Environmental Science

Master of Science (Environmental Education)

The Master of Science in Environmental Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in environmental education, sustainability education, and natural resource management education. The programme combines environmental science with education theory and curriculum development.

Core areas include environmental education, education for sustainable development, environmental impact assessment, curriculum development, environmental monitoring, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both environmental science and educational pedagogy through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University and Masinde Muliro University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in environmental education, curriculum development, environmental impact assessment, environmental monitoring, participatory environmental management, instructional methods, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and either a thesis or a project option.

KU charges KES 295,800/year (East Africans) or KES 369,750/year (non-East Africans). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with First Class or Second Class Honours Upper Division in environmental education, environmental studies, forestry, agriculture, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as environmental education officers, curriculum developers, environmental education consultants, sustainability educators, environmental programme managers, and lecturers in environmental education and sustainability.

Skills Required

Environmental Education and Communication
Curriculum Development for Environmental Education
Education for Sustainable Development
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
Participatory Environmental Management
Instructional Methods and Pedagogy
Environmental Policy and Decision Making
Research Methods in Environmental Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Education for Sustainable Development
Environmental Change and Development
Environmental Impact Assessment
Advanced Curriculum Development
Environmental Decision Making
Participatory Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
Instructional Methods in Environmental Education
Research Methods in Environmental Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

NEMA EIA Associate Certification
KWS Conservation Education Certification

Specializations

Education for Sustainable Development

Focuses on ESD, covering sustainability education, sustainable development goals, ESD curriculum, and managing ESD programmes.

Environmental Curriculum Development

Examines curriculum development, covering environmental curriculum, instructional design, curriculum evaluation, and managing curriculum development.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Covers EIA, covering environmental assessment, impact analysis, EIA process, and managing environmental impact assessment.

Community Environmental Education

Focuses on community environmental education, covering community engagement, environmental awareness, community programmes, and managing community education.

Climate Change Education

Examines climate change education, covering climate science communication, climate adaptation education, climate policy, and managing climate change education.

Natural Resource Education

Covers natural resource education, covering conservation education, resource management education, wildlife education, and managing natural resource education.

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

Education for Sustainable Development
Environmental Change and Development
Environmental Impact Assessment
Advanced Curriculum Development
Environmental Decision Making
Participatory Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
Instructional Methods in Environmental Education
Research Methods in Environmental Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Education for Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sustainability education, SDGs, sustainability curriculum, sustainability pedagogy, and managing ESD programmes.
Environmental Change and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers environmental change, climate change, environmental degradation, environmental development, and managing environmental change.
Advanced Curriculum Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental curriculum, instructional design, curriculum evaluation, curriculum theory, and managing curriculum development.
Research Methods in Environmental Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting environmental education research, preparing students for their thesis.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental assessment, impact analysis, EIA process, environmental regulations, and managing environmental impact assessment.
Environmental Decision Making
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines environmental policy, environmental decision-making, environmental governance, stakeholder analysis, and managing environmental decisions.
Participatory Environmental Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community participation, stakeholder engagement, participatory approaches, community-based management, and managing participatory environmental management.
Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental indicators, monitoring techniques, environmental data, evaluation methods, and managing environmental monitoring.
Instructional Methods in Environmental Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers teaching methods, environmental pedagogy, outdoor education, experiential learning, and managing instructional methods.
Environment and Urbanization
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines urban environmental issues, urban sustainability, urban environmental management, and managing urban environmental challenges.
Applied Statistics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistical methods, data analysis, environmental statistics, and analysing and interpreting environmental education research data.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an environmental education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Education for Sustainable Development
Focuses on ESD, covering sustainability education, sustainable development goals, ESD curriculum, and managing ESD programmes.
Environmental Curriculum Development
Examines curriculum development, covering environmental curriculum, instructional design, curriculum evaluation, and managing curriculum development.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Covers EIA, covering environmental assessment, impact analysis, EIA process, and managing environmental impact assessment.
Community Environmental Education
Focuses on community environmental education, covering community engagement, environmental awareness, community programmes, and managing community education.
Climate Change Education
Examines climate change education, covering climate science communication, climate adaptation education, climate policy, and managing climate change education.
Natural Resource Education
Covers natural resource education, covering conservation education, resource management education, wildlife education, and managing natural resource education.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Environmental Education programme combines lectures, field visits, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover environmental education, sustainable development, curriculum development, EIA, and environmental monitoring. Environmental education sessions examine environmental education theory, environmental pedagogy, environmental literacy, and managing environmental education. ESD sessions cover sustainability education, SDGs, sustainability curriculum, and managing ESD programmes. Curriculum development sessions cover environmental curriculum, instructional design, curriculum evaluation, and managing curriculum development. EIA sessions cover environmental assessment, impact analysis, EIA process, environmental regulations, and managing environmental impact assessment. Environmental monitoring sessions cover environmental indicators, monitoring techniques, environmental data, and managing environmental monitoring. Participatory management sessions cover community participation, stakeholder engagement, participatory approaches, and managing participatory environmental management. Instructional methods sessions cover teaching methods, environmental pedagogy, outdoor education, and managing instructional methods. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits provide practical experience with environmental sites, conservation areas, community projects, and field data collection. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in environmental education. Guest lectures from experienced environmental educators, conservationists, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis or project on an environmental education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for environmental education professionals with increasing environmental awareness and sustainability focus in Kenya.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (KU, MMUST), providing institutional choice.
Programme offers both thesis and project options, accommodating different career goals.
KU offers affordable fees at KES 295,800/year with access to NEMA and UNEP resources.

Against it

MMUST fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Career prospects may be concentrated in specific sectors (education, government, NGOs), limiting options in private sector.
Programme is specialised, which may limit versatility compared to broader environmental science or education degrees.

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 confirmed (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. UNEP may provide training support for environmental educators. Some conservation organisations and NGOs may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NEMA Training Support
UNEP Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
NEMA Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
National Environment Management Authority supports training for environmental professionals.
UNEP Training Support
GrantKsh 250,000Kenyan
United Nations Environment Programme provides training support for environmental educators in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require First Class or Upper Second Class Honours in environmental education, environmental studies, or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. 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, field reports, seminar presentations, critique papers, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering environmental education, curriculum development, EIA, environmental monitoring, and research methods.
Field and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field exercises, environmental assessment projects, curriculum development projects, and demonstrating environmental education skills.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or project on an environmental education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University and Masinde Muliro University (both public) offer MSc in Environmental Education. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental education. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA associate certification and KWS conservation education certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University and Masinde Muliro University (both public) offer MSc in Environmental Education. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental education. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA associate certification and KWS conservation education certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages environmental education programmes, overseeing environmental education, awareness campaigns, and managing environmental education services.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops environmental education curricula, overseeing curriculum design, instructional materials, and managing curriculum development.
Environmental Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults on environmental education, providing advisory services, programme design, and technical guidance to organisations.
Sustainability Educator
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages sustainability education programmes, overseeing sustainability training, ESD programmes, and managing sustainability education.
Environmental Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages environmental programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, and managing environmental programmes.
Environmental Education Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches environmental education at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, field supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for environmental education research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
GIS Software
Software
GIS software for environmental mapping, covering spatial analysis, environmental mapping, and managing geographic data.
EIA Software
Software
EIA tools for environmental impact assessment, covering impact analysis, assessment documentation, and managing EIA processes.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for environmental data management, monitoring data, and managing environmental education data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental education is just about teaching nature.
Environmental education covers comprehensive education including sustainability, policy, impact assessment, community engagement, and curriculum development.
This programme is only for teachers.
Environmental education skills are valuable in government, NGOs, conservation, research, and any organisation dealing with environmental awareness and education.
Environmental education has limited career prospects.
With growing environmental concerns and sustainability focus, demand for environmental education professionals is increasing in Kenya.
This programme is not academically rigorous.
Environmental education involves rigorous study of environmental science, education theory, research methods, and policy analysis.
Environmental education is the same as environmental science.
Environmental education focuses on teaching and communication about the environment, while environmental science focuses on scientific study of environmental processes.
Sustainability education is just about recycling.
Sustainability education covers comprehensive sustainable development including economic, social, and environmental dimensions.