JAMB Syllabus for Art Students

This syllabus covers the core subjects typically required for Arts and Humanities courses (e.g., Law, Mass Communication, Theatre Arts, International Relations, Linguistics).

Subjects Included:

1. Use of English (Compulsory)
2. Literature-in-English
3. Government
4. Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK)
5. Islamic Religious Studies (IRS)
6. History

Note: Students usually choose either CRK or IRS depending on their background.

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1. Use of English

This subject is compulsory for all candidates.

A. Comprehension/Summary

• Description: Answering questions on passages to test comprehension, interpretation, and inference.
• Skills: Grasping the main idea, identifying details, interpreting figurative language, and summarizing content.

B. Lexis and Structure

• Synonyms and Antonyms: Contextual meanings of words.
• Sentence Construction: Ambiguity, concord (agreement), and sentence types.
• Word Classes: Detailed usage of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions.
• Idioms: Understanding idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms.
• Register: Vocabulary associated with specific fields (e.g., Law, Medicine, Politics, Sports).

C. Oral Forms

• Phonology: Vowels (Monophthongs/Diphthongs) and Consonants.
• Stress: Word stress and sentence stress patterns.
• Intonation: Falling and rising tunes.

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2. Literature-in-English

A. Drama

• Types: Tragedy, Comedy, Tragicomedy, Melodrama, Farce.
• Elements: Plot, Characterization, Setting, Dialogue, Conflict, Theme.
• Literary Devices in Drama: Irony, Soliloquy, Aside, Suspense, Climax.
• Content: Analysis of prescribed African and Non-African plays.

B. Poetry

• Types: Sonnet, Ode, Elegy, Ballad, Lyric, Epic, Lullaby.
• Poetic Devices: Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration, Assonance, Onomatopoeia, Hyperbole, Oxymoron.
• Appreciation: Analysis of themes, structure, and imagery in prescribed African and Non-African poems.

C. Prose

• Types: Fiction (Novel, Novella, Short story) vs. Non-fiction (Biography, Autobiography).
• Narrative Techniques: Point of view (1st, 3rd person), Flashback, Foreshadowing.
• Content: Analysis of prescribed African and Non-African prose texts.

D. General Literary Principles

• Literary Appreciation: Understanding the author’s mood, tone, and atmosphere.
• Textual Analysis: Answering questions on "Unseen" prose and poetry passages.

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3. Government

A. Elements of Government

• Basic Concepts: State, Society, Nation, Power, Authority, Sovereignty, Legitimacy.
• Forms of Government: Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy, Totalitarianism.
• Arms of Government: Legislature (Law making), Executive (Implementation), Judiciary (Interpretation).

B. Political Ideologies

• Concepts: Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Liberalism.

C. Political Parties and Elections

• Parties: Types, functions, and party systems (One-party, Two-party, Multi-party).
• Elections: Suffrage, types of voting, electoral commissions.

D. Political Development in Nigeria

• Pre-Colonial: Hausa/Fulani Emirates, Yoruba Kingdoms (Oyo), Igbo Acephalous society.
• Colonial Era: Indirect Rule (North vs. South), Nationalism, 1922-1954 Constitutions.
• Post-Independence: 1960 Independence, 1963 Republic, Military Coups (1966, 1975, 1983, etc.), Civil War.
• Constitutional Conferences: 1979, 1989, 1999 Constitutions.

E. International Organizations

• Bodies: ECOWAS, African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), Commonwealth, OPEC.
• Foreign Policy: Nigeria’s foreign policy principles and relations.

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4. Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK)

A. Themes from the Old Testament

• Creation: Sovereignty of God (Gen 1-2).
• Leadership: Moses, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samson.
• The Monarchy: Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon (wisdom and errors).
• Prophets: Elijah (Religious tension), Amos (Social justice), Hosea (Divine love).

B. Themes from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

• Birth and Early Life: Baptism, Temptation.
• Ministry: Call of disciples, Miracles (Nature, Healing, Exorcism).
• Parables: Kingdom parables, Parables of grace/forgiveness.
• Passion Narrative: Triumphal entry, Last Supper, Trial, Crucifixion, Resurrection.

C. Themes from the Acts of the Apostles

• The Early Church: Ascension, Pentecost, Mission to Gentiles.
• Paul: Conversion, Missionary journeys.

D. The Epistles

• Faith and Works: James.
• Citizenship: Peter.
• Spiritual Gifts and Love: Corinthians.

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5. Islamic Religious Studies (IRS)

A. The Quran

• Revelation: Method of revelation (Waxy), compilation, and standardization.
• Tafsir: Study of specific Surahs (e.g., Al-Fatiha, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Kafirun, Al-Mulk).
• Themes: Moral lessons, relationship with Allah.

B. Hadith

• Science of Hadith: Isnad (Chain) and Matn (Text).
• Collections: Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Al-Muwatta.
• Study: Selected Hadiths from An-Nawawi’s 40 Hadiths (themes on sincerity, innovation in religion, anger).

C. Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism)

• Articles of Faith: Belief in Allah, Angels, Books, Prophets, Last Day, Destiny (Qadar).
• Shirk: Polytheism and its implications.

D. Fiqh (Jurisprudence)

• Pillars: Kalimatu-Shahada, Salat (Prayer types), Zakat (Almsgiving), Sawm (Fasting), Hajj (Pilgrimage).
• Family: Marriage (Nikah), Divorce (Talaq), Inheritance.

E. Islamic History

• Pre-Islamic Arabia: Jahiliyya period.
• Prophet Muhammad (SAW): Life in Makkah, Hijrah, Life in Madinah, Battles (Badr, Uhud, Khandaq), Conquest of Makkah.
• The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali.

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6. History

A. Nigeria

• Pre-1800: Origins of peoples (Nok, Ife, Benin, Igbo-Ukwu).
• 1800-1900: Jihad of Usman Dan Fodio, Yoruba Civil Wars, British conquest.
• 1900-1960: Amalgamation, Nationalist movements, Decolonization.
• Post-1960: Republics, Military Regimes, Civil War.

B. Africa

• West African Empires: Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Kanem-Bornu.
• North/East/Southern Africa: Mfecane, Trans-Saharan Trade, Scramble for Africa.

C. World History

• Major Events: World War I and II (Causes and impacts on Africa), The Cold War, Apartheid in South Africa.