In Nigeria, students from art departments are often met with the assumption that there are not many well-paying job opportunities for them, except in law or mass communication which is not the truth. Given the current situation of the economy, people only want to study courses that will help them thrive professionally & financially.
Art students can find lucrative course programs in Universities that will qualify them for prestigious employment opportunities.
What are the Best Art Courses To Study In Nigeria?
Below are 10 of the best art courses to study that will qualify you for high-paying jobs;
Law
- Average Salary: ₦300,000
Law is a professional course program for art students in Nigeria, and law graduates are in high demand because they help restore balance and order in society. The course program trains students on the rules of law governing the nation, society, and business firms.
Law course programs split across various fields like corporate law, property law, and constitutional law but the most common type of law program is criminal law. Law graduates can practice their profession while working for the government or working independently as private lawyers. Law graduates can also take on counseling jobs, solicitors, or act as special legal advisers to top individuals or firms.
Art students who aspire to become law students in any Nigerian university must provide distinctive academic records.
Social Works
- Average Salary: ₦150,000
Social work is a highly lucrative course for art students. As an academic discipline, students can undertake the study program for 4 years where they will be equipped with the right skills to provide social support, tackle social problems, etc.
The course program is not as competitive as other art courses like mass communication, International relations but social work graduates can find employment opportunities as administrative assistants, a receptionists, and can also work with government agencies where public services are being rendered such as the Power holding company of Nigeria (P.H.C.N), federal road safety corps (F.R.S.C.) and many others.
Public Administration
- Average Salary: ₦240,000
Public administration can be found under the social or management science faculty in most Nigerian Universities. Public administration graduates can carry out administrative functions in government offices, or non-governmental organizations.
Studying public administration as an art student comes with the added advantage of taking on leadership roles in organizations after the completion of their studies. This is because Public administration students are equipped with skills that qualify them to be policy actors, key decision-makers, directors, and managers in any organization.
Subject Combination for Public Administration;
- English Language
- Mathematics or Economics
- Government
- Literature or Religious studies
Mass communication
Average Salary: ₦150,000
Mass communication is another option for commercial students in Nigeria. Earning a degree in mass communication will open various doors of employment opportunities in diverse industries.
The basic role of a mass communication graduate is to provide information through the use of writing, digital platforms, and many more. The employment opportunities associated with a mass communication graduate go beyond working in media firms. This is because every organization requires the services of a creative writer, media team, public relations, customer service expert, etc.
Young Nigerian students will find the course interesting especially for students who are passionate about journalism, and they can also use their knowledge in mass communication to start up their own media agency, professional blog, or websites.
Foreign Languages
- Average Salary: ₦400,000
Foreign language is a very good program option for art students, but the course is mostly overlooked for other top courses like Law, and mass communication because of the limited employment opportunities. Most art students opine that the foreign language course program won’t be able to attract big-paying jobs which is not true.
Foreign language students will gain a comprehensive understanding beyond just language skills when studying at Nigerian universities. They delve into the cultural values and traditions associated with the languages they learn.
Foreign Language graduates will be able to perform the role of a customer care representative, a translator, or a transcriber, in any given industry.
Moreover, foreign language graduates have job opportunities in fields like public affairs offices, international organizations, aviation as air hostesses, and educational institutions. These roles can lead to lucrative career paths, offering the potential for high incomes.
Theatre Arts
- Average Salary: ₦225,000
Theatre arts is not only one of the best course programs for art students, but it is also an interesting program that spreads across various areas of study. Graduates of theater arts are usually people who are passionate about breaking into the entertainment industry or people whose academic scores do not qualify them to study law or mass communication.
The employment prospects attached to studying theater arts revolve around movie production, filmmaking, music production, broadcaster, director, stage manager, and many more. The program also boosts creativity in students and allows them to understand different cultures and histories. Students can use the various skills harnessed from the program to start up their entertainment businesses.
International Relations
- Average Salary: ₦500,000
International relations comparatively studies the political, economic, and social similarities and differences between nations, states, and districts. Earning a degree in international relations will allow an individual to perform diplomatic functions while contributing to global peace and development.
Graduates of international relations can work in government offices, and non-governmental organizations to perform the duties of a consultant, or special advisor, among other positions.
Psychology
- Average Salary: ₦100,000
The concept of psychology is extremely broad, and it extends from the applied sciences department to the social science department. The study of psychology in the social science field examines the process of human interaction, and it seeks to examine people’s behavior.
Psychology graduates possess a versatile skill set that opens up a wide array of employment opportunities. They are well-suited for roles as counselors or advisors, where their understanding of human behavior and the ability to interpret thoughts can be incredibly valuable.
Moreover, their expertise extends to other departments such as human resources and marketing, where comprehending people’s needs and predicting consumer behavior is crucial. In these roles, psychology graduates can effectively contribute to the organization’s success by leveraging their insights into human psychology.”
English Language
- Average Salary: ₦90,000
The English language is a universally accepted speech style, and choosing to study the English language makes you a professional in the field. Over the years, the course has been viewed as a useless course in Nigeria because art students do not see other employment prospects in the course program aside from an English tutor.
The English course program land art students professional jobs in any industry. Examples of roles an English language graduate can perform in any organization are as follows;
- Customer support team
- A call representative
- Receptionist
- Public relations officer.
English language graduates are also qualified to find employment opportunities in media outlets, International organizations, or at a learning institution. The fact remains that the overlooked course program provides numerous employment opportunities for graduates.
Political Science
- Average Salary: ₦85,000
Political science is an art course where students can learn governmental principles, policies, and political activities. Political scientists will also learn the Nigeria rule of law, and the transfer of political power.
The expertise of political scientists is required in government-based institutions such as the Civil Service Commission, government houses, law firms, and much more. Political science graduates can find employment opportunities similar to law graduates. For example, they can find jobs such as legal assistants available to political students since they are knowledgeable about the laws and constitution of the state.
Is Law the Highest Paying Art Course?
Law is regarded as the most decorated profession in the art department where people earn a high income. However, people can find careers with high-paying jobs that supereced the yearly income package for lawyers.
For example, top entertainment producers in Nigeria earn 6 times better than lawyers. Entertainment producers are usually people with a degree or skills in theatre arts, and they earn more money than lawyers.
What Are The Subject Combinations For Art Students?
- Use of English
- Mathematics or Economics
- Government
- Literature in English
- Religious Studies
- Civic education
- Geography
What Art Course Can I Study Without Mathematics In The University?
It is well-known that many art students may face challenges when dealing with mathematical equations, often preferring to steer clear of such problems during their university studies.
Fortunately, numerous art courses demand minimal or no mathematical proficiency, including the following:
- English language
- Linguistics
- Public Administration
- Law
- Theatre arts, etc.
The above courses do not require mathematics and are very lucrative.
What Degree Takes the Longest For Art Students In Nigeria?
The duration for most art courses in Nigeria is usually 4 years of studies, law graduates on the other hand undergo 5 years before they are qualified to receive a University degree.
Can Artists Find Relevant Courses In Nigeria?
Certainly, artists in Nigerian universities can discover suitable course programs that align with their career aspirations. For instance, individuals passionate about music can pursue a degree in music, while those with strong drawing and sketching skills can enhance their expertise by studying fine and applied arts at a Nigerian university.
What Other Course Programs Are Suitable For Art Students?
- Geography
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- History
- Linguistics
- Economics
- Geography
- Cultural Studies
- International studies and diplomacy
In conclusion, there are various course programs for art students in Nigerian universities that are highly lucrative in Nigeria, and students can always find course programs that match their areas of interest.
