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Masters of Education in Religious Studies Education

The Masters of Education in Religious Studies Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in religious studies teaching, pedagogy, and research. The programme provides specialised training in religious studies, theology, teaching methodology, and curriculum development across Christian, Islamic, and African traditional religion perspectives.

Core areas include religious studies theory, teaching methodology, curriculum development, comparative religion, African traditional religion, Christian religious education, Islamic studies, 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. The University of Nairobi offers MEd in Religious Education through the Faculty of Education. Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in religious studies pedagogy, comparative religion, curriculum development, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, teaching practice, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for religious studies education and research roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 280,000 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 (Religious Studies), Religious Studies, Theology, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as religious studies lecturers, religious education officers, curriculum developers, chaplains, theological researchers, and teacher trainers across universities, secondary schools, education ministries, religious institutions, and theological colleges.

Skills Required

  • Religious Studies Teaching Methodology
  • Comparative Religion Analysis
  • Christian Religious Education Instruction
  • Islamic Studies Education
  • African Traditional Religion Studies
  • Curriculum Development in Religious Education
  • Theological Research Methods
  • Interfaith Dialogue and Education
  • Religious Ethics and Moral Education
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Religious Studies Teaching Methodology
  • Comparative Religion Analysis
  • Christian Religious Education Instruction
  • Islamic Studies Education
  • African Traditional Religion Studies
  • Curriculum Development in Religious Education
  • Theological Research Methods
  • Interfaith Dialogue and Education
  • Religious Ethics and Moral Education
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KICD Curriculum Developer Certification
  • AASR Professional Membership

Specializations

Christian Religious Education

Focuses on Christian religious education, covering Christian, religious, education, teaching, and managing Christian religious education instruction.

Islamic Studies Education

Examines Islamic studies education, covering Islamic, studies, education, teaching, and managing Islamic studies education and instruction.

African Traditional Religion

Covers African traditional religion, covering African, traditional, religion, studies, and managing African traditional religion studies.

Comparative Religion

Focuses on comparative religion, covering comparative, religion, analysis, studies, and managing comparative religion analysis.

Religious Ethics and Moral Education

Examines religious ethics, covering religious, ethics, moral, education, and managing religious ethics and moral education.

Interfaith Dialogue

Covers interfaith dialogue, covering interfaith, dialogue, religion, education, and managing interfaith dialogue and education.

Duration
2 years
Public, up to
Ksh 187,200
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
  • Religious Studies Teaching Methodology
  • Comparative Religion Analysis
  • Christian Religious Education Instruction
  • Islamic Studies Education
  • African Traditional Religion Studies
  • Curriculum Development in Religious Education
  • Theological Research Methods
  • Interfaith Dialogue and Education
  • Religious Ethics and Moral Education
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Religious Studies Teaching Methodology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines religious studies teaching, covering religious, studies, teaching, methodology, and managing religious studies teaching methodology.

  • Comparative Religion Analysis

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Christian Religious Education Instruction

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines Christian religious education, covering Christian, religious, education, teaching, and managing Christian religious education instruction.

  • Islamic Studies Education

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers Islamic studies, covering Islamic, studies, education, teaching, and managing Islamic studies education and instruction.

  • African Traditional Religion Studies

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines African traditional religion, covering African, traditional, religion, studies, and managing African traditional religion studies.

  • Curriculum Development in Religious Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers curriculum development, covering curriculum, development, religious, education, and managing curriculum development in religious education.

  • Religious Ethics and Moral Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines religious ethics, covering religious, ethics, moral, education, and managing religious ethics and moral education.

  • Research Methods in Religious Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research, methods, religious, education, and conducting research in religious education, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Interfaith Dialogue and Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines interfaith dialogue, covering interfaith, dialogue, religion, education, and managing interfaith dialogue and education.

  • Religion and Contemporary Social Issues

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers religion and social issues, covering religion, social, issues, contemporary, and managing religion and contemporary social issues.

  • Religious Education Assessment and Evaluation

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines assessment, covering assessment, evaluation, religious, education, and managing assessment and evaluation in religious education.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore

    Original supervised research thesis on a religious studies education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and religious studies knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Christian Religious Education

    Focuses on Christian religious education, covering Christian, religious, education, teaching, and managing Christian religious education instruction.

  • Islamic Studies Education

    Examines Islamic studies education, covering Islamic, studies, education, teaching, and managing Islamic studies education and instruction.

  • African Traditional Religion

    Covers African traditional religion, covering African, traditional, religion, studies, and managing African traditional religion studies.

  • Comparative Religion

    Focuses on comparative religion, covering comparative, religion, analysis, studies, and managing comparative religion analysis.

  • Religious Ethics and Moral Education

    Examines religious ethics, covering religious, ethics, moral, education, and managing religious ethics and moral education.

  • Interfaith Dialogue

    Covers interfaith dialogue, covering interfaith, dialogue, religion, education, and managing interfaith dialogue and education.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, teaching practice, and independent study. Sessions cover religious studies theory, teaching methodology, comparative religion, African traditional religion, and religious ethics. Teaching methodology sessions examine religious, studies, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing religious studies teaching methodology. Comparative religion sessions cover comparative, religion, analysis, studies, and managing comparative religion analysis. African traditional religion sessions cover African, traditional, religion, studies, and managing African traditional religion studies. Christian education sessions cover Christian, religious, education, teaching, and managing Christian religious education. Islamic studies sessions cover Islamic, studies, education, teaching, and managing Islamic studies education. Seminars provide opportunities for theological analysis presentations and discussing research findings. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a religious studies education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

  • Programme addresses demand for religious education professionals in Kenya's education sector.
  • Two public universities confirmed offering the programme, providing options for students.
  • Programme covers diverse religious traditions including Christianity, Islam, and African traditional religion.
  • Graduates are eligible for KICD curriculum developer certification and AASR professional membership.

Against it

  • Fee difference between Moi (KES 187,200/year) and UoN (KES 280,000/year).
  • No private university confirmed offering this programme.
  • Religious studies 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
Public156k to 187k
156k at University of Nairobi187k at Moi 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

UoN ~155K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. AASR and IAHR may offer fellowships for religious studies research and education.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • University Scholarship

  • AASR Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • University Scholarship

    ScholarshipKsh 280,000Kenyan

    Moi University and UoN may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate religious studies students.

  • AASR Fellowship

    ScholarshipKsh 250,000

    AASR and IAHR may offer fellowships for religious studies 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 UoN 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, theological analysis reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Written examinations covering religious studies theory, teaching methodology, comparative religion, and curriculum development.

  • Teaching Practice Assessment

    Project40% of the mark

    Practical assessment through teaching practice, demonstrating religious studies teaching methodology and pedagogy skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original supervised research thesis on a religious studies education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and religious studies 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 Religious Studies Education through the School of Education. UoN (public) offers MEd in Religious Education through the Faculty of Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in religious studies education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and AASR for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and AASR religious studies education frameworks.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University (public) offers MEd in Religious Studies Education through the School of Education. UoN (public) offers MEd in Religious Education through the Faculty of Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in religious studies education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and AASR for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and AASR religious studies education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Religious Studies Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Teaches religious studies at university or college level, covering religious, studies, lecturer, teaching, and managing religious studies instruction.

  • Religious Education Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Manages religious education, covering religious, education, officer, programmes, and managing religious education programmes.

  • Curriculum Developer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Develops religious education curriculum, covering curriculum, developer, religious, education, and managing curriculum development in religious education.

  • Chaplain

    Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000

    Provides spiritual guidance, covering chaplain, spiritual, guidance, religious, and managing chaplaincy and spiritual guidance.

  • Theological Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Conducts theological research, covering theological, researcher, research, religious, and managing theological research.

  • Teacher Trainer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Trains religious education teachers, covering teacher, trainer, religious, education, and managing teacher training in religious education.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as religious studies lecturers, religious education officers, curriculum developers, chaplains, theological researchers, and teacher trainers across universities, secondary schools, education ministries, religious institutions, and theological colleges.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • NVivo

    SoftwarePrimary

    NVivo for qualitative data analysis in religious studies research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.

  • SPSS

    Software

    SPSS for religious education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, religious, and managing religious education research data analysis.

  • Reference Management Software

    Software

    Reference management for religious studies research and thesis writing, covering references, research, thesis, religious, 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

  • Religious studies education is just about teaching Bible or Quran.

    Religious studies covers comparative religion, African traditional religion, ethics, interfaith dialogue, and curriculum development beyond single faith instruction.

  • This programme is only for religious studies graduates.

    The programme is for professionals from education, theology, philosophy, and related fields, not just religious studies graduates.

  • Religious studies education has limited career prospects in Kenya.

    Religious education professionals are in demand in schools, churches, mosques, theological colleges, and interfaith organisations.

  • This programme is the same as theology.

    MEd in Religious Studies Education focuses on pedagogy and curriculum development, while theology focuses on doctrinal study and ministry.

  • Religious studies is only about Christianity.

    The programme covers Christianity, Islam, African traditional religion, and comparative religion, not just Christianity.

  • You need to be religious to study this programme.

    The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking religious studies education specialisation, not just religious individuals.

Related courses

Further reading

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Fees and entry marks for Masters of Education in Religious Studies Education are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.

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