Master of Environmental Studies and Community Development

Introduction

The programme was developed to meets key training gaps for professionals who are capable of making decisions and providing interventions that cuts across environmental, social and sustainable development challenges facing society with the aim of developing practical knowledge, skills and attitudes for devising and implementing new strategies that will address emerging and persisting community development and environmental challenges.

Programme Objectives

i). To equip students with the necessary tools and techniques of investigating and understanding the relationships between environment and development so as to contribute to informed decision-making towards sustainable community livelihoods.

ii). To generate the necessary knowledge on the impacts of development on the environment and vice versa so as to encourage harmonious interactions between humans and their environment.
ii). To produce professionals and technocrats capable of spearheading sustainable development by focusing on communities and the environment as critical national resources.

Justification /Rationale

The Department was established to build capacity and develop professionals capable of solving community and environmental challenges locally and globally. The programme equips graduates with knowledge and skills necessary to provide interventions that cut across environmental, social and development challenges facing the society. In order to address and capture the very current issues appropriately, the curriculum is periodically reviewed after every four years to input emerging needs. The programme equips graduates with knowledge and skills necessary to provide interventions that cut across environmental, social and development challenges facing the society.

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development should have  at least second Class Honours (Upper Division) and related disciplines such as  Geography, Sociology, Natural Resources Management, Law, Tourism, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Communications and Media Studies, Business Studies, Education, Anthropology, Urban and regional Planning, Rangeland Management, Forestry, Agro-forestry, Wildlife Management, Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences, Conservation and Sustainability Studies,  conflict and peace studies, Community Development and Disaster Management, from Kenyatta University or any other recognized university.  Those with second class (Lower Division) may be considered on condition that they have two years’ work experience post-graduation.

Mode and structure of Delivery

Through in-person, online, or blended learning.

Programme Duration

The degree programme is by course work, examination and research. The masters programme will be completed in two (2) Academic Years. The course will be offered under the regular full time and part time mode of delivery which will constitute ten (10) coursework units to be undertaken in semester 1 and 2 and a thesis. While, students enrolled under the Continuous Education Programme mode of study (CEP) will be expected to take 14 course units in semester 1, 2 and 3.  The CEP students are to do a research project. Each taught course unit will entail completion of 39 contact hours.

The full-time programme shall run for eighteen months and a maximum of twenty-four months. In the first academic year, students shall take 10 core units in the first and second semesters. In the second year, students shall be required to defend their research proposals, get authorization from the graduate school and a research permit from NACOSTI (National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation), collect data, write a thesis and submit for examination in accordance to university regulations.

The Continuing Based Programme (CBP) shall run for two years during the three holiday sessions in a year (i.e. April, August, and December). Students will take course work for up to 14 taught units during the first three (3) sessions. During the course work period the students under this mode of delivery are expected to write and defend their project proposals and get authorization from the graduate school and a research permit from NACOSTI (National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation) to undertake research.  The remaining period of six months shall be devoted by the students to collect data, write a project and submit for examination in accordance to university regulations.

Curriculum Highlights:

The course content will cover the following areas:  

Continuous Education Programme mode of study (CEP)

The expected learning outcomes will be:

            Upon completion of the masters (Environmental Studies and Community Development)   programme the graduates will be able to:

1. Use acquired knowledge and skills in practice and with regard to policy development on problems affecting our environments and communities today and in the future.
2. Spearhead the transition of local and national economies from traditional approaches to approaches that are based on green futures, including green economies, green energy, and climate-smart practices.
3. Apply management and leadership capabilities in organizational change towards environmentally sustainable processes, products and procedures;
4. Engender environmentally sound practices in community development practice.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the degree progamme, the graduates will work in, National Government and its agencies, County Governments, UN Agencies, CSOs (International and local NGOs, Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), Community Based Orgaisations (CBOs), Private sector, industry, research institutions and Academia.

Tuition and fees structure

Semester 1                  Kshs. 177, 480/=

Semester 2                  Kshs. 118,320/=

Why choose this programme in Ku.

Kenyatta University delivers academic programmes ranging from certificate to doctoral level programmes across diverse fields and disciplines. There are 422 academic programmes at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. The mode of delivery of the programmes include face to face (full time and part time), blended learning modes.  Kenyatta university is centre of excellence in teaching, learning and research, the university has over years invested in facilities and equipment, academic and non-academic staff.  The university has sufficient resource materials to facilitate and enhance the quality of teaching, learning and research in tandem with the university vision and mission and inline with global demands.  The programme is indeed highly developed in KU. Kenyatta university is also ranked highly in Kenya.