Is Criminology Marketable in Kenya? (2024)

Criminology is one of those courses that have fewer students studying it and this is a course that teaches all you need to know about the crime. Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behaviour and it is informed by the principles of sociology and other non-legal fields. They examine varies areas which include why people commit a crime, the effects of crime on individuals and communities, characteristics of people who commit a crime and so much more. Criminologists study crime as an illegal action society punishes through the government’s legal system. Researchers focus on the causes, prevention, and correction of crime generally.

Is Criminology Marketable in Kenya?

Criminology as a course does not have lots of students studying it generally, you can apply for a course like criminology and you will be having less than 50 students in the class in Kenya and this has even risen to a low number of graduates in criminology and a low number of jobs available. Criminology is not a marketable course in Kenya, criminology is known to be among the least marketable course in Kenya and as a result of this graduates are finding it hard to get a job or work in their given field. Students who choose a Criminology program are curious about the human condition, psychology, and the unwritten law of cause and effect that seems to govern our behaviour, they understand that in most cases, criminals have been victims of abuse from their family, friends, or local community. Studying this course you will find interest in other related courses like Psychology, Sociology, Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Policy. This is why many universities offer programmes like Criminology and Psychology, Law and Criminology, or Sociology with Criminology.

Criminology is not a difficult course to study, if you are not prepared for a diverse range of subjects then you will find it harder to study. The important subject or course you need to have in mind is the use of statistics and mathematics. Researchers need to be able to analyze things such as incarceration rates, economic trends, and other factors. Not every Kenya University or college offers a criminology course so it is important for you to know the institution you are going to and one that you will need to apply to. There are so many important factors you should consider before studying this course as there might be some disadvantages as well which can lead to depression or disappoints in the long run. The work can be frustrating and can cause feelings of guilt if clues are missed and criminals are not apprehended. Criminology is also intellectually tedious because it requires a lot of detailed record-keeping and report writing, which can seem unrelated to real-world progress against crime.

If you have passion for this course then you should not allow the issue of not getting a job easily in Kenya to pull you back. There are so many advantages of being a criminologist and it is a way of helping the world become a better place. If you have the opportunity of furthering your education to a master’s level in Kenya and then you study this course, you can get a job and work in your chosen field. Research has shown that degree graduates are hardly employed in this field as professionals are mainly needed in Kenya. Studying law and having a career in criminology will give you the benefit of having other career options, the academic training of a criminologist is rigorous, and you are being taught details about the crime, what to do at a crime scene or even how to approach a crime victim.

Requirements/Fees for Criminology Courses in Kenya

In a course like a criminology, there are so many requirements that are needed by each institution before you will be allowed to study the course. Not every institution in Kenya offers criminology and the ones available have various requirements that are needed from you.

Bachelor Degree Requirements

• KCSE mean grade C +, IGSCE ‘O’ level 5 credit passes, IGCSE ‘A’ level 2 principals and one subsidiary passes, a relevant diploma from an accredited Institution.

Masters Degree Requirements

• Second class degree honour (Upper division) in an undergraduate degree either in law, social science or another acceptable degree.

Diploma Degree Requirements

• KCSE mean grade C plain, IGSCE ‘O’ level 4 credit pass, a relevant certificate from an accredited Institution.

Certificate Requirements

• KCSE mean grade C – or IGSE ‘O’ level 2 subsidiary passes or equivalent

Another thing to find out is the fees that are needed to study this course in an institution, there are so many courses and each one does not have the same amount of fees. For a course like Criminology, you will be spending about KSH 30,000 and the course runs for like 4 years in a university and two years in a college. A college and a university do not accept the same fee for a particular course, so it might be cheaper to study in a college than a university and the number of years in a college is small compared to a university. There are other schools or programs where you can learn criminology and you will be issued a certificate after a short period. It can be between six months or a year, and all of this can be used to apply for a job. Typically a criminologist in Kenya earns about KSH 100,000 and above depending on the rank and where he/she is working, you can graduate and start with internship opportunities and gradually see how far you can grow from there.

Closing

There are so many courses in Kenya, but criminology is among the least marketable course in Kenya and there are limited opportunities that are available for criminologist graduates in Kenya. You will need to have the requirements that have been listed in this article before you can apply to any of the institutions in Kenya.