Department Of Philosophy And Religious Studies

Tagline
The Department offers high quality training in two distinct areas. These are; Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Summary
We have a long history of stability and excellence of training professionals in Philosophy and Religious Traditions of the World. Our programmes are responsive to the needs of the market. Graduates from the Department are quickly absorbed in teaching, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Education consultancy and Non-Governmental Organizations. (NGOs)
Fact Sheet
Our 24 exceptional and well qualified faculty is comprised of brilliant scholars in the various fields of Philosophy ( Logic, Metaphysics, Epistemology, African Religious Traditions, Islamic and Christian Studies) Staff and students come from different backgrounds and there is no assumption of religious commitment but a quest for scholarly understanding of philosophical ideas, different cultures and beliefs.
Location
The Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies is situated in the old library building on the Western side of Kenyatta University’s Main Campus, opposite the University Games Department. It was started in 1972 when the then Kenyatta University College admitted its first undergraduate students, to study for the B.Ed degree. It was made up of first two distinct sections namely, Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The student population grew steadily particularly after Kenyatta University College became a full fledged university in 1985 and as a result of the double intakes of 1987 and 1990. This was marched with a corresponding growth of the number of academic staff rising from 2 to 7 in Philosophy and 11 to 28 in Religious Studies. Consequently the department was split into two distinct departments; the department of Philosophy and that of Religious Studies. However, in 2004, as a result of the restructuring of the departments in the university, the departments of Religious Studies and Philosophy were once again merged into one department.

Vision
The vision of the PRS department is to be a centre of professionals and researchers distinguished by diligent inquiry, critical reflection, dynamism, innovation and self-reliance.

Mission Statement
The mission of PRS department is to provide quality education and training which promote skills, attitudes and values that enhance a sense of autonomy, inquiry, self-examination and responsible thinking.

Identity Statement
PRS Department is “a community of scholars committed to the dissemination of knowledge and promotion of values for individual and societal transformation”.

Philosophy Statement
PRS department is “promotion of a humane society founded on authentic moral and ethical values”.

Objectives
The objectives of PRS department are to;

Enhance the culture of critical and analytical reflection in approaching contemporary societal issues.
Produce professionals and researchers who utilize their knowledge for the service of society.
Promote multi-disciplinary discourse and interaction through service courses to other departments in the University.
Promote mutual understanding of cultures and religions through teaching, research and social interaction.

Internal Links
The department is part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences but offers courses to students from other schools of the university. In addition, Philosophy section offers a mandatory university common unit (UCU) known as Critical and Creative Thinking to all undergraduate students in the university.

External Links
The Department has linkages with the following Institutions: Life and Peace Institute (Uppsala Sweden) Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT), International Association for History of Religions, Institute of Social Studies (Hague, Netherlands), and Philosophical Association of Kenya (PAK).

Research Activities
Postgraduate students are engaged in various research activities which include: Human rights, corruption, gender philosophy, biomedical ethics, Logic and law, management ethics, methodology of science, and conflict management.

Staff Members are presently engaged in research in the following areas:

Critical and Creative thinking skills	Logic and Law
Decision analysis and problem solving	Philosophy of development
Leadership studies	Environmental ethic
Gender philosophy	Professional practice and ethics
African philosophy	Religion and Conflicts
Religion and HIV/ AIDs	Challenge of Interfaith dialogue
Religion and Substance abuse	Religion and Science
Religion and Environmental Management	Religion and Globalisation
Religion, Politics and Public Morality

Academic Calendar, News and Events

Some Academic staff recently participated in the following events:

Scientific conference on Radicalism, Islam and World Peace on 15th March 2015 sponsored by Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Cooperation with University of Nairobi.
Prof. P. Mwaura on 20th May 2015 gave the Hendrick Kraemer Lecture at the Protestant University of the Netherlands, Amsterdam on Gender Equity in Africa’s Public Theology: The Case of the Circle of concerned African women Theologians.
Workshop on Interfaith – Dialogue on 7th June 2015 at the Jaferilthna’Asheri Centre in Lavington Nairobi
The Department will hold a Proposal Presentation meeting for Post Graduate students on 9th July 2015.

A Post Graduate Seminar will be held on 14th July 2015.
Faculty has been invited to participate in the Society of Biblical Scholars Conference and Institute of Biblical Preaching Seminar at St. Pauls University in September 2015. The Theme of the conference is Engaging scripture, Transforming Culture Exegesis.
The Association of Institutions of Theological Education in Eastern Africa (ATIEA) has invited academic staff for a conference in Uganda Christian University at the Rest Garden Limited Conference and Training Centre from 17th November to 21st November 2015. The theme of the Institute is Theology in the Public Square in Africa.

ALMANAC: 2015/2016

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

MAY SEMESTER 2015/6

REGULAR PROGRAMME

Arrival and Registration Reg. Acad. To Communicate

Lectures begin

ISO Team Meeting: (8/09/2015: Chairman’s Office)

Non-teaching Staff meeting: ( 4/9/2015:Chairman’s Office)

Curriculum Review Meeting: (1/10/2015 Chairman’s Office)

First CATs: (Reg. Acad. to communicate)

Departmental Meeting: (22/09/2015 RM 122)

Proposals Presentation: (22/10/2015)

Second CATs: ( Reg. Acad. to communicate)

ISO Team Meeting: (6/10/2015 Chairman’s Office)

EXAMINATION PROCESSING

Draft Exam Qs moderation

Exams Period

Marking Scripts Reg. Acad. to

Depart. Board of Exam. Mtg. Regular & IBP communicate

School Board of Exam. Mtg.

University Board of Exam. Mtg.

IBP DEC 2015 SESSION

IBP Arrival and Registration

IBP Lectures Begin Reg. Acad. to

IBP Proposals Presentation: (20/08/15 )communicate

IBP Exams Period

REGULAR PROGRAMME

Arrival and Registration Reg. Acad. To Communicate

Lectures begin

ISO Team Meeting: (12/1/2016: Chairman’s Office)

Non-teaching Staff meeting: ( 19/1/2016:Chairman’s Office)

Curriculum Review Meeting: (17/2/2016: Chairman’s Office)

Departmental Meeting: (21/1/2016: RM 122)

First CATs ( Reg. Acad. to communicate)

Proposals Presentation: (17/3/2016 )

Second CATs : ( Reg. Acad. to communicate)

ISO Team Meeting: ( 30/3/2016 : Chairman’s office)

EXAMINATION PROCESSING

Draft Exam Qs moderation

Exams Period

Marking Scripts Reg. Acad. to

Depart. Board of Exam. Mtg. Regular & IBP communicate

School Board of Exam. Mtg.

University Board of Exam. Mtg.

IBP DEC 2016 SESSION

IBP Arrival and Registration

IBP Lectures Begin Reg. Acad. to

IBP Proposals Presentation: (21/4/2016) communicate

IBP Exams Period

REGULAR PROGRAMME

Practicum : May – August: 2016

Arrival and Registration Reg. Acad. To Communicate
Lectures begin:

ISO Team Meeting: (12/5/2016 Chairman’s
Office)

Non-teaching Staff meeting: (17/5/2016:Chairman’s

Office)

Curriculum Review Meeting: (18/5/2016 Chairman’s Office)

Departmental Meeting: (25/5/2016 :Chairman’s Office)

First CATs: ( Reg. Acad. to communicate)

Proposals Presentation: (16/6/2016: (RM 122)

Second CATs: ( Reg. Acad. to communicate)

ISO Team Meeting: ( 11/7/2016 Chairman’s Office)

EXAMINATION PROCESSING

Draft Exam Qs moderation

Exams Period

Marking Scripts Reg. Acad. to

Depart. Board of Exam. Mtg. Regular & IBP communicate

School Board of Exam. Mtg.

University Board of Exam. Mtg.

IBP DEC 2016 SESSION

IBP Arrival and Registration

IBP Lectures Begin Reg. Acad. to

IBP Proposals Presentation: 16/12/2016 communicate

IBP Exams Period

Download Academic Calender

Affiliated Programmes, Collaborations and Resources.
The Department encourages individual Scholarship, Collaborative Research teams and networks to support energetic conversations about religion. For example, through the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), some faculty members are involved in interdisciplinary and collaborative research with counterparts from Uganda. Together, they have formed a Comparative Research Network to research on “Religion, Spirituality and Power in Kenya and Uganda.”
Local Associations
We are also dedicated to developing our local and international partnerships. The Department has membership in the Association of Institutions of Theological Education in Eastern Africa (ATIEA). In addition, Women Faculty are members of the Circle for Concerned African Women Theologians.
International Associations
The Department through the faculty has linkages with the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT), International Association for the History of Religions and African Association for the Study of Religion. (AASR).

1. PHILOSOPHY

Undergraduate

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Postgraduate

Masters Of Arts (Philosophy)
Doctor Of Philosophy(Ph.D)
Ph.D (Philosophy)

2. RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts (General) combining Philosophy and two other subjects in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Bachelor of Education (Christian Religious Education or Islamic Religious Education)

Post Graduate

Master of Arts
Master of Arts( Religious Studies, African Traditional Religions, Christianity or Islam).
Ph.D (Religious Studies) (African Traditional Religions, Christianity or Islam)

Mode of Study: Undergraduate
The Department offers both full time and Institutional Based Modes of Study. Our undergraduate Programmes take four Religious Studies (African Religious Traditions, Islamic and Biblical Studies) years with students taking 12 units per semester for Bachelor of Arts Degree. Currently, the Department has undergraduate cohort of approximately 3,000 students.
Post Graduate
The Master of Arts (Religious Studies) extends for a minimal period of two academic years. The Degree is offered by Course Work, Examination and Thesis. The Programme attracts an average of 40-50 students per year in the Regular Mode and 150 in the Instituitional Based Mode.
There are about 20 Ph.D students. These include both local and International students.The Ph.D degrees are offered by thesis only.

Research
Everybody in our Department from the academic staff to the student body play an active role. We have a large lively post-graduate community who not only participate in research on topical issues but also organize a wide selection of reading and study groups to aid peer to peer learning. Staff ;members are engaged in research in several areas among the; Biomedical ethics, gender philosophy, religion, politics and Morality, religion and globalization. Members have published book chapters in several Ecumenical of Third World Theologians series notable among them are:

Theology of Reconstruction Exploratory Essays (Eds) Getui M. And Obeng E. (1999) Action Publishers, Nairobi Quest for Abundant-life in Africa (2002) (Eds) Getui M. and Theuri M. (2002) Action Publishers, Nairobi.
Quest for Integrity in Africa (2003) (Eds) Wamue G. and Theuri M. Acton Publishers Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians Journal Voices a biannual Publication of (EATWOT).
Notable book chapters are found in the Programme for Ethics in Africa (PEEA) Series such as Responsible Leadership in Marriage and Family; (Ed) Mary N. Getui (2005), Acton Publishers

Resources
Students who enroll for post-Graduate Studies have unlimited access to our cutting-edge academic expertise and resource centre with valuable reference books and theses.

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel/Ext: 4431/4432

SERVICE CHARTER

S/no	Service provided	Requirement	Charges	Timeline
1	Registration of units	a) Registration form(s) b) Result slips or academic certificates for new students	Free	Within the registration stipulated period
2	Missing marks	a) Departmental missing marks query form	Free	As soon as the concerned lecturer receives the query form from the exam coordinator
3	Clearance of students	a) Clearance forms	Free	Immediately
4	Recommendation/Reference Letter	a) Written request by the student b) Student ID	Free	Within 24 Hours
5	Syllabus coverage forms	a) After every two weeks	Free	Immediately
6	Class attendance forms	a) Upon request by the class representatives	Free	Immediately
7	Supplementary examination request form	a) Upon request by the student	Free	Immediately
8	CAT 1&2 Administration and feedback form(s)	a) Upon request by the Class Rep	Free	As stipulated by the university’s time table

NB: If at all the service requested for is not forthcoming, kindly consult the chairman of the department on Tel 0722227754, or consult him in person, or write an email to him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..