Kenyatta University is situated about 16 kilometers north of Nairobi city in Kenya, along the Nairobi–Thika highway on 1,100 acres of land. The journey to university status began in 1965 when the British government handed over the Templer Barracks to the Kenyan government. These were converted into an institution of higher learning known as Kenyatta College. Initially, Kenyatta College was divided into two sections, the Secondary Education Division and Teacher Education Division.
Following an Act of Parliament in 1970, Kenyatta College became a constituent college of the University of Nairobi. It admitted its first batch of 200 students in 1972, to pursue studies leading to the award of Bachelor of Education degree by the University of Nairobi. Due to this new development, Teachers’ certificate courses were phased out by 1975. Apart from the Bachelor of Education degree programme, Kenyatta University College also offered a two year undergraduate Diploma in Education programme that was necessitated by an acute shortage of science, music, fine art, and language teachers in the secondary schools. There were insufficient numbers of students with degree entry qualifications and no degree programmes existed at the time in some of those areas. In July 1978, the Kenyan government transferred the Faculty of Education of the University of Nairobi to Kenyatta University College campus. As a result, the college became the only institution training teachers at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Kenyatta University became a fully-fledged University on August 23rd, 1985 when the Kenyatta University Act received Presidential assent. The Act went into effect on 1st September, 1985 and the new university was inaugurated on December 17th, 1985. Kenyatta University immediately started establishing new faculties and constituent colleges. In this pursuit, Jomo College of Agriculture and Technology, currently a fully-fledged university (JKUAT), became a constituent college of Kenyatta University in 1988.
From a student population of two hundred (200) in a single faculty establishment, the University has grown remarkably and currently has a student enrollment of about sixty four thousand (64,000) admitted into degree programmes in nineteen (19) Schools, namely: School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies, School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, School of Business, School of Economics, School of Education, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Environmental Studies, School of Public Health and Applied Human Science, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Law, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, School of Security, Diplomacy, and Peace Studies, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning, and Graduate School.
From a single campus institution, Kenyatta University now has six other campuses in different parts of Kenya namely: Ruiru, Kitui, Parklands, Mombasa, Nakuru, and City campus. These campuses offer further options for enrollment and take learning to the people. The availability of diverse methods of study: full-time, part-time, Institutional-based, Virtual and Open Learning, day or evening programmes, have increased access to programmes offered at KU.
School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies
Background Information
The school came into being on the 1st of October, 2018 following the merger of the former schools of (a) Visual and Performing Arts and, (b) Creative Arts, Film and Media Studies. The merger has shifted the University’s landscape of the Creative Arts, making sense from both an administrative and academic standpoint. Veritably, inherent connections between the disciplines made the merger a logical move. The former departments of (i) Film and Theatre Arts and, (ii) Communication and Media Studies have now consolidated to form a new Department of Communication, Media, Film, and Theatre Studies. The new school has four departments, namely: (1) Fine Art and Design, (2) Music and Dance, (3) Communication, Media, Film, and Theatre Studies, and (4) Fashion Design and Marketing.
The merger provides added options and valuable interdisciplinary opportunities for students within the school. Also, with the merger, the School becomes both a Kenyan and regional centre of expertise and excellence in the study of Creative, Performing, and Communication Arts.
A further strength of the new school is the wide range of disciplines it draws from. The school has scholars adept at diverse specialties. Together, they bring a ton of different methodologies to the table.
This provides an atmosphere where creativity is encouraged and fostered, developing passion for the arts that will not only continue to grow ceaselessly but also a love that will help maintain, augment, and further solidify our niche in the Creative Arts. Our focus is to provide the highest quality of education and personalized instruction by some of the best in their field, all under one roof.
The objectives of the School are:
- To equip the trainees with various skills in the different branches of Fine Art and Design, Music and Dance, Fashion Design and Marketing and Communication, Media, Film and Theatre studies.
- To develop skills in arts and design, music and dance, fashion design and marketing, writing, vocal, acting, directing, photography, and management skills, especially for practitioners;
- To enhance generation of knowledge and research in the fields of Art and design, music and dance, fashion design and marketing, writing, vocal, acting, directing, photography, and management skills.
- To enhance community service through Art and design, music and dance, fashion design and marketing, writing, vocal, acting, directing and photography.
- To promote and appreciate African Culture in the context of Art and design, music and dance, fashion design and marketing, writing, vocal, acting, directing, and photography.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION MEDIA, FILM AND THEATRE STUDIES
The main focus of the department is to equip the trainees with various skills in different branches of media studies, theatre arts, and film: develop writing, acting, directing, photography, communication, and management aptitudes for practitioners; enhance generation of knowledge and research in the field of media studies, film technology, and theatre arts; enhance community service through media studies, film, and theatre art activities, and promote and appreciate African culture in the context of communication, African theatre and film.
The mission of the school is to develop hands-on, practical, creative, critical, and analytical skills applicable to film, theatre arts, television, and radio. To provide knowledge and skills in communication, media studies, theatre arts, and film by providing well-trained journalists, scriptwriters, editors, designers, photographers, cinematographers, animators, performers, educators, producers, and managers who can help advance professionalism in media operations and promote theatre arts and film in society, and serve as catalysts for the pursuance of further studies and research in the field(s).
PROGRAMMES
CERTIFICATE
1. Certificate (Film and Theatre Arts)
2. Certificate (Digital Animation)
DIPLOMA
1. Diploma (Film and Theatre Arts)
2. Diploma (Communication and Media Studies)
3. Diploma (Digital Animation)
UNDERGRADUATE
1. Bachelor of Arts (Film and Theatre Arts)
2. Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies)
GRADUATE
1. Master of Arts (Film Studies)
2. Master of Arts (Film Technology)
3. Master of Arts (Theatre Arts)
4. Master of Arts (Communication and Media Studies)
5. Doctor of Philosophy (Film Studies)
6. Doctor of Philosophy (Theatre Arts)
7. Doctor of Philosophy (Communication and Media Studies)
DEPARTMENT OF FINE ART AND DESIGN
The Department of Fine Art and Design takes pride in being the oldest and only Department offering degree courses in both fine art and design. We offer courses at Diploma, Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels. The Department offers a unique environment, spanning the Fine Art and Design disciplines with emphasis on creative problem-solving and inventiveness. Lecturers are Fine Art & Design practitioners and educators with national and international exhibition profiles. Members of staff in the Department undertake research in contemporary art and design which underpins and informs teaching. The Department also engages in extensive national and international programmes with visiting artists and speakers and overseas study programmes.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
• DIPLOMA IN FINE ART
• BACHELOR OF ARTS (ART AND DESIGN) AND BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (ART AND DESIGN)
• MASTER OF ARTS (FINE ART)
• DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (FINE ART AND DESIGN)
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AND DANCE
The department of Music and Dance is one of the oldest departments in the School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film, and Media Studies. Some of the courses offered provide service to students in other departments. For instance, our programmes link with departments of Physical Education, Sociology, Mathematics, History and Anthropology, Education, Computer, Fine Art, Theatre Arts and Film Technology, and other discipline areas.
Programmes
- Diploma in music
- Bachelor of Music, B.ED (Music), Bachelor of Music (Technology)
- B.Ed (Music),
GRADUATE PROGRAMMES
Master of Musical Arts (Performance)
Master of Music (Musicology)
Master of Music Education
Master of Arts (Composition)
Master of Arts (African Music)
Master of Arts (Ethnomusicology)
Doctor of Philosophy (Performance)
Doctor of Philosophy (Music Education)
Doctor of Philosophy (Composition)
Doctor of Philosophy (African Music and Ethnolomusicology)
Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A)
DEPARTMENT OF FASHION DESIGN AND MARKETING
The department of Fashion Design and Marketing programmes of study are designed to train at the undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels. The FDM programme offers high quality and dynamic training focusing on fashion design, apparel production, quality control, and technical skills to enhance local and international trade in textile products. The programmes are designed to assist individuals to become self-reliant by training them for self-employment and diverse opportunities in the textile industry. The curriculum also encourages entrepreneurship so that its graduates can contribute to the development of the economy through creation of employment. It is envisaged that the graduates will be marketable not only in the public sector, but also in the private and development sectors like Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). The objectives of the programmes are to:
- Provide students with knowledge and skills in the area of Fashion Design and Marketing.
- Offer training that serves as a foundation for higher learning in the discipline.
- Train professionals who can effectively meet the job market demands in the fashion design industry.
PROGRAMMES
- BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FASHION DESIGN AND MARKETING (BSc. FDM)
- MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FASHION DESIGN AND MARKETING (MSc. FDM)
- DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN FASHION DESIGN AND MARKETING
For more information contact:
The Dean, School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film, and Media Studies,
Kenyatta University
P.O. Box 43844-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-20803000 Ext 3504, 3505
Mobile: + 254-0780771761 (Office)
E-mail: dean-filmmedia@ku.ac.ke