Environmental Science

Master of Science in Environmental Science & Natural Resource Management

The Master of Science in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, and sustainable development. The programme combines environmental science theory with practical resource management, conservation planning, and research application.

Core areas include environmental science, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, water resources, wildlife and forest management, environmental impact assessment, sustainable development, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both environmental science theory and practical field and analytical work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as Master of Environmental Science and MSc in Agricultural Economics with Environmental and Natural Resource Management option, the University of Nairobi as MSc in Geography and Environmental Studies, and JKUAT as MSc in Environmental Engineering and Management. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time, part-time, open learning, and distance learning modes.

Students develop competencies in environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, climate change, and environmental planning. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field research, and a supervised research thesis with 10 course units in year 1 and thesis in year 2.

Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 295,800/year for Master of Environmental Science and KES 326,400/year for MSc in Agricultural Economics. University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 361,500/year (KES 723,000 total) for MSc in Geography and Environmental Studies. JKUAT charges similar fees for environmental engineering and management. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in environmental science, agriculture, natural resources, geography, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as environmental scientists, natural resource managers, conservation officers, environmental planners, sustainability consultants, and lecturers in environmental science across environmental agencies, conservation organisations, research institutions, government ministries, consulting firms, and universities.

Skills Required

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Climate Change and Adaptation Planning
Water Resources Management
Wildlife and Forest Resource Management
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Climate Change and Adaptation Planning
Water Resources Management
Wildlife and Forest Resource Management
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

NEMA Environmental Certification
IUCN Conservation Certification

Specializations

Natural Resource Management

Focuses on natural resource management, covering forests, wildlife, water, minerals, and managing natural resources.

Biodiversity Conservation

Examines biodiversity conservation, covering species, habitats, protected areas, and managing biodiversity.

Climate Change and Sustainability

Covers climate change and sustainability, covering impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change.

Water Resources Management

Focuses on water resources management, covering freshwater, wetlands, water quality, and managing water resources.

Environmental Planning

Examines environmental planning, covering land use, zoning, planning, and managing environmental planning.

Environmental Economics

Covers environmental economics, covering valuation, policy, natural resource economics, and managing environmental economics.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 361,500
Private, up to: Ksh 0
Job market: Moderate

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

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Climate Change and Adaptation Planning
Water Resources Management
Wildlife and Forest Resource Management
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Sustainable Development Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Environment and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environment, development, sustainability, policy, and managing environment and development.
Statistics and Data Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistics, data analysis, environmental data, and managing statistical analysis.
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, environmental science research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Global Warming and Climate Change
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines impacts, adaptation, mitigation, carbon, and managing climate change.
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers species, habitats, protected areas, conservation biology, and managing biodiversity.
Toxic Substances and Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines toxic substances, pollution, health, sustainable development, and managing toxic substances.
Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers industrial ecology, production, consumption, sustainability, and managing industrial ecology.
Energy Resources for Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines energy, renewable, non-renewable, sustainability, and managing energy resources.
Water Resources Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers freshwater, wetlands, water quality, treatment, and managing water resources.
Wildlife and Forest Resources Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines wildlife, forests, protected areas, management, and managing wildlife and forest resources.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers assessment, audit, legislation, compliance, and managing environmental impact assessment.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an environmental science and natural resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Natural Resource Management
Focuses on natural resource management, covering forests, wildlife, water, minerals, and managing natural resources.
Biodiversity Conservation
Examines biodiversity conservation, covering species, habitats, protected areas, and managing biodiversity.
Climate Change and Sustainability
Covers climate change and sustainability, covering impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change.
Water Resources Management
Focuses on water resources management, covering freshwater, wetlands, water quality, and managing water resources.
Environmental Planning
Examines environmental planning, covering land use, zoning, planning, and managing environmental planning.
Environmental Economics
Covers environmental economics, covering valuation, policy, natural resource economics, and managing environmental economics.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management programme combines lectures, field work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover environmental science, natural resource management, biodiversity, climate change, and water resources. Environmental science sessions examine environment, development, systems, sustainability, and managing environmental science. Natural resource management sessions cover forests, wildlife, water, minerals, and managing natural resources. Biodiversity conservation sessions cover species, habitats, protected areas, and managing biodiversity. Climate change sessions cover impacts, adaptation, mitigation, carbon, and managing climate change. Water resources sessions cover freshwater, wetlands, water quality, and managing water resources. Wildlife and forest management sessions cover wildlife, forests, protected areas, and managing wildlife and forests. EIA sessions cover assessment, audit, legislation, compliance, and managing environmental impact assessment. Sustainable development sessions cover green economy, indicators, sustainability, and managing sustainable development. Environmental policy sessions cover regulation, governance, compliance, and managing environmental policy. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field work provides hands-on experience with biodiversity surveys, resource assessments, environmental monitoring, and field research. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with GIS, statistical analysis, environmental modelling, and science tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in environmental science and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced environmental scientists, conservationists, and resource managers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an environmental science and natural resource management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered by three major public universities (KU, UoN, JKUAT), providing institutional choice and flexibility.
KU offers flexible study modes including full-time, part-time, open learning, and distance learning.
KU charges competitive fees at approximately KES 295,800/year for environmental science programmes.
Programme addresses critical environmental and natural resource challenges in Kenya including climate change, biodiversity loss, and water management.

Against it

UoN charges relatively high fees at approximately KES 361,500/year (KES 723,000 total).
JKUAT specific environmental engineering and management fees not independently verified.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be concentrated in government agencies and NGOs, with limited private sector demand.

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

Public296k to 362k

296k at Kenyatta University362k at University of Nairobi

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, UoN 723,000/2yr=361,500/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). No private confirmed.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries. NEMA and some environmental organisations may offer research grants. IUCN may offer fellowships for conservation research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
NEMA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KU offers postgraduate scholarships for eligible students.
NEMA Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 500,000Kenyan
NEMA provides research grants for environmental research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KU requires First Class or Upper Second in Environmental Science, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Natural Resources, or related fields, or Lower Second with two years of relevant work experience. UoN requires Upper Second in relevant discipline. JKUAT requires Upper Second in relevant field, or Lower Second with two years of relevant experience or a postgraduate diploma. 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, term papers, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering environmental science, natural resource management, biodiversity, and climate change.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field exercises, environmental assessments, resource surveys, and demonstrating environmental science skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an environmental science and natural resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, and JKUAT (all public) offer MSc programmes in environmental science and natural resource management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA environmental certification and IUCN conservation certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, and JKUAT (all public) offer MSc programmes in environmental science and natural resource management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA environmental certification and IUCN conservation certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts environmental science research, overseeing environment, resources, and managing environmental science.
Natural Resource Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages natural resources, overseeing forests, wildlife, water, and managing natural resources.
Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages conservation programmes, overseeing species, habitats, protected areas, and managing conservation.
Environmental Planner
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages environmental planning, overseeing land use, planning, zoning, and managing environmental planning.
Sustainability Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides sustainability consulting, overseeing advisory, strategy, reporting, and managing sustainability.
Environmental Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches environmental science at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
ArcGIS for environmental mapping, covering distribution, habitat, spatial analysis, and managing GIS for environmental science.
R Studio
Software
R Studio for data analysis, covering environmental data, statistics, ecology, and managing data analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, field data, and managing statistical analysis.
QGIS
Software
QGIS for spatial analysis, covering mapping, habitat, distribution, and managing spatial data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental science and natural resource management is just about conservation.
The programme covers comprehensive environmental science, resource management, policy, economics, and climate change beyond just conservation.
This programme is only for environmental scientists.
Environmental science skills are valuable for economists, geographers, agriculturalists, and planners beyond just environmental scientists.
Natural resource management is just about protecting trees.
Natural resource management covers comprehensive forests, wildlife, water, minerals, and sustainable resource use.
Climate change is just about global warming.
Climate change covers comprehensive impacts, adaptation, mitigation, carbon cycling, and ecosystem responses.
Environmental impact assessment is just about paperwork.
EIA covers comprehensive assessment, audit, legislation, compliance, and environmental management.
Sustainable development is just about being green.
Sustainable development covers comprehensive economic, social, environmental dimensions, indicators, and planning.