Agriculture

Master of Science in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems

The Master of Science in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in integrated land management for arid and semi-arid lands. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in dryland land management, natural resource management, and sustainable land use planning.

Core areas include dryland land management, integrated land use planning, natural resource management, land degradation assessment, watershed management, rangeland management, land restoration, GIS and remote sensing, dryland ecology, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical land management applications.

The programme is offered by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, University of Nairobi, and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, with Egerton University as a college. Egerton offers the programme through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus alongside related dryland programmes.

Students develop competencies in land management, land use planning, natural resource assessment, land restoration, watershed management, GIS applications, and research. The programme includes coursework, field work, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time study mode at Egerton. Egerton requires a degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours. Application fee is KES 2,000 at Egerton. JOOUST Year 1 programme costs approximately KES 244,800 for related programmes.

Graduates pursue careers as land management specialists, natural resource managers, land use planners, GIS specialists, environmental consultants, and lecturers in government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, environmental organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Integrated Dryland Land Management
Land Use Planning and Zoning
Land Degradation Assessment and Monitoring
Watershed and Catchment Management
Rangeland Management and Restoration
GIS and Remote Sensing for Land Management
Natural Resource Assessment and Mapping
Dryland Land Restoration Techniques
Sustainable Land Management Planning
Land Management Research Methods

Key Subjects

Dryland Land Management
Integrated Land Use Planning
Natural Resource Management
Land Degradation Assessment
Watershed Management
Rangeland Management
Land Restoration
GIS and Remote Sensing
Dryland Ecology
Land Management Research Methods

Certifications

NEMA Professional Certification
ICARDA Training Certification

Specializations

Land Use Planning

Focuses on land use planning, land zoning, land allocation, land use mapping, and planning and managing land use in dryland areas.

Land Degradation Assessment

Examines land degradation, desertification, soil erosion, degradation assessment, monitoring, and assessing and monitoring land degradation in drylands.

Watershed Management

Covers watershed management, catchment management, water resource management, and managing watersheds and catchments in dryland areas.

Rangeland Management

Focuses on rangeland management, rangeland ecology, pasture management, and managing and conserving rangelands in dryland areas.

Land Restoration

Examines land restoration, land rehabilitation, reforestation, soil conservation, and restoring degraded drylands and rehabilitation techniques.

GIS and Remote Sensing

Covers GIS and remote sensing for land management, land mapping, spatial analysis, satellite imagery, and using geospatial tools for dryland land management.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 188,650
Private, up to: Ksh 210,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Dryland Land Management
Integrated Land Use Planning
Natural Resource Management
Land Degradation Assessment
Watershed Management
Rangeland Management
Land Restoration
GIS and Remote Sensing
Dryland Ecology
Land Management Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Integrated Dryland Land Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines integrated land management, land management frameworks, land governance, and understanding integrated approaches to dryland land management.
Land Use Planning in Drylands
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers land use planning, land zoning, land allocation, land use mapping, and planning and managing land use in dryland areas.
Land Degradation Assessment and Monitoring
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines land degradation, desertification, soil erosion, degradation assessment, degradation monitoring, and assessing and monitoring land degradation in drylands.
Watershed and Catchment Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers watershed management, catchment management, water resource management, watershed planning, and managing watersheds and catchments in dryland areas.
Rangeland Management and Ecology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines rangeland management, rangeland ecology, pasture management, carrying capacity, and managing and conserving rangelands in dryland areas.
GIS and Remote Sensing for Land Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers GIS and remote sensing, land mapping, spatial analysis, satellite imagery, and using geospatial tools for dryland land management.
Land Restoration and Rehabilitation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines land restoration, land rehabilitation, reforestation, soil conservation, erosion control, and restoring degraded drylands and rehabilitation techniques.
Natural Resource Assessment and Mapping
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers natural resource assessment, resource mapping, biodiversity assessment, and assessing and mapping natural resources in dryland areas.
Dryland Ecology and Biodiversity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines dryland ecology, dryland ecosystems, arid land ecology, biodiversity, and understanding and managing dryland ecological systems.
Land Management Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for land management, experimental design, data analysis, GIS analysis, and conducting land management research, preparing students for their thesis.
Land Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines land policy, land governance, land rights, community land management, and developing and implementing land policies for dryland areas.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a dryland integrated land management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and land management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Land Use Planning
Focuses on land use planning, land zoning, land allocation, land use mapping, and planning and managing land use in dryland areas.
Land Degradation Assessment
Examines land degradation, desertification, soil erosion, degradation assessment, monitoring, and assessing and monitoring land degradation in drylands.
Watershed Management
Covers watershed management, catchment management, water resource management, and managing watersheds and catchments in dryland areas.
Rangeland Management
Focuses on rangeland management, rangeland ecology, pasture management, and managing and conserving rangelands in dryland areas.
Land Restoration
Examines land restoration, land rehabilitation, reforestation, soil conservation, and restoring degraded drylands and rehabilitation techniques.
GIS and Remote Sensing
Covers GIS and remote sensing for land management, land mapping, spatial analysis, satellite imagery, and using geospatial tools for dryland land management.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems programme begins with morning lectures on land management, land use planning, or GIS. Students engage in theoretical discussions on dryland ecology, land degradation, and sustainable land management. Land management sessions cover integrated land management, land management frameworks, land governance, and understanding integrated approaches to dryland management. Land use planning sessions examine land use planning, land zoning, land allocation, land use mapping, and planning land use in dryland areas. Land degradation sessions cover desertification, soil erosion, degradation assessment, degradation monitoring, and assessing and monitoring land degradation. Watershed management sessions examine catchment management, water resources, watershed planning, and managing watersheds and catchments in drylands. Rangeland management sessions cover rangeland ecology, pasture management, carrying capacity, and managing and conserving rangelands. Land restoration sessions involve land rehabilitation, reforestation, soil conservation, erosion control, and restoring degraded drylands. GIS and remote sensing sessions cover GIS applications, land mapping, spatial analysis, satellite imagery, and using geospatial tools for land management. Natural resource assessment sessions examine resource mapping, resource assessment, biodiversity, and assessing and mapping natural resources in drylands. Dryland ecology sessions cover dryland ecosystems, arid land ecology, biodiversity, and understanding dryland ecological systems. Field work provides hands-on experience in land assessment, degradation mapping, restoration sites, and watershed management. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering land management research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from NEMA officials, KALRO researchers, land management practitioners, and UNCCD representatives provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses critical national challenges of land degradation, desertification, and sustainable land management in Kenya's large arid and semi-arid lands.
Egerton offers the programme through its established Faculty of Agriculture with dryland research facilities at Njoro Campus.
Programme integrates GIS and remote sensing, providing modern geospatial skills for land management and assessment.
Career opportunities with NEMA, Ministry of Lands, KALRO, UNCCD, ICARDA, FAO, environmental NGOs, and research institutions.

Against it

Programme is full-time only, which may not accommodate working professionals.
Programme requires environmental science, agriculture, geography, or natural resource background, which may exclude some graduates.
Field work in arid and semi-arid areas may be challenging due to harsh conditions and remote locations.
Programme is categorised under Architecture & Built Environment, which may not fully reflect its environmental and natural resource focus.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public189k to 189k

189k at Egerton University189k at Egerton University

Private195k to 210k

195k at Kabarak University210k at Mount Kenya 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

Egerton ~189K/yr (egerton.ac.ke FOA). UoN/MMUST values unverified for this course.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. NEMA supports environmental management and capacity building. UNCCD provides funding for sustainable land management. ICARDA supports dryland research. The programme's land management and environmental focus attracts donor and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NEMA Environmental Grants
UNCCD Land Management Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate land management studies at recognised universities.
NEMA Environmental Grants
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
NEMA provides environmental management grants, supporting research and capacity building in environmental and land management.
UNCCD Land Management Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
UNCCD supports sustainable land management, providing funding for capacity building and research in combating desertification and land degradation.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts environmental science, agriculture, geography, natural resource management, land economics, forestry, and related graduates. Two-year full-time programme. Egerton requires degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours. Application fee KES 2,000 at Egerton payable to KCB Account No. 1101906812.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, GIS projects, field reports, land assessment projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering land management, land degradation, watershed management, and GIS, conducted at end of each semester.
Field and Practical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of field work, land assessment, GIS projects, degradation mapping, restoration assessment, and practical field reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a dryland integrated land management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and land management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton offers MSc in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate land management training. NEMA regulates environmental management and land use in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton offers MSc in Dryland Integrated Land Management Systems through its Faculty of Agriculture at Njoro Campus. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate land management training.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
Professional accreditation
NEMA regulates environmental management and land use in Kenya. Graduates working in environmental and land management may require NEMA compliance and environmental impact assessment certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Land Management Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops and implements land management programmes, supporting sustainable land use and management in dryland areas.
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages natural resources, overseeing resource assessment, resource planning, and ensuring sustainable natural resource use in drylands.
Land Use Planner
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Plans land use, developing land use plans, zoning, and ensuring sustainable land allocation and use in dryland areas.
GIS Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Applies GIS and remote sensing for land management, creating land maps, spatial analysis, and supporting land management decisions with geospatial data.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Consults on environmental and land management projects, providing expert advice on land assessment, restoration, and sustainable management.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches land management and environmental science in universities, conducting research and training future land management professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as land management specialists, natural resource managers, and land use planners in government agencies, research institutions, and environmental organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
GIS software for land mapping, spatial analysis, land use planning, land degradation mapping, and geospatial analysis for dryland land management.
QGIS
SoftwarePrimary
Open-source GIS software for land mapping, spatial analysis, and geospatial analysis for dryland land management and planning.
Google Earth Engine
Software
Cloud-based geospatial platform for satellite imagery analysis, land cover mapping, land degradation monitoring, and remote sensing for land management.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for land management research data analysis, survey analysis, and statistical modelling in land management studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Dryland land management is just about planting trees in dry areas.
The programme involves integrated land use planning, watershed management, GIS, land degradation assessment, and policy, far beyond tree planting.
Land management in drylands is not a real career.
Land management is a professional field with careers in NEMA, Ministry of Lands, research institutions, NGOs, and international organisations addressing desertification and land degradation.
There is limited demand for land management specialists in Kenya.
Kenya's large arid and semi-arid lands, land degradation, desertification, and environmental challenges create moderate demand for qualified land management professionals.
This programme is only for agriculture or environmental science graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from environmental science, agriculture, geography, natural resource management, land economics, and related fields.
Dryland land management is simple and requires no technology.
Modern land management involves GIS, remote sensing, satellite imagery, digital mapping, and advanced analytical tools for land assessment and planning.
A master's in land management is redundant after a bachelor's in environmental science.
The master's provides specialised dryland land management knowledge, GIS skills, research capability, and career progression to senior land management positions.