Education

Master of Science (Physical Education)

The Master of Science in Physical Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in physical education, sports science, and health promotion. The programme combines pedagogical theory with sports science and physical activity application.

Core areas include research methods, statistics, exercise physiology, curriculum development, psychology of physical education, didactics and methods, administration and marketing, health promotion, legal and ethical issues, and thesis. Students engage with both pedagogical theory and practical sports application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through the School of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science. KU is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and blended learning modes.

Students develop competencies in research methods, statistical analysis, exercise physiology, curriculum development, sport psychology, didactics, administration, health promotion, and legal issues in sports. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

KU charges KES 295,800/year for East African students. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in Physical Education, Exercise and Sports Science, Recreation and Sports Management, or related fields from a recognised university. A Postgraduate Diploma in Physical Education is also accepted.

Graduates pursue careers as physical education lecturers, sports administrators, curriculum developers, sports coaches, health promotion officers, and sports programme managers across educational institutions, sports organisations, government, and health organisations.

Skills Required

Research Methods in Physical Education and Sport Science
Statistical Analysis in Physical Education
Exercise Physiology and Sport Science
Curriculum Development in Physical Education
Psychology of Physical Education and Sports
Didactics and Methods of Selected Sports
Administration and Marketing of Physical Education and Sports
Health Promotion through Physical Education
Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Research Methods in Physical Education
Application of Statistics in Physical Education
Physiology of Exercise for Physical Education
Curriculum Development in Physical Education
Psychology of Physical Education and Sports
Didactics and Methods of a Selected Sport
Administration and Marketing of Physical Education and Sports
Physical Education and Health Promotion
Legal and Ethical Issues in Physical Education and Sports
Thesis Research

Certifications

KAS Sports Administration Certification
ICHPER-SD Physical Education Certification

Specializations

Curriculum Development in Physical Education

Focuses on curriculum development, covering curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, physical education curriculum, and managing curriculum development.

Sports Psychology

Examines sports psychology, covering psychological principles, motivation, performance psychology, mental skills, and managing sports psychology.

Exercise Physiology

Covers exercise physiology, covering physiological systems, exercise response, training adaptation, fitness assessment, and managing exercise physiology.

Sports Administration

Focuses on sports administration, covering sports management, event management, facility management, marketing, and managing sports administration.

Adapted Physical Education

Examines adapted physical education, covering special populations, disability sport, adaptation techniques, inclusive PE, and managing adapted physical education.

Health Promotion

Covers health promotion through physical education, covering physical activity, health education, wellness programmes, public health, and managing health promotion.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Research Methods in Physical Education
Application of Statistics in Physical Education
Physiology of Exercise for Physical Education
Curriculum Development in Physical Education
Psychology of Physical Education and Sports
Didactics and Methods of a Selected Sport
Administration and Marketing of Physical Education and Sports
Physical Education and Health Promotion
Legal and Ethical Issues in Physical Education and Sports
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Research Methods in Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting physical education research, preparing students for their thesis.
Application of Statistics in Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistical methods, data analysis, hypothesis testing, research statistics, and managing research data in physical education.
Physiology of Exercise for Physical Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines physiological systems, exercise response, training adaptation, fitness assessment, and managing exercise physiology.
Curriculum Development in Physical Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, physical education curriculum, curriculum evaluation, and managing curriculum development.
Psychology of Physical Education and Sports
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines psychological principles, motivation, performance psychology, mental skills, anxiety management, and managing sports psychology.
Didactics and Methods of a Selected Sport
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers teaching methods, sport-specific pedagogy, skill development, coaching methods, instructional design, and managing sport instruction.
Administration and Marketing of Physical Education and Sports
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sports management, event management, facility management, marketing, governance, and managing sports administration.
Physical Education and Health Promotion
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers physical activity, health education, wellness programmes, public health, disease prevention, and managing health promotion.
Legal and Ethical Issues in Physical Education and Sports
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines sports law, ethics, policy issues, governance, regulatory frameworks, and managing legal issues in sports.
Physical Education and Sports for Special Population
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers special populations, disability sport, adaptation techniques, inclusive PE, and managing adapted physical education.
Comparative Physical Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines international PE, comparative systems, global perspectives, cross-cultural analysis, and managing comparative analysis.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a physical education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and physical education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Curriculum Development in Physical Education
Focuses on curriculum development, covering curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, physical education curriculum, and managing curriculum development.
Sports Psychology
Examines sports psychology, covering psychological principles, motivation, performance psychology, mental skills, and managing sports psychology.
Exercise Physiology
Covers exercise physiology, covering physiological systems, exercise response, training adaptation, fitness assessment, and managing exercise physiology.
Sports Administration
Focuses on sports administration, covering sports management, event management, facility management, marketing, and managing sports administration.
Adapted Physical Education
Examines adapted physical education, covering special populations, disability sport, adaptation techniques, inclusive PE, and managing adapted physical education.
Health Promotion
Covers health promotion through physical education, covering physical activity, health education, wellness programmes, public health, and managing health promotion.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Physical Education programme combines lectures, practical sessions, field experiences, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover research methods, statistics, exercise physiology, curriculum development, and sport psychology. Research methods sessions examine research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting physical education research. Statistics sessions cover statistical methods, data analysis, hypothesis testing, research statistics, and managing research data. Exercise physiology sessions cover physiological systems, exercise response, training adaptation, fitness assessment, and managing exercise physiology. Curriculum development sessions cover curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, physical education curriculum, and managing curriculum development. Sport psychology sessions cover psychological principles, motivation, performance psychology, mental skills, and managing sports psychology. Didactics sessions cover teaching methods, sport-specific pedagogy, skill development, coaching methods, and managing sport instruction. Administration sessions cover sports management, event management, facility management, marketing, and managing sports administration. Health promotion sessions cover physical activity, health education, wellness programmes, public health, and managing health promotion. Legal and ethical sessions cover sports law, ethics, policy issues, governance, and managing legal issues in sports. Comparative PE sessions cover international PE, comparative systems, global perspectives, and managing comparative analysis. Motor learning sessions cover motor skills, skill acquisition, learning theory, motor control, and managing motor learning. Practical sessions provide hands-on experience with sport-specific skills, exercise testing, fitness assessment, and coaching practice. Field experiences provide practical exposure to schools, sports clubs, recreation centres, and sports events. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in physical education and sports. Guest lectures from experienced coaches, sports administrators, and physical education experts provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a physical education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for physical education professionals with expanding sports industry, health awareness, CBC curriculum reforms, and sports development in Kenya.
KU offers competitive fees at KES 295,800/year for East African students.
Programme combines pedagogy with sports science, providing versatile skills for education, sports, and health sectors.
Programme offers diverse specialisations including curriculum, psychology, physiology, administration, adapted PE, and health promotion.

Against it

Only one university (KU) confirmed offering this specific programme, limiting institutional choice.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Career prospects may be concentrated in education sector, limiting cross-sector mobility.
Programme requires physical education or related background, which may limit access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public94k to 326k

94k at The Open University of Kenya326k at Kenyatta University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International 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 MSc PE 326K/yr (joweri.com). OUK 94K/yr (ouk.ac.ke). Kabarak 165K/yr (KabU PDF), AIU 191K/yr (AIU site).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. KAS may provide training support for sports professionals. Some sports organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Bursary
KAS Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenyatta University offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KAS Training Support
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenya Academy of Sports may provide training support for sports professionals pursuing postgraduate studies.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KU accepts Upper Second Class Honours in Physical Education or related fields, Postgraduate Diploma in Physical Education, or Lower Second Division with relevant experience. Graduates from Medicine, Nursing, Nutrition, and Special Education are also considered. Contact Kenyatta University for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, practical demonstrations, seminar reports, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering research methods, exercise physiology, curriculum development, sport psychology, and administration.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Practical assessment through sport-specific demonstrations, exercise testing, coaching practice, field experiences, and demonstrating physical education skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a physical education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and physical education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Physical Education through the School of Health Sciences, Department of Physical Education, Exercise and Sport Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in physical education. Graduates are eligible for KAS sports administration certification and ICHPER-SD physical education certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Physical Education through the School of Health Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in physical education. Graduates are eligible for KAS sports administration certification and ICHPER-SD physical education certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Physical Education Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches physical education at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, practical supervision, and academic supervision.
Sports Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages sports programmes and organisations, overseeing sports management, event management, facility management, and managing sports administration.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Develops physical education curricula, overseeing curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment, and managing curriculum development.
Sports Coach
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Coaches sports teams and athletes, overseeing training programmes, skill development, performance analysis, and managing coaching.
Health Promotion Officer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Promotes health through physical activity, overseeing wellness programmes, health education, physical activity programmes, and managing health promotion.
Sports Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages sports programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, evaluation, partnership management, and managing sports programmes.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS statistical software for physical education research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, research statistics, and managing research data.
Excel
Software
Excel for data management, covering data entry, analysis, charting, fitness tracking, and managing programme data.
Kinovea
Software
Kinovea for sports analysis, covering video analysis, movement analysis, performance analysis, and managing sports technique analysis.
Coach's Eye
Software
Coach's Eye for coaching analysis, covering video analysis, technique review, feedback, and managing coaching analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Physical education is just about playing sports.
Physical education covers comprehensive pedagogy including curriculum development, exercise physiology, sport psychology, health promotion, and administration beyond just playing sports.
This programme is only for those who are athletic.
Physical education skills are valuable for anyone interested in teaching, sports administration, health promotion, coaching, and curriculum development.
Physical education has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing sports industry, health awareness, CBC curriculum reforms, and sports development, demand for physical education professionals is increasing in Kenya.
Physical education is the same as coaching.
Physical education covers comprehensive pedagogy, curriculum, psychology, physiology, and administration, while coaching focuses on sport-specific training.
Sports administration is just about organising events.
Sports administration covers comprehensive management including facility management, marketing, governance, policy, and strategic planning.
Health promotion through PE is just about fitness.
Health promotion covers comprehensive physical activity, wellness, public health, disease prevention, and lifestyle management.