Trainer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Trains literature teachers, covering teacher, trainer, literature, education, and managing teacher training in literature education.
Cultural Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages cultural programmes, covering cultural, officer, literature, heritage, and managing cultural programmes and heritage.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
NVivo for qualitative data analysis in literature research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for literature education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, literature, and managing literature research data analysis.
Reference Management Software
Software
Reference management for literature research and thesis writing, covering references, research, thesis, literature, and managing research references.
Microsoft Word
Software
Microsoft Word for academic writing and thesis formatting, covering Word, writing, thesis, academic, and managing academic writing.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Literature education is just about reading novels.
Literature education covers literary criticism, African literature, oral literature, comparative literature, and creative writing beyond just reading novels.
This programme is only for literature graduates.
The programme is for professionals from education, languages, and related fields, not just literature graduates.
Literature education has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Literature education professionals are in demand in schools, universities, publishing, and cultural institutions.
This programme is the same as a general MA in Literature.
MEd in Literature Education focuses on pedagogy and curriculum development, while MA Literature focuses on literary research and criticism.
African literature is not as important as Western literature.
African literature is a core component of the programme, reflecting Kenya's cultural heritage and literary traditions.
You need to be a published author to study this programme.
The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking literature education specialisation, not just published authors.