Agriculture

Master of Science in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment

The Master of Science in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agro-ecosystem management, environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. The programme combines agricultural science with environmental management, ecology, and sustainability.

Core areas include agro-ecosystem management, environmental science, soil management, water resources, biodiversity, climate change, sustainable agriculture, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, field studies, laboratory sessions, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Embu as MSc in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment through the School of Agriculture. Embu is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time, part-time, and weekend modes of study.

Students develop competencies in agro-ecosystem analysis, environmental assessment, soil and water management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field studies, laboratory sessions, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates to address agro-ecosystem and environmental management challenges.

Embu charges KES 188,500/year for science-based masters programmes, including tuition of KES 130,000 plus other charges. Entry requires a Bachelor of Science degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in agriculture, environmental science, biological sciences, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as agro-ecosystem managers, environmental consultants, conservation officers, agricultural extension officers, sustainability specialists, and lecturers in agro-ecosystem management across government ministries, environmental agencies, agricultural organisations, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Agro-ecosystem Analysis and Management
Environmental Science and Assessment
Soil Management and Conservation
Water Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Agro-ecosystems
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Agro-ecosystem Management
Environmental Science and Assessment
Soil Management and Conservation
Water Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Change and Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Agro-ecosystems
Thesis Research

Certifications

NEMA EIA Certification
KALRO Research Certification

Specializations

Agro-ecosystem Management

Focuses on agro-ecosystem management, covering systems, ecology, productivity, sustainability, and managing agro-ecosystems.

Environmental Conservation

Examines environmental conservation, covering biodiversity, ecosystems, protection, restoration, and managing conservation.

Soil and Water Management

Covers soil and water management, covering conservation, quality, irrigation, drainage, and managing soil and water resources.

Climate Change Adaptation

Focuses on climate change adaptation, covering impacts, vulnerability, resilience, mitigation, and managing climate adaptation in agriculture.

Sustainable Agriculture

Examines sustainable agriculture, covering practices, systems, productivity, conservation, and managing sustainable agriculture.

Biodiversity Management

Covers biodiversity management, covering conservation, assessment, monitoring, policy, and managing biodiversity in agro-ecosystems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Private, up to: Ksh 195,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Agro-ecosystem Management
Environmental Science and Assessment
Soil Management and Conservation
Water Resource Management
Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Change and Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Agro-ecosystems
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Agro-ecosystem Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines systems, ecology, productivity, sustainability, management, and managing agro-ecosystems.
Environmental Science and Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers assessment, monitoring, pollution, policy, management, and managing environment.
Research Methods in Agro-ecosystems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Soil Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines conservation, fertility, erosion, quality, health, and managing soils in agro-ecosystems.
Water Resource Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers conservation, quality, irrigation, drainage, management, and managing water resources in agro-ecosystems.
Biodiversity Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines conservation, assessment, monitoring, policy, management, and managing biodiversity in agro-ecosystems.
Climate Change and Agriculture
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers impacts, vulnerability, resilience, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change in agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines practices, systems, productivity, conservation, sustainability, and managing sustainable agriculture.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers assessment, audit, compliance, reporting, standards, and conducting environmental impact assessment.
Agroforestry and Land Use Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agroforestry, systems, integration, benefits, management, and managing agroforestry and land use.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers policy, law, governance, compliance, institutions, and managing environmental policy and governance.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an agro-ecosystem management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agro-ecosystem knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Agro-ecosystem Management
Focuses on agro-ecosystem management, covering systems, ecology, productivity, sustainability, and managing agro-ecosystems.
Environmental Conservation
Examines environmental conservation, covering biodiversity, ecosystems, protection, restoration, and managing conservation.
Soil and Water Management
Covers soil and water management, covering conservation, quality, irrigation, drainage, and managing soil and water resources.
Climate Change Adaptation
Focuses on climate change adaptation, covering impacts, vulnerability, resilience, mitigation, and managing climate adaptation in agriculture.
Sustainable Agriculture
Examines sustainable agriculture, covering practices, systems, productivity, conservation, and managing sustainable agriculture.
Biodiversity Management
Covers biodiversity management, covering conservation, assessment, monitoring, policy, and managing biodiversity in agro-ecosystems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment programme combines lectures, field studies, laboratory sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover agro-ecosystem management, environmental science, soil management, water resources, biodiversity, and climate change. Agro-ecosystem management sessions examine systems, ecology, productivity, sustainability, and managing agro-ecosystems. Environmental science sessions cover assessment, monitoring, pollution, policy, and managing environment. Soil management sessions cover conservation, fertility, erosion, quality, and managing soils. Water resource sessions cover conservation, quality, irrigation, drainage, and managing water. Biodiversity sessions cover conservation, assessment, monitoring, policy, and managing biodiversity. Climate change sessions cover impacts, vulnerability, resilience, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change in agriculture. Sustainable agriculture sessions cover practices, systems, productivity, conservation, and managing sustainable agriculture. Environmental impact assessment sessions cover assessment, audit, compliance, reporting, and conducting EIA. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field studies provide hands-on experience with ecosystem assessments, soil sampling, water testing, and biodiversity surveys. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with soil analysis, water quality testing, and ecological monitoring. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and debating current issues in agro-ecosystem management. Guest lectures from experienced environmental scientists, conservation officers, and agricultural researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an agro-ecosystem management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses critical agro-ecosystem and environmental management challenges in Kenya.
Fees verified from official University of Embu fee structure at KES 188,500/year.
Programme offered through full-time, part-time, and weekend modes, providing flexibility.
Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA certification and KALRO research certification.

Against it

Only one university (Embu, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires science background in agriculture or environment, limiting access for non-related graduates.
Field work may require travel to remote agro-ecosystem sites, adding logistical costs.

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

Public84k to 434k

84k at Rongo University434k at University of Nairobi

Private119k to 195k

119k at Mount Kenya University195k at Kabarak 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

UoN ~433.5K/yr (FoA). Rongo, MKU, Kabarak unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. University of Embu may offer scholarships for eligible students. KALRO may offer research grants for agricultural research. Some environmental NGOs, government agencies, and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Embu Scholarship
KALRO Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Embu Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 188,500Kenyan
University of Embu offers scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
KALRO Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 250,000Kenyan
KALRO provides research grants for agricultural and environmental research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: University of Embu requires a Bachelor of Science degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in a relevant field. Lower Second Class Honours may be considered with at least two years of relevant work or research experience. Contact the university 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, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering agro-ecosystem management, environmental science, soil management, and climate change.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Practical assessment through field studies, laboratory work, ecosystem assessments, and demonstrating agro-ecosystem skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an agro-ecosystem management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agro-ecosystem knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Embu (public) offers MSc in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment through the School of Agriculture. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in agro-ecosystem management and environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA certification and KALRO research certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Embu (public) offers MSc in Management of Agro-ecosystems and Environment through the School of Agriculture. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in agro-ecosystem management and environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA certification and KALRO research certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Agro-ecosystem Manager
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages agro-ecosystems, overseeing systems, ecology, productivity, sustainability, and managing agro-ecosystems.
Environmental Consultant
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides environmental consulting, overseeing advisory, assessment, strategy, and managing consulting.
Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages conservation programmes, overseeing biodiversity, ecosystems, protection, and managing conservation.
Agricultural Extension Officer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides agricultural extension, overseeing advisory, training, support, and managing extension services.
Sustainability Specialist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages sustainability programmes, overseeing practices, assessment, reporting, and managing sustainability.
Agro-ecosystem Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches agro-ecosystem management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
SoftwarePrimary
R for statistical analysis and modelling, covering data, statistics, analysis, and managing agro-ecosystem data.
ArcGIS
Software
ArcGIS for spatial analysis, covering mapping, analysis, modelling, and managing spatial data for agro-ecosystems.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering data, statistics, analysis, and managing research data.
FAO Tools
Software
FAO tools for agro-ecosystem assessment, covering assessment, monitoring, planning, and managing agro-ecosystem data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agro-ecosystem management is just about farming.
Agro-ecosystem management covers comprehensive ecology, environment, sustainability, and conservation beyond just farming.
This programme is only for agriculturists.
Agro-ecosystem skills are valuable for environmental scientists, ecologists, conservationists, and policy analysts beyond just agriculturists.
Environmental conservation is just about planting trees.
Environmental conservation covers comprehensive biodiversity, ecosystems, protection, restoration, and policy beyond just planting trees.
Soil management is just about adding fertiliser.
Soil management covers comprehensive conservation, fertility, erosion, quality, and health beyond just adding fertiliser.
Climate change adaptation is just about reducing emissions.
Climate change adaptation covers comprehensive impacts, vulnerability, resilience, and mitigation beyond just reducing emissions.
This programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Agro-ecosystem graduates work in diverse sectors including government, environment, agriculture, conservation, and education.