Master of Arts in Kiswahili Studies

2. COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION

The programme shall be offered full-time, part-time and through Open, Distance and Electronic Learning (ODeL) modes of study.

 

1. Full-Time and Part-Time
   1. The degree programme shall consist of course work, examination and project.
   2. The programme shall be covered in a minimum of six (6) and a maximum of ten (10) semesters for full-time students and fourteen (14) semesters for part-time students from the date of registration.
   3. Each candidate shall be required to successfully complete a minimum of eight (8) course units during the first and second semester of the first year of study.
   4. Each course unit shall have a minimum of 45 contact hours, and shall be covered within a semester of 15 weeks.
   5. Each student shall be required to take a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) course units in one semester.
   6. On successful completion of coursework, the student shall present a research proposal for approval in a departmental seminar.
   7. After approval of the research proposal, the student will undertake supervised research, write and submit a project within the remaining period of the programme
2. Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL)
   2. The course structure for the degree programme through open, distance and electronic learning (ODeL) remains the same as under the full-time and part-time mode of study.
   3. Coursework through the open, distance and electronic learning mode of study will be offered using multi-media approach, including a variety of self-instructional print and electronic study materials.
   4. In addition, there will be limited face-to-face instruction during prescribed residential sessions.

Code

                                                         Title

                                                                                                               Hours

YEAR 1

SEMESTER 1

Core

CKS6101              Advanced Phonetics and Kiswahili Phonology          45

CKS 6103                Theory of Literature and Stylistics                           45

CKS 6105                  Research Methods and Academic Writing             45

ELECTIVES

CKS 6111                          Lexicology and Lexicography                        45

CKS 6109                        Translation and Interpretation                         45

SEMESTER 2

Core

CKS 6102                    Kiswahili Drama                                                  45

CKS 6104                Pre-20th  Century Kiswahili Literature                    45

CKS 6106                Kiswahili Morphology and Morphophonology          45

ELECTIVES

CKS 508                     Comparative Literature                                        45

CKS 510                              Oral Literature                                             45

 

YEAR 2

 

SEMESTER 1

Core 

CKS 601             Kiswahili Syntax and Morphosyntax                              45

CKS 603                              Kiswahili Prose                                             45

CKS 605                      Sociolinguistics in Kiswahili                                  45

ELECTIVE

CKS 607                       Historical and Comparative Bantu                      45

SEMESTER 2

Core

CKS 602                            Semantics and Pragmatics in Kiswahili         45

CKS 604                                          Kiswahili Poetry                               45

CKS 606                                     Project in Kiswahili                               45

ELECTIVE

CKS 608                                       Dialectology                                       45

 

2. EXAMINATION REGULATIONS
   1. Written Examinations
      1. The common regulations for written examinations of the University of Nairobi shall apply.
      2. The assessment for each course unit shall consist of:

1. A 3-hour end of semester written examination that shall constitute 60% of the total marks.
2. Continuous coursework assessment based on assignments, term papers, seminars and field work that shall constitute 40% of the total marks.
   1. 3. The pass mark for each course unit shall be 50% and graded as follows:

70% – 100%    = A

60% – 69%      = B

50% – 59%      = C

0 – 49%           = Fail

1. A candidate who fails in up to one-third of the course units in an academic year shall be allowed to take supplementary examination(s) in the course unit(s) failed, when such examinations are next scheduled.
2. A pass obtained in the supplementary examination will be recorded as 50%.
3. A candidate who fails a supplementary examination shall be allowed to repeat the failed supplementary examination once.
4. A candidate who, for a good cause, fails to sit for an examination may be allowed to take a special examination, when such examinations are next scheduled. The results of a special examination shall be treated like the results of an ordinary first attempt examination.
5. A candidate who fails in more than one-third of the course units in an academic year or fails a supplementary examination at the second attempt or fails to complete the programme within the stipulated period shall, on the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be discontinued.

 

1. 2. Conduct of Supervision

7.3.1    The common regulations for conduct of M.A project supervision of the University of Nairobi shall apply.

7.3.2    One supervisor will be appointed for each candidate the candidate will be allowed to choose one of them, of whom the first should be an academic staff in the Department. However, the Department may recommend the appointment of a third supervisor.

7.3.3    The first supervisor shall be responsible for the coordination of all aspects of supervision of the student’s work.

7.3.4    Students shall be required to consult their supervisors at least once every month, and to submit quarterly a progress report to the Board of Postgraduate Studies through the supervisors, Chairperson of Department and Dean of Faculty in a prescribed format.

7.3.5    Each student shall be required to maintain a research notebook/logbook as evidence of work progressively undertaken during the course of research study.

7.3.6    Each student shall be required to attend, participate and present their on-going work in a departmental seminar to enable staff members and supervisor the candidate’s progress.

Project/Thesis Examination 

1.  1The common regulations for development and examination of M.A project of the University of Nairobi shall apply.
2. The Chairperson of Department shall convene a meeting of the Board of Examiners for the candidate’s oral examination.A candidate who fails to satisfy the Board of Examiners shall be allowed one re-submission.A candidate who fails in the re-submission, or fails to complete the thesis within the prescribed period shall, on the recommendation of the Departmental Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be discontinued.

 

8.0 Written Examination Schedule

Code                         Title                                          Exams

CKS 6101Advanced Swahili Phonology                  1 x 3 hours

CKS 6102               Swahili Drama                           1 x 3 hours

CKS 6103       Theory of Literature and Stylistics      1 x 3 hours

CLS 6104                Epic and Long Poem                  1 x 3 hours

CKS  6105               Research Methods                      1x3 hours

KLS 6106          Advanced Swahili Morphology          1 x 3 hours

CKS 6108          Comparative Literature                     1 x 3 hours

CLS 509       Advanced Translation                              1 x 3 hours

CLS 510            Oral Literature                                      1x3 hours

CLS 511   Lexicology and Lexicography                       1x3 hours

CLS 601      Kiswahili Syntax                                      1x3 hours

CLS 602    Semantics and Pragmatics                        1x3 hours

CLS 603            Kiswahili Prose                                   1x3 hours

CLS 604         Kiswahili Poetry                                      1x3 hours

CLS 605       Sociolinguistics                                         1x3 hours

CLS 606        Project                                                      Project

CLS 607Historical and Comparative Bantu                  1x3 hours

CLS 608             Dialectology                                        1x3 hours

 

9. DEGREE AWARD (M.A in Kiswahili)

After completion of all the requirements, the successful candidate shall be recommended for the award of Degree of Master of Arts in Kiswahili.