All undergraduate Students are required to take 11 units, six of which are core.
Core units
Compulsory Electives
(Students must pick two from this section)
Optional Electives
Students can take either a language elective or other humanities electives
Language Options
Students who choose this option must study one language at least up level four (4)
Other Humanities Options
The 8 compulsory humanity units and the 4 humanity elective units are distributed over the four academic years. Note that this distribution is subject to change in the course of the year.
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FIRST SEMESTER |
SECOND SEMESTER |
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YEAR ONE
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- Communication Skills 1 - Introduction to Critical Thinking |
- Communication Skills 2 - Introduction to Critical Thinking |
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YEAR TWO |
- Philosophical Anthropology |
- Philosophical Anthropology
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YEAR THREE |
- Principles of Ethics - Social and Political Philosophy - (Elective 3) - ALL |
- Principles of Ethics - Social and Political Philosophy - ( Elective 4) - ALL |
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YEAR FOUR |
- Business Ethics |
- Business Ethics |
The 2 humanity elective paths are offered for four consecutive Semesters in 2nd and 3rd year.
(Please note that the SHSS office will state the languages and humanities on offer for each semester)
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Language Option |
Humanities Option |
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Students take four units of a language. A student chooses one language from the following: French, German, Japanese or Spanish.
Elective 1: Language (unit 1) Elective 2: Language (unit 2) Elective 3: Language (unit 3) Elective 4: Language (unit 4)
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Students who take this option will take the following electives:
Elective 1: Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to theology Elective 2: World Civilizations 1 Elective 3: Great Books 1 or EAS* Elective 4: Great Books 2 or World Civilizations 2
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If a student takes all the 4 units of a certain language on offer i.e. either French, German, Japanese or Spanish, this is equivalent to 4 humanity elective units |
*EAS - East African Societies
Great Books 1 is a prerequisite for Great Books 2.
World Civilizations 1 is not a prerequisite for World Civilizations 2. |
Note:
Purpose of the Course: To Introduce students to the art of deep and reflective reasoning
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
Course Content
Critical thinking and the purpose of university education; critical thinking; art, science or wisdom; critical thinking, scepticism and faith; types of knowledge; evidence, demonstration, persuasion; critical thinking, logic and valid arguments; critical thinking and creative thinking; overcoming barriers to critical thinking, assumptions, context, biases; fallacies of presumption; fallacies of irrelevance; fallacies of ambiguity; critical thinking, rhetoric and critical writing; critical thinking and decision making
Purpose of the Course: To prepare the student for both working and learning environments, in terms of gaining the best from reading, listening and producing the most appropriate form of writing. To stimulate awareness correct grammatical form and the need for a disciplined approach to study. To instil confidence. To diagnose individual communication problems
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Course Content
Communication: definition, elements, process, purposes, qualities, and barriers. Categories of communication: Oral communication: public speaking. Listening skills: efficient listening, barriers, and listening to lectures. Grammar: syntactic and semantic skills, vocabulary building. Writing skills: essay and APA referencing and being able to write general content like that on BFSM and others. Sources of information and evaluation of information sources, library, observation, and experiments. Visual communication: chalkboard, transparencies, stencils, slides, television, and films. Online communication: language use and etiquette
Purpose of the Course: To prepare the student for both working and learning environments, in terms of gaining the best from reading, listening and producing the most appropriate form of business writing.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Course Content
Reading skills: critical and efficient reading, barriers, skimming, scanning, and study reading. Persuasive communication. Intercultural communication: power distance, gender and communication. Writing skills I: Academic writing: term papers and academic reports. 2. Public communication: public relations, and advertising. Organisational Communication. Writing Skills II: Business writing: correspondence, reports, CVs. Interviews, conducting and participating in committee meetings.
Course Purpose: to develop knowledge and understanding of the human person and apply this to real life
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the students should be able to:
Course Content
Nature, object and method of philosophical anthropology; characteristics of sensitive life; external and internal senses; nature and object of the intellect and will; human affectivity; freedom ; concept of the person; the human soul; nature and origin; human sexuality; person, nature and culture; elements of human culture; work; recreation; the temporal dimension of an individual.
HED 2103: Introduction to Development studies
Purpose of the Course: To enable students to understand the true meaning of development and acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to serve humanity at all levels in the most meaningful ways.
Intended Learning Outcomes
The student should:
Course Content
The concept of development and underdevelopment; economic and human development approach; theories of development; assets of development;
The dignity of the human person and development; application of the principles of the common good; impact of feminism: gender perspective and gender ideology; nature of poverty and its root causes; trends of urbanization and its impact; the impact of information technology on social life; demographic change and its impact on development; responses to development challenges at national, regional and international levels; impact of globalization on African culture and values.
Intended Learning Outcomes
The expected outcome of Introduction to Philosophy is:
Course Content
Meaning and concept of philosophy in history; its method and major areas of enquiry such as the world, existence, truth, the afterlife, God, good and bad actions, free will and personal identity;
The nature of knowledge, etc. Core areas of academic philosophy: 1) Metaphysics and derived fields such as Natural Theology, Philosophy of Nature, Philosophical Anthropology, Aesthetics 2) Logic and derived fields such as Theory of Knowledge, The Philosophies of Science, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of History 3) Ethics and derived fields such as bioethics, business ethics, social and political philosophy 4) History of Philosophy 5) All other areas of Human learning and activity.
Purpose of the Course: To teach students to appreciate the relevance of historical studies and how the present can only be understood within the context of the past.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students should:
Course Content
The course explores the origins and development of the early civilizations of Asia and Africa (ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, Ghana, Mali, Songay) and the Americas (Mayas, Aztecs and Inca), looking especially at their historical roots, cultural foundations and achievements. In broad contrast with these early civilizations, the course goes on to examine Western and Islamic civilization and the differing ways in which they are shaping the world today.
Purpose of the Course: Language 1 is the first in a sequential series of 7 language courses (for Tourism and Hospitality students) and 4 language courses for the others. The course intends to provide students with a basic grounding in French/German so as to enable them to communicate effectively in socio-professional contexts.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of Foreign Language 1 students should be able to:
Course Content
Basic vocabulary and structural patterns, with emphasis on developing fundamental reading, writing, listening and speaking skills; special emphasis on reading and writing courses. In the German course they also learn some basic writing rules (e.g. capitalization of the first letter on all German nouns).
Purpose of the Course: Language 2 is a second in a sequential series of 7 language courses. The course intends to provide students with a basic grounding in the language so as to enable them to communicate effectively in socio-professional contexts.
Intended Learning Outcomes
The course is also part of the preparation of the students for level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students should be able to:
Course Content
Strengthening language skill foundation; grammar review and vocabulary expansion through extensive use of idiomatic expressions; emphasis on oral and reading proficiency; contrastive analysis of major morphological and syntactic constructions of European languages.
Purpose of the Course: This course uses Japanese language to introduce Japan, Japanese society and culture in order to expand the learners’ horizons and prepare them to play effective roles as professionals operating on the global stage. As the first of a four-part course Japanese I will introduces the basic vocabulary and structure of the language in its spoken and written form and explains the related cultural and social context.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this course should be able to
Course Content:
Pronunciation and Writing System (Hiragana and Katakana).Greetings.Self Introduction.Introducing others.Use of the predicate desu.Affirmation and negation.Demonstratives.Counting.Requesting basic information.Describing daily activities, surroundings, family and occupation.Cultural issues relating to elementary language.
Purpose of the Course: This course is a follow-up on Japanese I and seeks to deepen the abilities acquired while introducing new skills beyond the elementary level with a wider variety of cultural experiences. Japanese II will deepen understanding of the language in its spoken and written form beyond the elementary level and the related cultural and social context. This course will expand on vocabulary and structural patterns, with emphasis on developing better reading, writing and speaking and listening skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this course should be able to
Course Content
Grammar review and vocabulary expansion.Further skills in Hiragana and Katakana reading and writing. Kanji script – 75 characters. Further descriptions of daily activities. Giving and asking for reasons. Verb forms. Directional particles.Adjective forms.Interrogatives.Adverbials. Cultural issues in the context of everyday life in Japan.
Purpose of the Course: To assist the students to understand and distinguish between good and evil moral actions
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the student should be able to:
Course Content
Ethics as a philosophical discipline; its relationship with other fields of knowledge; the person as author of behaviour; theory of the voluntary act; the desire for happiness and the moral life; the moral act; object intentions and circumstances ;virtue; kinds; necessity; habit of good choice; cardinal virtues and specific virtues; the principles of practical knowledge and right reason: the natural moral law; moral responsibility: duties and rights; prudence and moral conscience; moral norms and intrinsically good or evil actions; moral judgment of particular acts.
Purpose of the Course:To deepen students understanding of their social nature, there social responsibility , the social institutions and the role of social interactions at all levels of society
Intended Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
Course Content
Political and Social Philosophy, concept and method; person and society; love and virtues as root and development of society; types of societies; the family and the individual; education and society; man, religion and society; work and economy; society and authority; the common good; natural law and positive law; human rights; law and justice, politics and governance; principles of solidarity and subsidiarity; culture and society; the international society.
HHE 3107: Great Books I
Purpose of the Course: To introduce students to the art of reading for pleasure.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of Great Books I the students will:
Course Content
An examination and analysis of narrative techniques and strategies in a variety of texts ranging from simple to complex narrative forms; texts from different narrative contexts and cultures will be considered and will include, among others, the works of- Dickens, Shakespeare, C.S.Lewis, CamaraLaye, Orwell, Achebe, Steinbeck, Tagore, NgugiwaThiongo and Soyinka.
Purpose of the Course: To give students a comprehensive grasp of the cultural, environmental and political forces that have shaped present-day East African society.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the student should:
Course Content
Description of the peopling of East Africa. Study on the origins of ethnic communities/group;
pre-colonial socio-economic and political organizations and institutions; conflict of institutions
Purpose of Course: To develop the art of critical appreciation of different types of writing.
Intended Learning Outcomes
The upshot of Great Books II is:
Course Content
A continuation of Great Books I; introduction to literary study, with emphasis on more critical reading, and learning ways of reading and writing about literature; special attention will be given to shifting notions of culture, problems of language, tradition, commerce and technology; texts are taken from Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, India, the Middle East, Russia and the Far East.
Purpose of the Course: The aim of the course is to give students a general background so as to enable them better appreciate trends and happenings in today’s world.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course students should:
Course Content
A general introduction to the forces that have shaped events in the world within the last one hundred years The course stresses the element of causality, or the question why things happen the way they do.
Purpose of the Course: Foreign Language 3 is the third in a sequential series of 7 language courses. The course intends to firmly ground students in the language to enable them communicate effectively and express their opinions. By the end of Language 3 Students should have attained an equivalent of level A1 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students should:
Course Content
Continuation and enhancement of speaking, listening, writing and reading skills in different communicative and culturally specific situations.
HLE 3204: European Foreign Language 4 (French, German)
Purpose of the Course: Foreign Language 4 is the fourth in a sequential series of 7 language courses. The course intends to ensure students use the language skills acquired to effectively communicate in socio-professional contexts; in this module emphasis will be laid on spoken French.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students should:
Course Content
Continuation and enhancement of speaking, listening, writing and reading skills in different communicative and culturally specific situations.
Purpose of the Course: This course is a follow-up on Japanese Language 1 and 2 and seeks to bring the learners up to a level equivalent to the first-half of level N5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered worldwide by the Japan Foundation. Japanese Language 3 will deepen understanding of the language in its spoken and written form at a level necessary for communication related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment, school/university environment).
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this course should have the competencies required for level N5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered worldwide by the Japan Foundation and in addition, should be able to
1) Formulate in speech and writing, sentences that are useful in everyday conversation in Japanese to describe situations within the student’s daily experiences. (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment, school/university environment)
2) Paraphrase sentences that use all Japanese kana script,
3) Interpret moderately long comprehension passages accurately and at relatively fast speed and fluency.
4) Interpret Japanese kanji script of about 100 basic characters accurately and fluently.
Course Content
Present continuous state. Further Kanji.Issuing instructions.Expressions of want and desire. Issuing instructions and making requests. Permissions and prohibitions.“Dictionary form’’ of Japanese.The negative plain form. Cultural issues relevant to foreigners interacting with Japanese society.
Purpose of the Course: This course is the final of four parts and seeks to bring the learners up to a level equivalent to the end of level N5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered worldwide by the Japan Foundation. It provides a firm basis for developing language skills commonly encountered in work, study, and leisure.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who complete this course should be able to
Course Content
Casual speech.Expressing opinions.Indirect and direct quotes. Seeking and confirming agreement. Reading and listening comprehension.Noun modifiers and simple relative clauses.Describing inevitability.Cultural context for higher level interaction with Japanese society for higher studies, business or living in Japan.
Purpose of the Course:The aim of this course is to equip students with the knowledge of ethics in business and professional life in theory and practice
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students who have completed this unit will be able to:
Module 1 (Common module):
Necessity of professional ethics in any professional practice; essential characteristics of professional practice: specialized knowledge; commitment to service; ability for decision making; sound judgment: autonomy in decision making; ethics and sound professional judgment; elements of good and ethical decision making: exercise of the cardinal virtues, other human virtues such as magnanimity, confidentiality, trust, responsibility, integrity, honesty, accountability, transparency, objectivity, respectfulness, obedience to the law, and humility; duties, rights and moral responsibility in the work place; humanizing the workplace
Module II BCOM . (BUSINESS ETHICS)
BCOM
Nature and object of professional ethics; morality and economy; ethical theories and their influence in business (utilitarianism, deontologist, virtue ethics); the purpose of the firm and ethics of management; the responsibility of the firm towards internal stakeholders (employees), external stakeholders 1 (consumers), and external stakeholders 2 (the state and society); ethical issues at the work place; codes of ethics; corporate social responsibility
Module II BBIT (ETHICAL ISSUES IN IT)
Ethical behaviour in the IT profession; intellectual property rights [Napster]; falsifying information and/or the sources of information; pornography and children; games and the gaming industry; pollution and environmental degradation; regulation versus choice; permanent underclass; internet fraud; safety and ergonomics; security and cyber crime issues; ethical issues in the internet; malicious software (viruses); privacy and copying; legal framework for IT in Kenya and CCK
Module II CTH STUDENTS (ETHICAL ISSUES IN HOSPITALIY AND TOURISM) INDUSTRY
Conditions of employment and respect; long working hours and labour intensive nature of work; poor wages for untrained lower cadre staff; solid waste disposal, hygiene and cleanliness; wastage of products/ingredients; a variety of employment discrimination issues due to multi-cultural visitors; employee theft or pilferage; false advertising by hotels; vendor honesty; AIDS in food service industry.
Module III: All students
HR Issues: Discrimination; Harassment, sexual and otherwise; Nepotism
Issues with Consumers: Conflicts of interest – bribes, privileged information; Customer confidence issues – product safety, truth in advertising, falsifying accounts and payment of taxes (tax evasion and tax avoidance), special fiduciary responsibilities
Employer/Employee rights and duties: Respect for human dignity, honesty, fairness (wages) and trust issues;Use of corporate resources – time, reputation, financial resources, other material resources, providing honest information
Larger Issues; Corporate Governance; The environment and society.
