Arts and Humanities Subject Combinations — Unlocking Social Science Courses

🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)

Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your exam.

The IJMB Arts combination is designed for students who want to pursue degrees in the humanities, social sciences, law, and management. Unlike science combinations which focus on numerical and analytical problem-solving, arts combinations emphasise critical thinking, written analysis, and understanding of society and culture.

Key combinations:

• Literature-in-English, Government, History: Opens Law, Political Science, International Relations, Mass Communication
• Literature, Christian Religious Studies (CRS)/Islamic Studies, History: Opens Theology, Religious Studies, Philosophy
• Economics, Government, Geography: Opens Economics, Business Administration, Sociology

⚡ Exam tip: For Law in Nigerian universities, Literature-in-English is highly recommended because law schools expect students to have strong analytical reading and writing skills — Literature develops exactly these skills.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Understanding Arts Combinations in IJMB:

The Faculty of Arts at ABU Zaria covers a broad range of subjects. Arts students are known for their ability to analyse texts, construct arguments, and understand historical and political contexts — skills that are highly valued across many degree programmes.

Why Choose Arts over Science?

• Some students have stronger verbal and analytical skills than numerical skills
• Many high-earning and impactful careers (Law, Media, Civil Service, Politics, Education) are best accessed through arts combinations
• Arts combinations allow entry into professional programmes like Law, Mass Communication, and Education

Standard Arts Combinations:

Combination 1: Literature-in-English, Government, History (LGH)

This is the most popular and versatile arts combination. It is accepted for the broadest range of courses and is particularly strong for Law, Political Science, and Mass Communication.

What this combination teaches:

• Literature: Close reading, textual analysis, critical thinking, essay writing skills — directly applicable to legal argument construction
• Government: Understanding of political systems, public policy, Nigerian constitution, international relations — foundational for political science and law
• History: Chronological reasoning, cause-and-effect analysis, understanding of societal change — applicable to legal reasoning (precedent system) and policy-making

Courses available with LGH:

• Law (LLB)
• Political Science
• International Relations
• Mass Communication/Journalism
• History
• Philosophy
• English and Literary Studies
• Linguistics
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Economics (with Mathematics as fourth subject)

Nigerian universities accepting LGH for Law:

• University of Ibadan (UI): 8 points minimum; English Literature at B grade minimum
• University of Lagos (UNILAG): 10 points; English Literature preferred
• Ahmadu Bello University (ABU): 8 points; English Language or Literature at B
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): 9 points
• Lagos State University (LASU): 8 points
• Covenant University (private): 10 points

Combination 2: Literature, CRS/Islamic Studies, History

This combination is ideal for students interested in religious studies, theology, philosophy, and related fields.

Courses available:

• Religious Studies (Theology/Islamic Studies)
• Philosophy
• History
• Arabic Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Christian Theology
• Education and Religious Studies
• Law (accepted at some universities)

Key universities:

• ABU Zaria: Strong for Islamic Studies; Arabic and Islamic Studies programmes
• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): Strong in Religious Studies and Humanities
• University of Jos: Good for CRS and Religious Studies

Combination 3: Economics, Government, Geography (EGG)

This is the social sciences combination — more quantitative than pure arts but still accessible to arts students with mathematical aptitude.

Courses available with EGG:

• Economics
• Business Administration
• Geography and Environmental Management
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Estate Management
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Demography and Social Statistics
• Banking and Finance (some universities)

Note: Some universities prefer Mathematics as one of the three IJMB subjects for Economics programmes. Check specific university requirements.

Combination 4: English Language, Literature, History

This combination is specifically for students who want to pursue English and Literary Studies or Linguistics as their primary degree.

Courses available:

• English and Literary Studies
• Linguistics
• Languages (French, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo — depending on university)
• Translation and Interpretation
• Creative Writing
• Education (English)

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Detailed Guide to Law Through IJMB:

Law is one of the most prestigious and sought-after degrees in Nigeria. The legal profession in Nigeria is regulated by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Body of Benchers. A law degree (LLB) takes 5 years for UTME candidates and 4 years for Direct Entry (IJMB) candidates.

University of Ibadan (UI) — Faculty of Law:

• Cutoff: 8 points (IJMB minimum); often higher in practice
• Best subject combination: Literature, Government, History
• Additional requirements: 5 O’Level credits including English Language (A1 or B2 in WAEC), Mathematics, Literature or History
• UI Law admission is purely on aggregate — no interview for IJMB/DE candidates

University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Faculty of Law:

• Cutoff: 10 points (IJMB); typically requires A grade in Literature or Government
• UNILAG conducts a post-UTME/DE screening test
• Law interview is part of the selection process for all candidates

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria — Faculty of Law:

• Cutoff: 8 points
• ABU’s Law Faculty is one of the most prestigious in Northern Nigeria
• Additional screening: ABU conducts its own post-admission screening

What Law Schools Look For in IJMB Candidates:

1. Literary analysis skills: Law requires you to read complex texts, identify issues, and construct arguments — Literature-in-English is the best preparation
2. Historical understanding of legal systems: Understanding how English law developed (common law, equity, precedent) is foundational to Nigerian law
3. Understanding of government and constitution: Nigerian law is heavily based on the 1999 Constitution — Government is essential
4. Clear and precise writing: Law school demands extensive written work

Why Nigeria’s Legal System Matters for IJMB Law Students: Nigerian law is derived from English common law and equity (received into Nigeria via the Received English Law Ordinance of 1860). This means:

• Understanding English legal history (Magna Carta 1215, the Bill of Rights 1689, the Act of Settlement 1701) is essential
• Nigerian law includes the Constitution, statutes, case law, customary law, and Islamic law (in Sharia courts)
• Legal reasoning in Nigeria depends heavily on precedent (stare decisis) — judicial decisions of higher courts bind lower courts

Mass Communication and Media Studies: Nigerian universities offering Mass Communication include:

• University of Lagos (UNILAG): 10 points minimum; LGH preferred
• Ahmadu Bello University (ABU): 9 points; Literature, Government, History preferred
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN): 8 points
• Bayero University Kano (BUK): 8 points

Mass Communication courses include:

• Journalism and Mass Communication
• Broadcasting
• Film and Multimedia Studies
• Public Relations and Advertising
• Communication Arts

Political Science and International Relations: Political Science is offered at virtually all Nigerian universities. Key topics include:

• Nigerian politics and governance
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Political theory
• Public administration

The Role of History in Arts Combinations: History teaches the skill that is most directly transferable to law — the ability to analyse cause and effect, evaluate evidence, and construct a coherent narrative from incomplete information.

Key historical periods for Nigerian law students:

• Colonial period (1900-1960): How British legal institutions were established in Nigeria
• Independence period (1957-1960): How Nigeria adopted its first Constitution
• Post-independence constitutional development: 1960, 1963, 1979, 1999 Constitutions

Minimum Points for Arts Courses (2024 Data):

University	Course	Min IJMB Points	Preferred Subjects
UI	Law	8	Lit, Gov, Hist
UNILAG	Law	10	Lit, Gov, Hist
ABU	Law	8	Lit, Gov, Hist
UNN	Law	9	Lit, Gov, Hist
UNILAG	Political Science	9	Gov, Hist, Lit
UI	Mass Communication	8	Lit, Gov, Hist
ABU	Mass Communication	9	Lit, Gov, Hist
UNIJOS	English	8	Lit, Hist, Gov