Courses under art department in Nigeria and subjects required

Courses under art department in Nigeria lay a solid foundation for someone who wants to pursue a career in entertainment, public relations, international affairs, and related sectors. Since almost every higher learning institution in the country has a fine and applied arts department, you are likely to find multiple schools offering the same course. Olushola Olajobi, an Art Historian, shares his expert opinions on career opportunities, essential skills, developments, and advice for aspiring art students.

For several reasons, the arts faculties and departments in Nigerian universities are among the most populated categories. First, most of these courses are affordable to many parents and self-sponsored students. Secondly, since Nigeria's art industry has also gone global, the government and private investors invest in this country's art schools and make them the best on the continent.

Career Opportunities for Art Graduates

In an interview with Olushola Olajobi, an Art Historian, he explained that there are various career opportunities in which arts graduates can thrive. Olushola highlighted:

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• Painting: Such as creating portraits, and landscapes;
• Sculpture making;
• Textile design: Such as Adire, tie and dye, or batik;
• Ceramics: Production of artistic ceramic pieces beyond "just products to use in the house";
• Metal design;
• Graphic design: Exceptional in the age of social media and new tech;
• Exhibition management and Art curation;
• Art writing;
• Art teaching: Educating others about art at various levels, either primary, secondary, or higher institutions; and
• Research: Exploring new theories, discoveries, new information on previous studies or knowledge, and narratives in the art world.

Required skills for art students

Olushola emphasized that the foundational requirement for success in art is the ability to think creatively. He explained:

For example, if you want to major in painting or sculpture, you have to be able to think about an idea. If you want to paint a woman walking or an older adult standing beside a basket or something, you have to be able to conceptualize that and then bring the idea to life. 

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There are many opportunities for people to explore. You don't even need to know everything, but at least you have to be able to picture your idea and then use any materials around you to bring it to life. So there is no specific requirement; just be creative. 

Some people will tell you that even a child can paint, which is true because it is just a matter of the child being creative and having a mental picture. Give the child the paper and color, and the person will bring it to life. 

Innovations in Art Education

The Art Historian discussed recent developments within Art departments in Nigeria that have positively impacted students' education. Olushla mentioned the following key innovations:

1. Technology: This has revolutionized art education, reducing the need for manual effort, such as designing book covers, which can now be done digitally.
2. Social Media: Artists can use social media to promote their work and connect with art collectors and galleries, reducing the need for physical connections.
3. New art types and virtual spaces: The rise of new art forms (NFTs) and other digital art forms among Nigerian artists has opened new avenues for them.
4. Decolonizing Art Education: Art schools encourage students' graduating projects to be relevant to Nigerian or African society, thereby challenging Eurocentric narratives and incorporating local perspectives. He added:

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For example, suppose you, as a Nigerian artist, want to produce a painting or make a sculpture. In that case, there are questions about how relevant it is to your immediate environment, the Nigerian art space, even the African art space, and African art discourse in general. These innovations help to change or challenge previous notions about Nigerian or African arts and practices.

Tips from Expert

Olajobi shared valuable advice for aspiring art students. He recommends:

• Understand the complexity of art, including multiple specializations like painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, textile design, etc.
• Think outside the box: Be creative and innovative, and let your art solve a particular problem or tell a universal story in a unique way and style.
• Combine arts and technology: Leverage online galleries for your art exhibitions to get collaborations and art residency opportunities.
• Consider personal development: The course curriculum in art schools across Nigeria or Africa may need to be updated and aligned with global standards; therefore, seek additional knowledge and skills.
• Consider sustainability: Explore eco-friendly materials for art creation that are not harmful to the environment, people's health, or those who see your art piece.

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Courses under art department in Nigeria

What course can you study as an art student? The art department in Nigerian universities offers diverse courses that cater to students' artistic and creative interests. These courses encompass various disciplines within the field of arts and humanities.

Choose a course under art that will help you grow your career. Nigerian universities offer art students many alternatives through the course major and minor system. Alternatively, you can take a short course while pursuing any art-related degree programme.

Art courses and subjects required

The following subjects are generally considered important and relevant for admission into an art-related program.

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Literature in English
• Government
• Christian Religious Studies/Islamic Religious Studies
• Civil Education
• Economics
• History

What is the best course for art students in Nigeria? Here is a list of the best art courses in Nigeria.

• African & Asian Studies
• Anthropology
• Arabic & Islamic Studies
• Arabic Language
• Arabic Language and Literature
• Arabic Studies
• Archaeology
• Archaeology and Tourism
• Arts (Combined Honours)
• Arts Education
• Chinese Studies
• Christian Religious knowledge
• Studies of Theology
• Classical Studies
• Comparative Religious Studies

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• Communication and Language Arts
• Communication Arts
• Communication Studies
• Counselling and Psychology
• Creative and Visual Arts
• Creative Arts
• Criminology and Security Studies
• Drama, Dramatic or Performing Arts
• Economics
• Economics and Development Studies
• Education Arts
• Efik-Ibibio
• English and International Studies
• English Language and Communication Studies
• English and Literary Studies
• English Language
• English Language and Literature
• English Studies
• European and Nigerian Language
• Fashion and design
• Make-up artistry
• Fashion modelling
• Film Arts
• Fine Art and Applied Arts
• Fine Arts and Design
• Foreign Languages and Literature
• French
• French and International Relations
• French and International Studies
• French with German or Russian

• Fulfulde
• Graphic design
• Geography
• Geography and Environmental Studies
• German
• German Combined with French or Russian
• Guidance and Counselling
• Hairdressing and styling
• Hausa
• History
• History and Sociology
• History and International Studies
• History and Political Science
• History and Strategic Studies
• History and Archaeology
• History and Diplomacy
• History and Diplomatic Studies
• History and International Relations
• Igbo
• Igbo or Linguistics
• International and Comparative Politics
• International Relations and Diplomacy
• International Studies and Diplomacy
• Islamic Studies
• Kanuri
• Kiswahili
• Languages
• Languages and Linguistics
• Languages and Literature
• Languages Arts
• Languages Arts and Yoruba

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• Library and Information Science
• Linguistics
• Linguistics of Urhobo
• Linguistics of Yoruba
• Linguistics of Edo
• Linguistics and African Languages
• Linguistics, Igbo and other African Languages
• Literature in English
• Mass Communication
• Media Studies and Mass Communication
• Modern and European Language
• Modern Language and Translation
• Music
• Nigerian Languages
• Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
• Performing Arts
• Performing Arts and Culture
• Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Political Science and Conflict Resolution
• Portuguese
• Psychology
• Psychology and Human Development
• Religion and Science
• Religious and Human Relations
• Religious Studies or Theology
• Religious and Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Religious and Cultural Studies

• Russian with French or German
• Russian
• Sociology
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Theology
• Visual and Applied Arts
• Yoruba
• Yoruba and Communication Arts
• Theatre and Film Studies
• Theatre and Performing Arts
• Theatre Arts
• Theatre and Media Arts

What is the best course in arts?

Here are the top ten best courses for art students in Nigeria:

• Graphic design
• International Studies
• Fashion design
• Foreign Languages
• Political Science
• Theatre Arts
• Nigerian Languages
• Music
• Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Modern Language and Translation

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What are the courses in fine and applied arts?

Historically, painting, sculpturing, architecture, music, poetry, theatre, and dance are fine arts. Today, the list includes filmmaking, photography, design, and conceptual art. All the educational courses related to these studies are fine art courses.

Applied art, on the other hand, focuses on designing and decorating objects for everyday use. However, fine and applied art courses often overlap because you can use skills and knowledge gained in a fine art course to build an applied art career.

Which departments are in art class?

These are the 15 best art department courses in Nigeria:

• Archaeology and Tourism
• Arts Education
• Chinese Studies
• Studies of Theology
• Literature in English
• Mass Communication
• Performing Arts
• Performing Arts and Culture
• Philosophy
• Visual and Applied Arts
• Theatre and Film Studies
• Theatre and Performing Arts
• Theatre Arts
• Theatre and Media Arts
• Theology

Which university is best for an art student in Nigeria?

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Here is a list of universities in Nigeria that offer fine and applied art courses:

• Delta State University
• Federal University
• Niger Delta University
• University of Jos
• The University of Nigeria Nsukka
• University of Benin
• University of Lagos
• The University of Nigeria, Nsukka
• University of Ibadan
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
• University of Port-Harcourt
• Bauchi State University, Gadau
• The University of Ilorin
• The Ekiti State University
• Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
• The Bayero University, Kano
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
• University of Uyo
• Delta State University
• Afe Babalola University
• Benue State University, Makurdi,
• The University of Calabar
• College of Ibadan

What are potential career paths for graduates of art?

Graduates of art department courses can pursue diverse career paths, such as becoming professional artists, art educators, graphic designers, art directors, museum curators, art therapists, fashion designers, illustrators, animators, or working in advertising and marketing agencies.

Why is an art course important?

Art courses give a forum for self-expression, allowing students to explore their artistic ability, experiment with various mediums, and establish their style. Furthermore, studying art helps improve critical thinking abilities, visual literacy, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think outside the box.

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All courses under art department in Nigeria assure you a bright future if you put effort into your studies. Let your passion and dream guide you when selecting a programme to study.

Legit.ng recently published an article highlighting the cheapest universities in Nigeria. There are numerous universities in Nigeria's education sector today. An affordable one can provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to study.

These universities have lower tuition fees providing students with more flexibility in terms of financing their education. If you are looking for one that is affordable, have a look at this post to find out more.

Source: Legit.ng