What is a Bachelor of Arts and what does it entail? This is a common question I usually hear from students who have been placed to pursue BA at Kenyatta University.

And naturally, you may feel lost since you may have never heard of the term.

Don’t worry – that is completely normal and that is why I have written this article specifically for you to debunk this common, yet frequently misunderstood course.

In this post, I have covered Kenyatta University’s admission requirements for the course, fee structure, cut-off points, its marketability, and course outline. So, stick with me!

What do you Study in Bachelor of Arts Degree?

Bachelor of Arts (commonly known as BA) is an undergraduate course offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at KU. It is a Four-Year course that covers multi-disciplinary areas of knowledge. However, it allows students to specialize in their area of interest.

After studying the course for four years, a student is expected to have developed high critical thinking and communication skills. This is in addition to having a foundation in Humanity fields like language, literature, history, sociology, and religion.

BA Requirements and Cut off Points at Kenyatta University

You need to have the following minimum qualifications before being accepted into this program:

(Note that a subject is considered only once in each group).

• Cluster Subject 1: English or Kiswahili
• Cluster Subject 2: Mathematics/Biology/Chemistry/Physics (Only one is selected).
• Cluster Subject 3: HAG/GEO/CRE/IRE/HRE
• Cluster Subject 4: BIO / PHY / CHE / BIO / GSC / HAG / GEO / CRE / IRE / HRE / HSC / ARD / AGR / WW / MW / BC / PM / ECT / DRD / AVT / CMP / FRE / GER / ARB / KSL / MUC / BST

The cut-off points for Bachelor of Arts according to KUCCPS portal

• 2021 – Undefined
• 2020 – 28.196
• 2019 – 26.988
• 2018 – 25.612
• 2017 – 24.435
• 2016 – 24.382

How Many Courses are there in BA?

Like I said earlier, Bachelor of Arts covers a very wide area. Hence, universities have subdivided it into different degree programs so that each student can pursue his/her area of interest.

That being said, let’s look at some of these courses offered in School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Kenyatta University:

Bachelor of Arts (General)

This particular degree program covers almost everything, hence the nickname BA General. From linguistics, philosophy, Epistemology, Anthropology, Gender, name it.

BA (Political Science and Public Administration)

This is usually taken by students wishing to serve as public servants after graduation.

BA (Gender and Development Studies)

The need to integrate gender concerns in all situations of development interventions has been the focus of many development efforts throughout the world over the last few decades. Hence, this program serves to educate on the need for gender balance in all sectors of the economy.

BA (Sociology)

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology engages you in the study of social life, social change, and the causes and consequences of human behavior. Most people who undertake this course secure jobs as social workers, journalists, Counsellors, and Human Resource Specialists.

Bachelor of Arts (English and Literature)

It provides students with the knowledge of how literature explores human experience and how language can be used to convey different meanings. Can someone become a high school teacher after undertaking this course?

I will answer at the end, continue reading for now.

Bachelor of Arts (Geography)

This course explores the two main branches of Geography; specifically Human and Physical Geography.

Bachelor of Arts (Kiswahili)

This is kind of self-explanatory, just like BA (English and Literature).

Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies 

This provides a foundation in the Islamic religion. It is an intensive four-year program that deals with the study of the Quran, Hadith, Islamic beliefs, and principles.

Bachelor of Arts (History)

In understanding our past, only can we be able to plan for our future. This is the core principle underlying BA (History) at Kenyatta University School of Humanities.

Having looked at the different courses within Bachelor of Arts offered at KU, now let us look at the most commonly asked questions related to the study of BA.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Bachelor of Arts Marketable in Kenya?

Yes. This course prepares students to work in different fields such as writing, research, journalism, public figures, and politicians.

2. What is the Difference between Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science?

While BA deals with humanities, religion, and languages, BSc deals with Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Technology courses. However, the two courses have some overlapping fields such as writing, history, and critical thinking.

3. Can I teach with a Bachelor of Arts course?

TSC employs only those with a Bachelor of Education degree to teach in Secondary and other institutions of learning.

The Final Word

The School of Humanities at KU has one of the most experienced lecturers in Kenya who can tutor Bachelor of Arts very well. The school was restructured from the former Faculty of Arts in 2002 and since then, it has grown in a number of departments and units offered.

To get full information about each specific degree course, you will need to contact the relevant departments.

Related posts:

Download Fee Structure PDF for Kenyatta University

Bachelor of Education at KU – Course Overview, Cut OffPoints and Admission Requirements

Complete Subject Combinations for B.Ed (TSC Approved)