Overview
Anthropology is the study of humankind from a holistic perspective. It provides a broad conception of human nature and human experience. The scope of the discipline’s interests effectively bridges the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences. Because of its broad concerns with all of the activities and varieties of humanity, anthropology offers courses useful to a wide range of undergraduate students.
This syllabus takes a broad view of anthropology, maintaining both a balance and integration among the four sub-fields (Biological, Cultural, Linguistic and Archaeological), which have traditionally characterized the discipline. Anthropology prepares students for dealing with the challenges of an increasingly international economy, trans-nationally connected communities, and multi-cultural citizenries. In addition, it helps students to hone and refine their analytical skills and critical thinking.
The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is designed to provide undergraduates of Anthropology with basic skills in critical analysis, writing, and cross-cultural understandings. The revised BA programme is in response to the increasing demand for anthropological training and skills to address current problems and challenges in Kenya, regionally and globally. With the recent trends in which ethnicity and human divisions have taken centre stage, anthropologists are called upon to provide a sober reflection and create awareness on the culture of peace in a diverse environment.
The programme is anchored on the philosophy of participatory and active learning. Engaging students and assisting them to discover the world and enhance their potential in all spheres of human endeavours is the hallmark of the Faculty.
Pedagogically, instructors are encouraged to use many different techniques to achieve the above philosophy. The techniques include hands-on activities, direct students’ participation, problem-based learning, material retrieval techniques, field experiences, tutorials, lectures, class presentations among others. The different approaches are premised on the fact that every course is a unique combination of students, who come to the classroom with different backgrounds, motivations and intellectual capacities, all of which present different challenges for the instructor. Over the years, the Department has discovered that the classroom provides the tutor with an opportunity to use the themes of Anthropology—Holism, Relativism and Social Justice – as a means of transforming the students’ lives, facilitating their own growth as scholars and, most importantly, as people.
In summary, the Department’s emphasis on the transformational nature of learning recognizes that students come into the classroom with different and diverse values and expectations and that much of what they take away from the classroom depends on their own experience. Anthropology itself, with its emphasis on understanding the WHY and HOW of the diversity of experience, instils in an instructor a strong sense that part of their mission is to promote these kinds of understanding in their students.
The study of Anthropology and related Social Sciences disciplines has taken centre stage in most countries of the world in recent years. This has come about as a result of the many social ills that bedevil humanity ranging from the problems of institutionalized injustice, negative ethnicity, terrorism, extremism as well as all other forms of intolerance across cultures. The curriculum as reviewed takes on board a holistic approach to the study of human differences and helps the students in enhancing unity in diversity.
The curriculum has taken on board new and innovative courses that respond to the problems of contemporary nature while still maintaining the traditional anthropological study of culture. The new approaches emphasize the human rights-based understanding and the need for forging common fronts in dealing with the socio-cultural problems of the world. The stakeholders were involved in the review and their views were considered.
The goal of this programme is to training graduates of Anthropology who will be able to work in diverse environments providing the necessary cultural as well as holistic approaches to the understanding of human beings so that they can fit in the multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments and provide the necessary input to the creation of a peaceful world that values the different cultures.
At the end of the programme, the learner should be able to:
- Apply the anthropological knowledge and skills gained to respond to challenges bedevilling humanity.
- Analyse exchange of current thinking in anthropological literature and cultural diversity.
- Apply multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural approaches to academic and policy issues.
- Conduct original research in the field of anthropology
Admission Requirements
- Application Information
All application is made through application.uonbi.ac.ke
Schedule of Intakes:
Every year in September
Minimum Admission Requirements
The regulations and syllabus shall apply to all candidates in Module I, Module II and Module III, wishing to study for the Degree of Arts in Anthropology.
The general University of Nairobi entry requirements shall apply.
Subject to Regulation 3.1.1, candidates with the following qualifications shall be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.
Those who have a minimum aggregate of C+ (C plus) in K.C.S.E. or those with the equivalent of a K.C.S.E. from an Institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Those who have a minimum aggregate of C (C plain) in K.C.S.E. plus a Diploma from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Those with a minimum aggregate of C- in KCSE plus a certificate and a Diploma from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Those with at least Division II with a credit pass in English in ‘O’ Level (E.A.C.E. or K.C.E.) plus a Diploma from an Institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Those who have at least two (2) principal passes in ‘A’ Level (E.A.A.C.E. or K.A.C.E.) or its equivalent from an Institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Those with a Degree from the University of Nairobi or an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Credit Transfer and Exemptions
A candidate from a recognized University wishing to transfer to the BA in Anthropology programme at the University of Nairobi may be exempted from some courses already covered at his/her University if those courses are deemed relevant to the purpose of the programme and equivalent to identified related course units. A University of Nairobi student who obtains a credit or credits from a recognized University or equivalent Institution may also be allowed to seek exemption from the relevant course units at the University of Nairobi. The course units from which a candidate may be exempted shall not be more than a third (1/3) of the total prescribed course units required for the award of the BA in Anthropology degree.
Where a candidate wishes to be exempted from any course unit, he/she shall follow the criteria set out below:
The candidate shall send a formal application for exemption to the Academic Registrar, justifying his/her request and attaching evidence of the credentials, which would support such a request. This would include a list of University of Nairobi courses for which the student is interested in getting credit; an official transcript indicating courses that may be equivalent; and descriptions and syllabi/outlines of the courses in which the applicant is seeking transfer of credit.
The candidate shall undertake to submit himself/herself to an exemption examination set and administered by the Department, and approved by the Senate. In any such examination, the pass mark shall be 50%.
A candidate who has to take an exemption examination shall be required to pay to the University an exemption fee as may be decided by the Department.
An exemption examination shall be assessed within three weeks of its taking place, and the Departmental Academic Committee shall make its recommendations to the Senate, which shall make the final decision. The Academic Registrar shall communicate to the candidate the Senate’s decision.
The Departmental’s Academic Committee may, for reasons of exceptional academic merit, recommend to Senate the exemption of an applicant from a core course or an elective course without being subjected to an exemption examination.
Course units recommended for exemption should not exceed 1/3 of the total courses in the degree programme.
A student may defer his/her studies at any time, for a valid cause and with documentary evidence conveyed in writing to the Academic Registrar through the Director and may resume later after duly notifying the Director and Academic Registrar. During the entire period of deferment, the student shall be required to keep his/her registration current by paying such deferment charges as the Department may determine from time to time. The period of deferment shall not exceed two (2) consecutive academic years.
Apply through the online application portal : application.uonbi.ac.ke
Schedule of Intakes: Every year in September
Chair, Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies
E-mail: director-iagas@uonbi.ac.ke
Tel: +254-020-491-3214
Fees and Funding
| BA Anthropology-N06 - 45 units | No. of units | TOTALS |
| TUITION | 1.00 | 15,000.00 |
| EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000) | 1.00 | 1,000.00 |
| CAUTION - (ONCE) | 5,000.00 | |
| ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR) | 7,000.00 | |
| MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR) | 6,500.00 | |
| ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR) | 2,000.00 | |
| STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR) | 1,000.00 | |
| ID CARD ( PER YEAR) | 1,000.00 | |
| REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250) | 2,250.00 | |
| LIBRARY (PER YEAR) | 4,000.00 | |
| sem1 | 4.00 | 92,750.00 |
| 5.00 | 108,750.00 | |
| 6.00 | 124,750.00 | |
| sems 2,4,6,8 | 4.00 | 66,250.00 |
| 5.00 | 82,250.00 | |
| 6.00 | 98,250.00 | |
| sems 3, 5,7,9 | 4.00 | 87,750.00 |
| 5.00 | 103,750.00 | |
| 6.00 | 119,750.00 | |
| Sem1 | 6.00 | 124,750.00 |
| Sem 2 | 6.00 | 98,250.00 |
| Sem 3 | 6.00 | 119,750.00 |
| Sem 4 | 5.00 | 82,250.00 |
| Sem 5 | 6.00 | 119,750.00 |
| Sem 6 | 5.00 | 82,250.00 |
| Sem 7 | 6.00 | 119,750.00 |
| Sem 8 | 5.00 | 82,250.00 |
| Grand totals | 45.00 | 829,000.00 |
Structure
Schedule of Intakes
September of every year
This is through lectures and tutorials using notes, electronic presentations, instruction manuals, group discussions, practical laboratory demonstrations and fieldwork.
Open, Distance Learning, and e-Learning (ODeL)
The open, distance and e-learning mode of study will be offered off-campus using a multi-media approach, including a variety of self-instructional print and video conferencing materials.
Besides, there will be limited face-to-face instruction during residential training. The face-to-face instruction, which shall not exceed one-third of the instruction time.
This is a hybrid of face to face with Open, Distance Learning and e-learning. Guest lecturers and speakers may be invited for specialized topics.
Provision of Learner Support Services
Each student will have access to support study centres at the University of Nairobi
Have access to online resources at the University of Nairobi.
Make use of libraries at the University of Nairobi and related research institutions.
Immediately after registration, the students will be taken through the following important issues as part of the anchorage to University life:
Introduction to the DAGAS and entire University of Nairobi structures;
Orientation in ODeL delivery;
Study, reading and computer skills;
Time management and techniques in handling assignments;
Mentorship, guidance and counselling;
Challenges of social life in campus and where to get help.
Candidates are expected to attend all the scheduled course lectures for which they are registered. There will be three modes of study:
- Full time (Module l)
- Part Time (Module ll)
- Distance Learning (Module lll)
The Full Time (Module l) is offered on week days during the day from 8:00 am to 5:00pm. Module ll is offered during day (8:00am to 5:00pm) and/or evenings week days (5:30pm to 8:30pm) and may include weekends where applicable from 8:00am to 5:00pm
The Module lll is offered off-campus using multi-media approach in distance education in the following ways:
- The main media of instruction are print and electronic study materials.
- The study materials are self-instructional.
- There is limited use of face-to-face lectures during the residential sessions.
- Face-to-face delivery mode does not exceed one third of the instructional time and students are required to attend any scheduled lectures/tutorials where applicable for the courses they have registered for.
Where a field trips is required, the duration will take between 1 and 5 days days
N11 The maximum period required for a candidate to study and qualify for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology shall be 24 Semesters.
N12 There shall be three (3) semesters in each academic year. The third semester shall be optional. A candidate wishing to complete the programme of study in less than four academic years may utilize the optional semester, but candidates must consult and obtain approval from the Director of the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies for the choice of appropriate course unit(s) before they can register.
N13 Students in Module II and Module III programmes may take fewer, but not less than two courseunits, than the prescribed courses during any semester of study but they must cover all the required courses before they can be allowed to graduate.
N14 During the First Level (Level 1) of study, candidates will be required to take ALLthe Twelve (12) course units offered in the Programme.
N15 During their Second, Third and Fourth Levels of study, course units with the following codes NAF 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405 and 406 will be compulsory. The remaining courses units shall be offered as electives.
N16 After the First Level, students shall be required to take at each subsequent level not less than 6 (six) compulsory course units and 5 (five) electives. Regulation N12 shall apply in the choice of courses.
N17 Each course unit shall be covered in
N18 A candidate who wishes to write a Project report as one of the electives shall be required, at the end of the Third Level, to undertake research in any area of Anthropology, and to write and present a Project report of between 15,000 and 30,000 words on the chosen area. The Project report will be examined in the last semester of study. A candidate must consult with the Director of the Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies before the end of the Sixth Semester or soon after to decide on an appropriate topic for research. Such a candidate, desiring to write a Project report must have an aggregate score of 60% and a score of 60% in NAF 301 in his/her third Level of Study.
The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology degree comprises the following course units;
NAF 101 Introduction to Anthropology
NAF 102 Introduction to Ethnology
NAF 105 Introduction to the Study of Language
NAF 108 Fundamentals of Archaeology
NAF 110 Computer Literacy
CCS 010 HIV/AIDS
NAF 103 Cultural Anthropology
NAF 104 Physical Anthropology
NAF 106 Linguistic Anthropology
NAF 107 Elements of Development Anthropology
NAF 109 Legal Anthropology
NAF 111 Intercultural Communication
NAF 203 Introduction to Statistics for Social Sciences
NAF 204 Family and Kinship
NAF 205 Ecological Anthropology
NAF 209 Introduction to the Arts
NAF 211 Political Anthropology
NAF 215 Ethnology of African Societies
NAF 201 Comparative Ethnology
NAF 202 Demographic Anthropology
NAF 206 Introduction to Gender Studies
NAF 208 Urban Anthropology
NAF 210 Ethnicity and Cultural Identity
NAF 214 Traditional Belief Systems
NAF 301 Research Methods in Anthropology
NAF 302 Ethics in Anthropology
NAF 303 History of Anthropological Thought
NAF 305 Palaeoanthropology
NAF 307 Culture and Technology
NAF 316 Primatology
NAF 317 Gender in Cross-Cultural Studies
NAF 304 Contemporary Theories in Anthropology
NAF 306 Economic Anthropolog
NAF 308 Medical Anthropology
NAF 310 Anthropology of Tourism
NAF 312 Psycholinguistics
NAF 314 Field Archaeology
NAF 309 Human Growth & Constitution
NAF 401 Applied Anthropology
NAF 403 Anthropology of Developing Countries
NAF 405 Nutritional Anthropology
NAF 409 Museology
NAF 410 Historical & Comparative Linguistics
NAF 414 Cultural Change & Development
NAF 417 Cross-Cultural Studies
NAF 402 Psychological Anthropology
NAF 404 Culture & Communication
NAF 406 Gender and Development
NAF 408 Archaeological Conservation
NAF 413 Universal Religions
NAF 416 Anthropology of Infectious Diseases
NAF 418 Project Report
Careers
Attachment Opportunities
1. KEMRI - CENTRE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
2. KEMRI WELLCOME TRUST
3. KEMRI - CENTRE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH
4. NATIONAL GENDER & EQUALITY COMMISSION
5. WORLD VISION- kENYA
6 CHILDFUND KENYA
7. AMREF
8. NATIONAL COHESION AND INTEGRATION COMMISSION.
9. NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA
10. STATE DEPARTMENT OF GENDER
11. STATE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND HERITAGE
12. NATIONAL AIDS AND STI CONTROL PROGRAM (NASCOP)
13. KENYA WOMEN PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (KEWOPA)
14.. THE COLLABORATIVE CENTRE FOR GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT
15. UN AGENCIES - UNDP, UN WOMEN ,UNICEF, UNESCO, UNEP & UNFPA
16. PLAN INTERNATIONAL -KENYA
17. CARE INTERNATIONAL - KENYA
20. ACTION AID -KENYA
21. KENYA NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
22. JPHIEGO - KENYA
23. IDRC -KENYA
24. ILRI -KENYA
25, POPULATION COUNCIL - KENYA
26. BRITISH INSTITUTE IN EASTERN AFRICA (BIEA)
27. KENYA INSTITUTE OF PRIMATE RESEARCH
28. TURKANA BASIN INSTITUTE
29. FEMNET - THE AFRICAN WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK
30. CETRAD - CENTRE FOR TRAINING AND INTEGRATED RESEARCH IN ASAL DEVELOPMENT
31. APHRC - AFRICAN POPULATION AND HEALTH RESEARCH CENTRE
Notable Alumni
1. Hon Peninah Malonza (EGH): Cabinet Secretary for EAC, ASALs & Regional Development.
2. Gov. George Natembeya: Governor, Trans Nzoia County
3. Hon Basil Ngui: MP , Yatta Constituency
4. Dr Kiprop Lagat: Director Culture , MInistry of Gender, Culture, The Arts & Heritage
5. Hon Dennis Ombachi: MCA, Marani Ward, KIsii County
6. Ms Lucy Nkirote: Kenya Country Director, LIverpool School of Tropical Medicine
7. Dr Mary Nyamongo: Executive Director, African INstitute of Health & Development (AIHD).
9. Mr Dalmas Okendo: Head, Regulatory Affairs & Investor Relations, Kenya Airways.
10.Ms Beryl Oyier: Managing Director for E.Africa, BoP inc.
11. Dr Hilda Essendi: Research & Analytics Director, Triggerise, S.Africa
12. Ms Catherine Kiriba, Customer Experience Excellence, Kenya Airways
13. Dr Edna Bosire: Assistant Professor in Medical Anthropology & Implementation Science at the Brain & Mind Institute (BMI), Aga Khan University.
14.. Prof Onyango-Ouma: Chair, DAGS & Research Director, IAGAS
15. Prof Fred Jonyo: Chair, Dept of Political Science &Public Administration, UoN
16.. Prof Salome Bukach:Associate Research Professor, IAGAS
17. Dr Habiba Chirchir, Biological Anthropologist, Marshall University, US
18. Prof Erick Nyambedha: Director, Quality Assurance & Performance Management, Maseno University
19. Prof Nasser Malit: Associate Professor, Biological Anthropology, State Univeristy of New York, Potsdam.
20. Ms Winnie Lichuma, Former Chairperson, National Gender and Equality Commission.
Exam Regulations
At the end of each course, candidates will be required to sit for a 2 (two) hour written examination.
N20 A candidate shall not be permitted to sit for the University examinations unless he/she has attended lectures regularly throughout the semester and covered at least two thirds of the course.
N21 Assessment of each candidate’s performance shall be through Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs), Essays, Assignments and Term Papers and end of Semester examination. For each course, Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) shall account for 30% and the final written examination 70% of the total marks. Candidates will be given at least two CATs. The candidate’s end of semester CAT score shall be an average of the number of CATs given during the semester.
N22 The maximum score a candidate shall get in a course is 100% but, in order, to pass, candidates will require 40%. These marks shall be translated into letter grades as follows: 70% - 100% = A, 60% - 69% = B, 50% - 59% = C, 40% - 49% = D, 39% and below =E.
N23 A student, who, for good cause supported with authenticated documentary evidence, fails to sit or complete an end-of-semester examination may be allowed to sit forspecial exampaper(s) concerned when the examination is nextoffered.
N24 A candidate who fails any end-of-semester examination paper on the first attempt shall be allowed two more attempts to sit and pass the paper in supplementary examination. A candidate who fails a paper may, in consultation with the Institute, and upon approvalsubstitute that course unit with another unit of the same level from the Instituteprovided that it is not a core Unit.
N25 Subject to Regulation N23 a candidate who has up to, but not more than five failed gradesat any one time shall be allowed to proceed to the next level until they have sat and passed supplementary exams.Coursework marks shall not be taken into account.
N26 A candidate shall notbe allowed to carry forward more than 5 (five) failed grades at any one time.
N27 A candidate who has more than 5 (five) failed grades after three unsuccessful attempts at each of the units concerned shall be discontinued.
N28 To qualify for the award of the degree, a candidate must have studied for and passed in at least 45 (forty-five)course units, including compulsory common undergraduate course unit (where applicable). Where a candidate has taken more than 45 units, only the best 44 shall be considered in the award of the degree provided that all compulsory courses are taken into account.
N29 The Final grade and the best 44 classification will be based on the average percentage marks obtained in all the courses taken during the degree programme.
N30 The classification of the final award will be based on the following: