Are you interested in knowing the top art courses in Nigerian universities?
If you are interested in studying art at a university, then knowing which university offer which art course is very important.
When we hear the term ‘art courses in Nigerian universities, a lot of people tend to limit it to law, English, history, and mass communication.
While these courses get the spotlight, hundreds of other art courses are available for students to study.
We understand that it’s easy to get confused when faced with numerous options, considering family expectations and peer pressure. Choosing what to study at university is an important and life-changing decision. So you need to take your time, research, and choose the one you feel is best for you.
This is why we’ve compiled a complete and current list of art courses in Nigerian universities for you to choose from. We’ll also share the general admission requirements for the various art courses and then we’ll round up this article with the 20 best art courses you can study today in Nigeria.
But first, let us look at the importance of art courses.
The Importance of Art Courses
- Art in itself encourages creativity and self-expression which helps to build confidence and a sense of identity
- Studying art courses helps to develop critical thinking and enhances your ability to interpret nature, our environment and the world around us
- Arts courses demonstrate and represent cultures from various ethnic groups all across the universe. Through art courses, you learn about the culture of other people and countries notwithstanding. This helps to form and improve intercultural, interpersonal and international relations.
- Art courses provide us with a better understanding and deeper insight into our own culture. Art courses like history shed light on historic events and ancient customs and traditions, which helps to preserve their memory and provide proof of our cultural heritage.
- The study of art courses equips you with the right information about the laws and constitution of your country, your national rights and obligations, and ensures that law and order are maintained in society.
List of Arts And Humanities Courses In Nigeria Universities
General Admission Requirement for Art Courses in Nigeria
There are certain key requirements you must meet before you can be admitted into the university to study your chosen course. And these requirements vary for each art course. Let’s take a look at them below.
African and Asian Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including Igbo/Yoruba/Hausa, English, and three other arts subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Igbo/Hausa/Yoruba and two other arts or social science subjects
Anthropology
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credits pass including History/Government, Geography, Economics and Religious studies
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- any three combinations of History, Geography, Economics, and Literature in English, French and CRS/IS
Arabic and IS
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in Englis h, Arabic and three other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Arabic and any two subjects from arts or social science
Archaeology
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, Geography, Economics, History and Religious studies
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- any two subjects from arts or social sciences and one subject from either Government, History, Religious studies and Geography.
Christian Religious Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, CRS and three other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- CRS including two other arts subjects
Communication and Language Arts
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, Literature in English, Arts/Music and any other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Any three subjects from arts or social science
Creative and Visual Arts
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English and Fine Arts and other relevant subjects like woodwork, decorative painting, engineering drawing, metal work, surface design and printing, graphics design and ceramics
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Fine Arts and two other subje6 from arts or social sciences
Criminology and Security Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Mathematics, Economics, History/Civic Education, Geography and any other relevant art or social science subject
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Government, Economics and one of the following, Literature in English, History, Geography, IS, Hausa and French
Economics
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in Economics, Government, English, Mathematics two other relevant subjects from Accounting/Commerce
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Economics, mathematics, and any subject from Government/History/Geography/Literature in English
English and International Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Literature in English, and any other subject from arts or social sciences
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Literature in English, History or Government and any other art subject
English and Literary Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Literature in English, and any other subject from arts or social sciences
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Literature in English, one art subject and one social science subject
European and Nigerian Languages
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, and any other art or social science subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- one art subject and two social science subjects
Fine Arts / Fine and Applied Arts
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Fine Arts and other relevant subjects like General woodwork, Building/Engineering drawing, Decorative painting, General metal work, Surface Desi6 and Printing, Graphics design and ceramics
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Fine Arts and two other arts or social science subjects
French
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, French and any other relevant art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- French and two other art subjects
Hausa
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English Language, Hausa and three other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Hausa, Literature in English, and any of the following, Government, Economics, History and Arabic
History and International Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, Government/History, Geography, and any other relevant subject
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- History/Government and two other subjects from arts or social science
Igbo
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in Igbo, English and three other art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Igbo and two other art or social science subjects
International Studies and Diplomacy
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Geography, Government/History, and other relevant subjects.
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Government/History and two other arts or social science subjects
Linguistics and Communication Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English and any other arts or social science subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- one art and two other subjects
Linguistics/Edo, Urhobo, Yoruba and African languages
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, any language and three other art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Any language and two other art subjects
Mass Communication
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Literature in English, Government, Economics and any other relevant subject
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Any three arts or social science subjects
Music
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in Music, English language and three other art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Music, one art subject and any other subject
Philosophy
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in relevant subjects including the English Language
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- any three art subjects
Political Science
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, Government/History and three other art or social science subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Government/History and two other art or social science subjects
Psychology
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English, Biology, Mathematics and two other subjects from arts or social sciences
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Government and any two art or social science subjects
Religious and Cultural Studies
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, CRS/IS and other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- CRS/IS and two other art subjects
Russian/French/German
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, French and other relevant subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- French and two other art subjects
Sociology
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including, English, mathematics, Government/History/Economics and any social science or art subject
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Government/History and two other art or social science subjects
Theatre Arts
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes in English language, Literature in English and other relevant art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Literature in English and any two art subjects
Theology
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, CRS/IS and other art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- CRS/IS and any two art subjects
Yoruba
- SSCE (WAEC/NECO) Requirements- Five credit passes including English, Yoruba and three other art subjects
- UTME/JAMB Requirements- Yoruba and two art subjects
Best 20 Art Courses in Nigeria
Before you choose a course to study at the university, there are certain questions you must answer. Do you have the mental and academic requirements for the course? Is it offered at your preferred university? Do you have the necessary finances, are there enough jobs for graduates of this course? Will studying this course propel you on the right career path?
With all these in mind, we’ve created a list of the top 20 art courses that are lucrative in Nigeria. Here they are:
1 . Fine and Applied Arts
If you have a passion for making stuff with your hands, and building things from start to finish then this course is for you. Depending on what you specialize in, you can become a painter, style fashioner, or decorator.
2 . History and International Relations
You’ll get to learn about other countries cultures, systems of government and languages. You can work in foreign embassies and foreign companies and work as a translator
3. Linguistics
Depending on where you specialize you can master various Nigerian cultures and languages. You can work with publishers to transcribe books into native languages, interpret things and also become a lecturer in the field.
4. Mass Communication
People studying mass communication usually have career paths that involve jobs like journalism, reporting, broadcasting and other media jobs.
5. Law
Law is undoubtedly one of the best art courses there is. With so many options to specialize in and opportunities to work in both public and private sectors. After graduation, you can either work as a state attorney, a private prosecutor or a family lawyer.
6 . Music
Music degrees might sound pleasant to the ears but involve a lot of work and dedication. That notwithstanding, you’ll be able to learn about the origin of different genres of music, how to play various musical instruments, songwriting, and music production.
7. Political science
A degree in political science equips you with the knowledge of governmental and societal issues. After graduation, you can work in public administration offices, government establishments and private businesses.
8. Theatre Arts
Studying theatre arts helps you develop your creative and imaginative abilities. With a degree in theatre arts, you can seek out a career in scriptwriting, movie director, set and costume designer.
9. Criminology and Security Studies
As a student of criminology, you’ll learn how to scam and financial crimes. You’ll find jobs working in banks, or in financial departments in organisations to detect fraud, theft, embezzlement and money laundering.
10. English
As an English graduate, teaching English in schools is not your only option. You can work as a customer service agent, a freelance writer, a full-time editor, an author, a proofreader etc.
Other lucrative art courses include:
11. Economics
12. International Studies and Diplomacy
13. Communication studies
14. Psychology
15. Sociology
16. French/German and other foreign languages
17. Literature in English
18. Public and Private International Law
19. Film and media arts
20. Archeology
Summary
As an art student in secondary school trying to decide your future, you should have in mind that whatever course you choose is what you’ll be studying for the next four or five years.
We believe from the list of art courses we have provided, you are more enlightened about the best art courses to choose from. Even at that, we encourage you to research, ask for advice from professionals in the fields you admire, check the course requirement, study art subjects and prepare yourself for WAEC/NECO/UTME exams as these are also major factors that can influence the type, of course, you’ll end up studying in the university.