Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Studies and Community Development

The Master of Environmental Studies and Community Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice at the intersection of environmental management and community development. The programme combines environmental science with community development theory and participatory practice.

Core areas include environment and development, community development theory, environmental impact assessment, natural resource management, climate change, participatory development, environmental research methods, and thesis research. Students engage with both environmental science and socio-economic dimensions of community development.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University and Pwani University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time, part-time, open learning, and distance learning modes.

Students develop competencies in environmental management, community development planning, participatory approaches, natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and environmental research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field research, seminars, and thesis.

Kenyatta University charges KES 130,000 tuition plus KES 22,700 statutory (approximately KES 152,700/year). Pwani University fee data is not independently verified from official sources. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Community Development, or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as community development officers, environmental officers, NGO programme coordinators, natural resource managers, environmental consultants, and lecturers in environmental studies and community development.

Skills Required

Environmental Management
Community Development Planning
Participatory Development Approaches
Environmental Impact Assessment
Natural Resource Management
Climate Change Adaptation
Project Planning and Management
Environmental Research Methods
Community Engagement and Mobilisation
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Environment and Development
Community Development Theory
Environmental Impact Assessment
Natural Resource Management
Climate Change and Adaptation
Participatory Development
Environmental Research Methods
Sustainable Development
Environmental Policy and Governance
Thesis Research

Certifications

NEMA EIA/EA Lead Expert Certification
IUCN Professional Membership

Specializations

Community Development

Focuses on community development theory and practice, covering community mobilisation, participatory development, and sustainable community projects.

Environmental Management

Examines environmental management principles and practice, covering environmental assessment, pollution control, and environmental planning.

Climate Change and Adaptation

Covers climate change science, impacts, and adaptation strategies for communities, covering vulnerability assessment and resilience building.

Participatory Natural Resource Management

Focuses on participatory approaches to natural resource management, covering community-based management, benefit sharing, and governance.

Sustainable Development

Examines sustainable development principles and practice, covering sustainability frameworks, SDGs, and balancing environment and development.

Environmental Policy and Governance

Covers environmental policy development and governance, covering policy analysis, environmental law, and institutional frameworks.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Environment and Development
Community Development Theory
Environmental Impact Assessment
Natural Resource Management
Climate Change and Adaptation
Participatory Development
Environmental Research Methods
Sustainable Development
Environmental Policy and Governance
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Environment and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the relationship between environmental management and socio-economic development, covering sustainable development frameworks and environment-development linkages.
Community Development Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community development theory, community mobilisation, participatory development, and sustainable community project design.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines EIA processes, methodologies, environmental audits, and environmental compliance for development projects.
Environmental Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting environmental and community development research, preparing students for their thesis.
Natural Resource Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines managing natural resources sustainably, covering resource assessment, management planning, and community-based resource management.
Climate Change and Community Adaptation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers climate change science, impacts on communities, vulnerability assessment, and community-based adaptation strategies.
Participatory Development Approaches
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines participatory tools and approaches for community engagement, covering PRA, PLA, community facilitation, and participatory planning.
Sustainable Development and SDGs
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sustainable development principles, SDGs, and balancing environmental, social, and economic dimensions of development.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental policy development, environmental law, governance structures, and institutional frameworks for environmental management.
Project Planning and Management for Community Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers planning and managing community development projects, including project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and presentation of critique papers in areas related to environmental studies and community development.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 210 creditsCore
Original field research thesis on an environmental studies and community development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Community Development
Focuses on community development theory and practice, covering community mobilisation, participatory development, and sustainable community projects.
Environmental Management
Examines environmental management principles and practice, covering environmental assessment, pollution control, and environmental planning.
Climate Change and Adaptation
Covers climate change science, impacts, and adaptation strategies for communities, covering vulnerability assessment and resilience building.
Participatory Natural Resource Management
Focuses on participatory approaches to natural resource management, covering community-based management, benefit sharing, and governance.
Sustainable Development
Examines sustainable development principles and practice, covering sustainability frameworks, SDGs, and balancing environment and development.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Covers environmental policy development and governance, covering policy analysis, environmental law, and institutional frameworks.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Env.Studies and Community Development programme combines lectures, field practicals, community engagement, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover environmental management, community development, participatory approaches, and natural resources. Environment and development sessions examine the relationship between environmental management and socio-economic development. Community development sessions cover community development theory, community mobilisation, and participatory development approaches. Environmental impact assessment sessions cover EIA processes, methodologies, and environmental compliance. Natural resource management sessions cover resource assessment, management planning, and community-based resource management. Climate change sessions examine climate science, impacts, vulnerability assessment, and adaptation strategies. Participatory development sessions cover participatory tools, community engagement, and facilitating community processes. Sustainable development sessions cover sustainability frameworks, SDGs, and balancing environment and development. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field practicals provide hands-on experience with environmental assessment, community engagement, and development projects. Community engagement involves working with communities on real environmental and development challenges. Seminars require students to present critique papers on environmental and community development topics. The programme culminates in field research and a thesis on an environmental studies and community development topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely integrates environmental science with community development, addressing the interconnected challenges of environment and community wellbeing.
Strong career prospects in government, NGOs, international organisations, and private sector for environmental and community development professionals.
Programme includes field research and community engagement providing hands-on experience with real environmental and development challenges.
Kenyatta University offers affordable fees (~KES 152,700/year) for East Africans.

Against it

Pwani University fee data not independently verified, limiting cost comparison between institutions.
Only two public universities offer this programme, limiting institutional choice.
Programme requires extensive fieldwork and community engagement which may be logistically challenging.
Programme may overlap with broader environmental science and rural development programmes, causing confusion for prospective students.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta University

Private131k to 250k

131k at Mount Kenya University250k at Daystar 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 295,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi 187K. Daystar 250K, MKU 131K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. NEMA may provide training support for environmental professionals. IUCN and other conservation organisations may provide research support. International development partners may fund environmental and community development studies.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NEMA Training Support
IUCN Research Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
NEMA Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
NEMA supports training and professional development for environmental management professionals in Kenya.
IUCN Research Support
GrantKsh 300,000
IUCN provides research support and small grants for conservation and community development research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Kenyatta University requires a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Community Development, or related fields with First Class or Upper Second Class Honours. Lower Second Division holders with at least two years of relevant work experience are also considered. Pwani University requires a Bachelor's degree in community development or equivalent. 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, practical reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering environmental management, community development, natural resource management, and climate change.
Field Practical and Seminar Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field work, community engagement exercises, environmental assessment, and seminar presentations of critique papers.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original field research thesis on an environmental studies and community development 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). Kenyatta University and Pwani University (both public) offer M.Env.Studies and Community Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate environmental studies and community development training. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA/EA Lead Expert certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University and Pwani University (both public) offer M.Env.Studies and Community Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate environmental studies and community development training. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA/EA Lead Expert certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and implements community development programmes, overseeing community mobilisation, project implementation, and participatory development.
Environmental Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages environmental compliance and conservation in organisations, overseeing environmental assessment, monitoring, and environmental management.
NGO Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 500,000
Coordinates environmental and community development programmes in NGOs, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages natural resources sustainably, overseeing resource assessment, management planning, and community-based resource management.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consults on environmental and community development matters, providing advisory services, EIA, and support for development projects.
Environmental Studies Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches environmental studies and community development at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic Information System software for spatial analysis, environmental mapping, community resource mapping, and land use planning.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for environmental and community development research, data analysis, and analysing research data for thesis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing community interviews, focus group data, and participatory research data.
Google Earth Engine
Software
Cloud-based platform for geospatial analysis, environmental monitoring, and land use change detection using satellite imagery.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Community development is just about helping poor communities.
Community development is a professional discipline involving participatory approaches, capacity building, sustainable development, and environmental management, not just charity.
Environmental studies and community development are unrelated fields.
Environmental management and community development are deeply interconnected, as communities depend on natural resources and environmental quality affects community wellbeing.
This programme is only for NGO workers.
Graduates work in government, NGOs, private sector, international organisations, and academia, applying environmental and community development skills across sectors.
Community development does not need postgraduate study.
Effective community development requires theoretical knowledge, participatory skills, research methods, and environmental understanding developed through postgraduate study.
Environmental studies is purely scientific with no social dimension.
This programme specifically integrates environmental science with community development, emphasising the social and participatory dimensions of environmental management.
Climate change adaptation is only for scientists.
Climate change adaptation requires community engagement, participatory planning, and social science skills, making this programme highly relevant.