Education

Master of Education (Sociology of Education)

The Master of Education (Sociology of Education) is a postgraduate programme that examines the social dimensions of education, exploring how society shapes and is shaped by educational systems. The programme combines sociological theory with educational policy analysis.

Core areas include sociology of education theory, education policy studies, social inequality in education, comparative education, educational research methods, and thesis research. Students engage with both sociological foundations and their application to educational practice and policy.

The programme is offered by University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time, part-time, modular, and distance learning modes.

Students develop competencies in sociological analysis of education, policy analysis, social research methods, comparative education, understanding inequality in education, and academic research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and thesis research.

University of Nairobi charges a total of KES 556,600 (approximately KES 278,300/year). Kenyatta University charges KES 246,000/year. Entry requires a Bachelor of Education degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as education policy analysts, sociology of education lecturers, education researchers, social policy consultants, and education officers in government, universities, and organisations.

Skills Required

Sociology of Education Theory
Education Policy Analysis
Social Inequality Analysis in Education
Comparative Education
Educational Research Methods
Social Research Methods
Education and Development Analysis
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Academic Writing and Thesis Research
Education Policy Evaluation

Key Subjects

Sociology of Education Theory
Education Policy Studies
Social Inequality in Education
Comparative Education
Education and Development
Educational Research Methods
Sociology of Knowledge
Education and Social Change
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Thesis Research

Certifications

TSC Teacher Registration
Kenya Education Research and Policy Association Membership

Specializations

Education Policy Studies

Focuses on education policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and social systems.

Social Inequality in Education

Examines social class, gender, ethnicity, and other factors creating inequality in educational access, achievement, and outcomes.

Comparative Education

Covers comparing education systems across countries and regions, examining global trends and international education policy.

Education and Development

Focuses on the relationship between education and social, economic, and political development in Kenya and globally.

Sociology of Knowledge

Examines how knowledge is produced, validated, and distributed in educational institutions and society.

Education and Social Change

Covers the role of education in social change, examining how education transforms societies and communities.

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

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Modular, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Sociology of Education Theory
Education Policy Studies
Social Inequality in Education
Comparative Education
Education and Development
Educational Research Methods
Sociology of Knowledge
Education and Social Change
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Sociology of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines classical and contemporary sociological perspectives on education, including functionalist, conflict, and interactionist theories.
Education Policy Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers education policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and social systems.
Social Inequality in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines how social class, gender, ethnicity, and other factors create inequality in educational access, achievement, and outcomes.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers both quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting sociology of education research.
Comparative Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines comparing education systems across countries and regions, global trends, and international education policy.
Education and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers the relationship between education and social, economic, and political development in Kenya and globally.
Sociology of Knowledge
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines how knowledge is produced, validated, and distributed in educational institutions and society.
Education and Social Change
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers the role of education in social change, examining how education transforms societies and communities.
Gender and Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines gender dynamics in education, including gender access, achievement gaps, and gender-responsive education policy.
Contemporary Issues in Sociology of Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers current trends, challenges, and developments in sociology of education, including globalisation, privatisation, and education reform.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation for thesis development.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a sociology of education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Education Policy Studies
Focuses on education policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and social systems.
Social Inequality in Education
Examines social class, gender, ethnicity, and other factors creating inequality in educational access, achievement, and outcomes.
Comparative Education
Covers comparing education systems across countries and regions, examining global trends and international education policy.
Education and Development
Focuses on the relationship between education and social, economic, and political development in Kenya and globally.
Sociology of Knowledge
Examines how knowledge is produced, validated, and distributed in educational institutions and society.
Education and Social Change
Covers the role of education in social change, examining how education transforms societies and communities.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Ed. (Sociology of Education) programme combines lectures, seminars, research, and independent study. Sessions cover sociological theory, education policy, social inequality, and comparative education. Sociology of education theory sessions examine classical and contemporary sociological perspectives on education, including functionalist, conflict, and interactionist theories. Education policy sessions cover policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluating policy impact on educational institutions and social systems. Social inequality sessions examine how social class, gender, ethnicity, and other factors create inequality in educational access, achievement, and outcomes. Comparative education sessions cover comparing education systems across countries and regions, examining global trends and international education policy. Education and development sessions examine the relationship between education and social, economic, and political development. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering both quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and analysis. Seminars provide opportunities for debating current issues in sociology of education and presenting research findings. Independent study and reading form a significant part of the programme, with students engaging extensively with sociological literature and education research. Guest lectures from policy makers, researchers, and sociologists provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a sociology of education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme provides deep understanding of education-society relationships, highly relevant for education policy and social development work.
Offered by leading public universities (UoN, KU, Moi) with established education and sociology departments.
Multiple study modes including full-time, part-time, modular, and distance learning accommodate different student needs.
Develops strong analytical, research, and policy skills transferable to diverse career contexts.

Against it

Niche field with limited direct job openings compared to broader education or management qualifications.
Significant fee variation between institutions (KES 246,000 to KES 278,300 per year) requires careful cost comparison.
Moi University fee data not independently verified, limiting complete cost comparison.
Only public universities offer this programme, limiting institutional choice.

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 246k

156k at University of Nairobi246k 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). UoN ~155K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC supports teacher professional development. The Association of African Universities and international research bodies may provide research grants for sociology of education research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Teacher Professional Development
AAU Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate education studies at recognised universities.
TSC Teacher Professional Development
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Teachers Service Commission supports professional development for registered teachers pursuing postgraduate sociology of education qualifications.
AAU Research Grants
GrantKsh 250,000
Association of African Universities supports research collaboration and grants for African university staff and researchers in education and social sciences.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: University of Nairobi requires a Bachelor of Education degree with Upper Second Class Honours. Kenyatta University accepts relevant Bachelor's degrees with Upper Second Class, or Lower Second with two years of relevant experience. Moi University requires a Bachelor of Education degree with Upper Second Class or Lower Second with two years of teaching experience. A Postgraduate Diploma in Education may also be accepted. 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, research papers, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering sociological theory, education policy, social inequality, and comparative education.
Research Paper and Seminar Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through research papers, policy analysis exercises, seminar presentations, and applying theory to real education policy scenarios.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a sociology of education 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, Kenyatta University, and Moi University (all public) offer M.Ed. in Sociology of Education. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate sociology of education training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University (all public) offer M.Ed. in Sociology of Education. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate sociology of education training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Education Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses education policy, overseeing research, analysis, policy development, and providing policy advice to government and organisations.
Sociology of Education Lecturer
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches sociology of education at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.
Education Researcher
Low demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts research on education and society, overseeing research projects, publishing findings, and contributing to education knowledge.
Social Policy Consultant
Low demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consults on social policy matters including education, providing advisory services, analysis, and strategy for government and organisations.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Oversees education quality and standards at county or national level, monitoring schools, supporting teachers, and implementing education policy.
NGO Education Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages education programmes for NGOs, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for sociology of education research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing text, interview, and observational data in sociology of education research.
Microsoft Word
Software
Word processing software for research papers, thesis writing, policy briefs, and producing academic and professional documents.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Software
Presentation software for research presentations, policy briefs, conference presentations, and communicating research findings.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sociology of education is just common-sense observations about schools.
The programme involves rigorous sociological theory, research methods, and policy analysis, providing systematic understanding of education-society relationships.
This programme only leads to teaching careers.
Graduates work as policy analysts, researchers, consultants, and lecturers in government, NGOs, universities, and international organisations, not just teaching.
Sociology of education has no practical relevance.
The programme directly informs education policy, inequality reduction, curriculum design, and social development strategies in Kenya and globally.
This is the same as a Master of Arts in Sociology.
While sharing sociological foundations, M.Ed. in Sociology of Education focuses specifically on education systems, policy, and practice, while MA Sociology covers broader social phenomena.
The programme is purely theoretical with no research component.
The programme includes substantial research methods training and a thesis, developing rigorous research and analytical skills.
Sociology of education is not relevant in Kenya's development context.
Understanding education-society relationships is critical for addressing inequality, improving access, and developing effective education policy in Kenya.