Which Course is Best for Art Students in Nigeria? Top 20 Art Courses

There’s been an eternal debate between the Sciences and the Arts. Indeed, there’s often a misconception that science courses are more lucrative than art courses and that science has long been hailed as the saviour of our world. But the thing is, not everyone is cut out for a career in science.

Some people are more naturally inclined toward creativity, expression, and design, but we all failed to learn this years ago. Our parents especially: If you’re a young Nigerian growing up in this country, you would’ve witnessed the glorification of sciences over arts, and this had made some students switch sides even when they were more art-inclined.

Over the years, the arts have been quietly but powerfully shaping our society in ways that science cannot.

When we think about the impact of the arts, we’re talking about the soul of our culture. Art isn’t just pretty pictures or catchy tunes – it’s a reflection of our history, our values, and our aspirations. It’s a means of self-expression, communication, and connection.

And let’s not forget that art isn’t just a hobby – it’s a rewarding career path. Just look at the fashion industry, the advertising world, the gaming industry, and the world of film and television.

Now, if you’re a Nigerian student ready to go to college but unsure what course is best for you, this article discusses the 20 best art courses in Nigeria. We hope it helps!

What is the best art course to study in Nigeria?
Top 20 art courses in Nigeria
What art course pays the most?
Which career is best for an art student?
FAQs
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

What is the best art course to study in Nigeria?

If you’re looking for the best art course to study in Nigeria, I’d say Mass Communication takes the cake. Why’s that?

Well, for one thing, it’s super versatile, opening doors to a bunch of different careers from journalism to social media, to even human resource management.

And it’s not just about the career opportunities. Mass Communication also teaches you how to communicate in various mediums, like writing, speaking, and visuals. That skill set can be useful in almost any career you choose.

Plus, Mass Communication gives you a good understanding of how different types of media work, which can help you create your content or manage other people’s content.

And let’s not forget about the creativity and innovation aspect. Mass Communication encourages you to think outside the box and develop new and exciting ways to tell stories and engage with people.

Read: The Differences Between Liberal Arts and The Humanities | 2024

Top 20 art courses in Nigeria

Here’s a quick rundown of the top 20 art courses in Nigeria:

Mass communication
Law
History and International Relations
English Language
Criminology and Security Studies
Political Science
Management
Hospitality and Tourism
Environmental Science
Fine & Applied Art
Music
Economics
Psychology
Theatre Arts
Philosophy
French
Archeology
Film and Media Arts
Sociology
Performing Arts

1. Mass communication

As mentioned earlier, mass communication is one of the most popular and best art courses in Nigeria. It’s actually highly competitive, and you’ll need a JAMB score of at least 250 to get into top universities like the University of Lagos and the University of Ilorin.

This course is about creating and managing information and ideas that are communicated to a large number of people. You learn how to write, speak, and use visuals to convey messages.

With a degree in Mass Communication, you can pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and more. This course mostly involves creating, sending, receiving, and analyzing messages to large audiences using different forms of media, such as writing, speaking, and visuals.

2. Law

Law may seem like a field that’s overpopulated, but it remains one of the most respected and sought-after degrees in universities. It takes years of hard work to earn a law degree, but it can bring both honor and financial success.

Pursuing a degree in law means combining your passion for justice with strong critical thinking and analytical skills. With a law degree, you can work in various fields including legal practice, advocacy, and corporate law, to name a few.

3. History and International Relations

History and International Relations are fascinating fields that examine and help you understand the laws and principles that govern the relationships between countries. They are an eye-opener into the world of international diplomacy and justice.

With a degree in International Relations, you’ll be well-equipped for careers in government, international organizations, and multinational corporations.

It is quite a competitive field, but with hard work and dedication, you can land opportunities in embassies, consulates, or other institutions that promote international relations.

4. English Language

English is the world language, used for business, education, and travel by more than 1.5 billion people. That’s why people with degrees in English Language are in high demand.

With a degree in English Language, you’ll have top-notch communication skills that can open doors in almost any industry. You could become a writer, editor, reporter, public speaker, public relations specialist, or even a high school teacher.

If you’re passionate about words and want to make a career out of it, English Language is a great choice.

Also, see: Are Language Degrees Worth Studying at University?

5. Criminology and Security Studies

Criminology and Security Studies help keep people safe. As crime and safety become more important in Nigeria, this field is growing. It can open up career paths in law enforcement, security management, and related areas.

With a Criminology and Security Studies degree, you’ll learn how to keep people and places safe. You could work as a police officer, help businesses and organizations protect themselves, or even find other ways to use your knowledge.

6. Political Science

If you’re interested in leadership and politics, then a degree in Political Science could be the perfect fit for you.

This field opens you up to experiences and happenings in power, politics, and how governments work at different levels, from the local to the international.

With a Political Science degree, you can pursue a career as a lawyer, journalist, international affairs specialist, teacher, or even in politics. This degree also prepares you for work in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and research institutions.

7. Management

Management is another one of the best art courses in Nigeria to study. It comes with lots of skills for different jobs.

You learn how to lead people and organize things, which is useful for working in businesses, government, or other places that need managers.

Even though Management isn’t at the top of the list, it’s still a great course to study because you can use your skills in many different jobs. There are many jobs for managers, so you can be sure you will have opportunities to find work.

8. Hospitality and Tourism

Hospitality and Tourism is a great field for people who love meeting and working with new people. You can become a hotel manager, tour guide, or event planner with a degree in this field.

This field teaches you how to make sure people have a good time and feel welcome, whether visiting a hotel, taking a tour, or attending an event. It also teaches you about different places worldwide and how to plan and organize events and trips.

Also, the field is growing and many jobs are available in places like hotels, tour companies, and event planning companies.

9. Environmental Science

If you want to help protect the planet and its natural resources, then the environmental science field should be your course.

10. Fine & Applied Art

If you’re creative and love art, this course should be great. It is also one of the best art courses in Nigeria. You can learn about all kinds of art, like painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography in this field.

If you are a Fine Arts major, you can make paintings, sculptures, or textiles and sell them to make money. Or you can work as an animator, illustrator, or digital artist, using your creativity to make things for video games, movies, and websites.

11. Music

Music is a field of study that can turn your talent into a career. You don’t have to be a musician to make money in the music industry.

Studying Music teaches you how to understand, write, and perform music in different styles. This can help you get jobs as a music teacher, composer, or even an executive.

Many of Nigeria’s richest musicians didn’t study music, but they still work with people who did. Studying music can help you get more opportunities in the music industry and give you the skills you need to be successful.

12. Economics

If you’re in the arts and want a career that isn’t about your creativity, Economics is a good choice. Economics teaches you how money works and affects everything in society.

Studying Economics teaches you how to analyze and interpret financial data, which can help you get jobs in banking, finance, and economic research. You can also work as an analyst or researcher, using your understanding of money and society to help solve problems.

13. Psychology

Psychology is not just about understanding people’s minds and feelings, it’s also a great career choice. With more people paying attention to mental health, there’s a growing need for psychologists to help people with their problems.

When you study Psychology, you can work in different areas like therapy, human resources, business, sports, and helping people recover from accidents or injuries. Psychology gives you skills that can be useful in many different jobs, and it’s one of the best art courses to study in Nigeria.

14. Theatre Arts

If you’re a natural performer and enjoy being in front of audiences, then a degree in Theatre Arts might be the right fit for you. It’s a bit different from Performing Arts but still an exciting and competitive field.

With a Theatre Arts degree, you can do all sorts of things like writing scripts, managing stages, directing plays, designing costumes, and doing makeup. You’ll find job opportunities in stage productions, film and TV, and event planning.

This course can help you turn your passion for performing into a fulfilling career.

15. Philosophy

Philosophy is one of those courses that might not seem like it would lead to a great job, but it offers many opportunities!

With a Philosophy degree, you can work as a manager in different companies, analyze and create strategies for business, and even make user-friendly websites and products.

Philosophy teaches you how to think deeply and understand complex issues, which can be helpful in many different jobs. Studying in Nigeria is a great course, especially if you’re interested in a career that lets you explore big ideas.

16. French

Studying French can open doors to many opportunities, just like English! With a degree in French, you can work in international relations, the media, and even outside of Nigeria. And if you don’t find work abroad, you can always become a teacher.

French is a great language to know, especially in Nigeria. There are many jobs where people need French-speaking workers, so you have many options. Plus, learning a new language can be fun and exciting!

17. Archeology

Archeology is like a real-life treasure hunt, but instead of searching for gold, you’re searching for clues about our past! If you like history and discovering how people used to live, then Archeology could be the perfect course for you.

As an Archeologist, you could work in various fields, like helping solve crimes by analyzing ancient artifacts or working in a museum to help preserve the past for future generations.

Archeology might not be the most popular course, but it can be an exciting and rewarding career choice!

18. Film and Media Arts

If you’re passionate about movies and love telling stories through film, then a Film and Media Arts degree could be just your ticket!

This field is about learning how to create films and other media, including directing, writing, filming, and editing. It’s not the most popular course but still very profitable and exciting.

The film industry in Nigeria is booming, which means there are many opportunities for students to learn from industry professionals, do internships, and even work in the field.

19. Sociology

Sociology is all about understanding people and society. It’s about studying how we interact, how our cultures work, and why we behave the way we do.

With a Sociology degree, you can work in fields like social work, where you help people in need, research, where you learn more about society and human behavior, or even as a policy analyst, where you help create laws and rules that improve our society.

20. Performing Arts

If you love drama, music, and entertainment, then a degree in Performing Arts might be your calling! It’s the perfect opportunity to live out your dreams of being on stage, whether acting, singing, or dancing.

But even if you don’t want to be a performer, there are still many ways to use this degree. You can work behind the scenes in screenplay writing, scriptwriting, film production, marketing, and even in design for set designs, costumes, locations, and cinematography.

Also, see: 10 Best Professional Performing Arts Schools in 2024

What art course pays the most?

If you’re interested in making good money with an art career, here are some high-paying options:

First, Art Directors lead a team to create cool designs and art for movies, TV shows, and commercials. They need to be good at leadership and design. The average salary for Art Directors is about $94,220.

Then there’s the Producer and Director. These creatives turn ideas into awesome movies, TV shows, and other productions. They ensure everything is on track and help bring the ideas to life.

You could also decide to become a Landscape Architect. These people design outdoor spaces like parks, gardens, and campuses. They need to know a lot about plants, design, and construction. Landscape Architects earn an average of about $69,360.

Video editors are likened to the gods of the arts! These people take videos and make them look awesome. They put together the video clips, add music and sound effects, and make sure everything flows nicely. They earn an average salary of around $63,780.

Which career is best for an art student?

As an art student, you might be confused about what career might be best for you as there are many arts careers to choose from. Well, first, you must consider what interests you the most.

You can go for mass communication. Mass communication is a great career choice for artists who enjoy communication’s storytelling and visual aspects. As a mass communicator, you could work as a journalist, writing and reporting on current events, or in advertising, creating creative campaigns to promote products or services.

Public relations is another option. In this field, you help companies and organizations manage their reputations and communicate with the public.

Social media management is a growing field in which you help companies and brands manage their presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Filmmaking could be a great fit if you’re passionate about telling stories through moving images. And with the explosion of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, there are more opportunities to create and distribute original content than ever.

Also, lecturing and teaching can be great career options for art students who want to share their passion and knowledge with others. A

If you’re the artist who loves expressing yourself through paintings, sculptures, or mixed media, becoming a professional artist might be the way to go.

You can create and sell your artwork or work on commissions for clients. It’s a career that gives you much freedom and creativity, but it also takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make a living from your art.

FAQs

Which job is best for arts students?

Graphic Designer. Requires strong visual creativity and design skills, plus knowledge of design software. Ideal for art students with a passion for visual communication.

What art job pays the most?

Art Directors are in charge of how art is used. They get paid a lot, with a median salary of $94,220. Their job involves telling other people what to do with art. They make sure the art is used best for the job.

Which arts course has the highest salary?

Graphic design is a creative field with a good salary. Professionals design visual communication pieces such as logos, posters, and website layouts. This can lead to jobs in web development, marketing, and advertising with potential earnings up to $85,000 annually.

Conclusion

If you’re an art student in Nigeria, you have lots of options to choose from to start a successful career. From design to filmmaking, there’s something for everyone. The key is to find the right course for you. You can succeed in your chosen field with hard work and dedication. Nigeria is full of creative opportunities, and with the right course, you can turn your passion into a rewarding career. So, check out the courses available and decide which yu can go for.