Overview
Credit Transfer and Exemptions
A candidate, on the recommendation of the Board of Post-graduate Studies and approved by Senate may be allowed to transfer upto a maximum of one third course units offered in the program.
Applicants Seeking Transfer of Credit
3.1. Shall send a formal application to the Director, Board of Postgraduate Studies, through Dean, Faculty of Arts, seeking transfer of credits; justification of the request and evidence of credentials which would support such a request shall be attached to the application.
3.2. Pay the prescribed fees for transfer of credits before the application is processed.
3.3. Only be allowed to transfer units which are equivalent to the same level offered at the
University of Nairobi.
Structure
4.0. Course Structure and Duration
4.1.1. The course shall be conducted by way of lectures, tutorials, seminars, continuous
assessment tests, presentations, examinations and project or thesis writing (depending on
the option taken).
4.1.2. The Master in Public Administration program shall consist of either of the two options
listed below and the candidate shall select one of the options.
4.2. Option One
a) The Master of Public Administration degree program shall consist of coursework,
examination and thesis, and shall run for a minimum of four semesters and a maximum of
twelve semesters of fifteen weeks each.
b) The candidate shall be required to successfully take at least eight taught course units prior
to embarking on thesis work.
c) The minimum course load in each semester prior to the final one shall be two course
units; while the maximum load shall be four course units per semester.
d) All courses shall be of 45 hours duration.
e) The MPA thesis shall be equivalent to eight taught course units. Students taking the thesis option shall be expected to take all core courses and choose at least one unit from specialized courses and at least one course from the electives.
4.2.1. Option Two
a) The Master in Public Administration degree program shall consist of coursework,
examination and a research project, and shall run for a minimum of four semesters and a
maximum of twelve semesters of fifteen weeks each.
b) The candidate shall be required to successfully take twelve approved course units prior to
embarking on the Master of Public Administration research project.
c) The Master of Public Administration research project shall be taken during the final semester of the program, and shall be equivalent of four course units.
d) All courses shall each be of 45 hours duration.
e) Topics for the Master of Public Administration research project shall be identified by
candidates in consultation with their supervisors, subject to the formal approval of the
Department.
Students taking the project option shall be expected to take all core course units, at least three specialized courses and at least three electives.
5.0. Course Outline
5.1. Core Courses
Key:* Means an existing and University of Nairobi Senate approved course.
Code Title Hours
CPA 601 Administrative Theory and Behaviour* 45
CPA 602: Human Resource Management & Development* 45
CPA 604: Public Budgeting and Financial Administration* 45
CPA 610: Advanced Public Policy Analysis* 45
CPA 612: Research Methods 45
CPA 613: Seminar on Constitutionalism, Governance and Politics in Kenya 45
CPA 627: Fundamentals of Economics 45
CPA 698: Research Project 45
CPA 699: Thesis 45
5.2. Specialization Courses
These courses will be taken by students who want to specialize in the field of public administration and want a strong grasp of the field.
CPA 603: Public Sector Procurement Management 45
CPA 605: Organizational Theory and Behaviour 45
CPA 607: Project Management 45
CPA 608: Public Sector Reforms 45
CPA 615: Management of Devolved Governments 45
CPA 620: Development Administration* 45
CPA 622: Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Programmes 45
CPA 623: Public Sector Management Information Systems 45
CPA 626: Comparative Administrative Systems 45
5.3. Electives
These courses are recommended to students who want to have a diverse and broad understanding of multi-sectoral issues that affect the public sector.
CPA 606: Strategic Leadership and Management 45
CPA 609: Strategic and National Security Studies 45
CPA 611: Regional Integration 45
CPA 614: International Political Economy* 45
CPA 616: Accounting for Public Administration 45
CPA 617: Disaster and Relief Management 45
CPA 618: Administrative Law 45
CPA 619: Seminar in Governance, Democracy & Human Rights 45
CPA 621: Conflict Management and Resolution 45
CPA 624: Environment and Development 45
CPA 625: Gender and Development 45
6.0. Examination Regulations
6.1. Final University examinations shall be given at the end of every semester in each taught
course unit; and each final examination shall be in the form of a three-hour written
examination paper.
6.2. Each course unit shall be graded out of 100 marks.
6.3. The written final examination shall account for 60% of all the marks in each course unit,
while coursework (comprising continuous assessment tests, essays, etc) shall account for
40%.
6.4. In every course unit taken, the pass mark shall be 50%, which shall be arrived at by
adding the overall continuous coursework grade obtained in that course to the final end –
of semester exam grade.
6.5. A candidate who fails in any examination in any course unit taken at the end of a
semester shall take a supplementary examination when scheduled.
6.6. In the event that a candidate takes a supplementary examination in any course unit, the
final grade shall be based entirely on the marks obtained in the final examination, which
shall be graded out of 100 marks and the continuous coursework marks pertaining to that
curse shall not be considered. The pas obtained by a supplementary exam in the course
shall be recorded as50%.
6.7. University and Faculty of Arts rules and regulations pertaining to conduct during actual
examinations and to examination matters not specifically mentioned in these regulations
shall apply.
6.8. A student who, for good cause and supported with authenticated documentary evidence, fails to sit or complete an end-of-semester examination may be allowed to take a special
examination for the paper(s) concerned when scheduled.
6.9. A candidate who fails in the supplementary or fails to complete the course in the
prescribed time shall on the recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by
Senate be discontinued.
6.10. Thesis Examination
Topics for the MPA Thesis shall be identified by candidates in consultation with their supervisors, subject to formal approval of the Department. The marking of the MPA Thesis shall be governed by the examination regulations governing Masters Degree theses at the University of Nairobi.
6.11 Research Project
Candidates shall be required to submit a written research project to the Department of Political Science and Public Administration for examination two weeks before the end of the final semester of study. The research project shall be graded independently out of 100 marks, distributed as follows: 60% fort the research proposal and 40% for the oral presentation.
6.11.1 The pass mark shall be 50%
6.11.2. A candidate who fails to obtain the pass mark in the research project may on the
recommendation of the Faculty Board of Arts and approval by Senate by allowed
to resubmit the project for a maximum of two times.
6.11.3. A pass obtained by re-submission of the research project will be recorded as 50%.
6.11.4. A candidate who fails to obtain the passmark in the project at the second re-
submission of the research project or fails to complete the course within the
prescribed period shall on the recommendation of the Board of Faculty of Arts
and approval by Senate be discontinued.
7.0. AWARD OF DEGREE
On successful completion of the programme a candidate shall be recommended for the award of a Master of Public Administration.
Admission Requirements
Entry Requirements
2.1. The common regulations for the Masters degree in the Faculty of Arts, University of
Nairobi shall apply.
2.2. The following shall be eligible for admission into the Master of Public Administration
2.2.1 A holder of a Bachelor degree of at least Upper Second Class (Hons) in any field
from the University of Nairobi or from an equivalent institution recognized by the
University of Nairobi Senate.
2.2.2. A holder of a Bachelors degree with a Lower Second Class (Hons) or an
equivalent qualification recognized by the University Senate with at least two
years working experience.
2.2.3. A holder of a Bachelors degree with a pass or an equivalent qualification from the
University of Nairobi or an equivalent institution recognized by the University of
Nairobi Senate may be considered for admission if:
a) he/she has at least five years of relevant experience, or:
b) has a post-graduate diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by
the Senate.
Fees and Funding
| Master of Public Administration | ||
| MASTER IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | ||
| SUMMARY OF TOTAL FEES | ||
| Sem1 | 5 units | 169,750.00 |
| Sem2 | 5 units | 142,250.00 |
| Sem3 | 2 units | 80,750.00 |
| Sem4 | PROJECT | 166,750.00 |
| Totals | 559,500.00 | |