Arts
Preamble
The Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) are designed for the education and training of undergraduate students wishing to obtain first degrees in the different areas of Administration and Management Science in Nigerian University System. Presented in this section are the basic operational elements that serve to define the core curriculum and minimum academic standards required to achieve the cardinal goal of producing graduates in Administration and Management Science with sufficient academic background to face the challenges of a developing economy in an increasingly globalized economy.
It is pertinent to note that this CCMAS document is expected to guide institutions in the design of curricula for their Arts programmes by stipulating the minimum requirements. Being such, institutions are encouraged to take due cognizance of the BMAS while bringing necessary innovation to the content and delivery of their programmes towards achieving the overall goal of Arts education and training in the country.
Programmes and Degrees
Presented in Table 1 is the list of programmes covered in this current CCMAS Document. An attempt has been made to cover only the programmes being run in the faculties of Arts/Humanities, as well as, new programmes in response to the local and global dynamics of the requisite knowledge and skills of products of the discipline. Overall, it is expected to serve the needs of existing faculties contemplating minor or major programme review and also new institutions seeking to chart a new path away from the existing programmes in the system.
Table 1:1 List of Programmes and Degrees
| S/N | Programmes | Degree(s) In View |
| 1. | African Languages and Literature Efik | B.A |
| 2. | African Languages and Literature Hausa | B.A |
| 3. | African Languages and Literature Ibibio | B.A |
| 4. | African Languages and Literature Igbo | B.A |
| 5. | African Languages and Literature Yoruba | B.A |
| 6. | African Traditional Religion | B.A |
| 7. | Arabic | B.A |
| 8. | Archaeology | B.A |
| 9. | Chinese Language | B.A |
| 10. | Christian Religious Studies | B.A |
| 11. | Christian Theology | B.A |
| 12. | Classics | B.A |
| 13. | English Language and Literature in English | B.A |
| 14. | Film Production | B.A |
| 15. | Folklore | B.A |
| 16. | History and Diplomatic Studies | B.A |
| 17. | History | B.A |
| 18. | Islamic Studies | B.A |
| 19. | Linguistics | B.A |
| 20. | Modern European Languages French | B.A |
| 21. | Modern European Languages German | B.A |
| 22. | Modern European Languages Russia | B.A |
| 23. | Music | B.A |
| 24. | Philosophy | B.A |
| 25. | Religious Studies | B.A |
| 26. | Theatre Arts | B.A |
Philosophy
The fundamental concerns of the Arts Disciplines (Humanities) are with Man and his complex nature, especially his multifaceted relationships with the world around him and beyond. It is in this context that each Arts programme tries to investigate and explain those aspects of Man’s nature that particularly concerns or challenge him.
Objectives
The objectives of the Discipline are to:
- develop and enhance students’ awareness of the values, contributions, and potentialities of their own social, cultural and spiritual environment;
- equip them to contribute meaningfully towards the attainment of national goals and the satisfaction of national needs;
- instil in them the spirit of self-reliance, self-pride, and self-actualization, and
- ensure that all programmes have in-built mechanisms through which national aspirations are affirmed. Such mechanisms should take cognizance of the following issues: socio-political developments, the economy of the society, the fact of our pluralistic society, and the need to forge a strong and united country.
Basic Admission Requirements and Expected Duration of the Programmes
Candidates are admitted into the degree programmes in any of the following two ways:
- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)
- Direct Entry
4-Year Degree programme
In addition to acceptable passes in UTME, the minimum academic requirement is credit level passes in five relevant subjects at the Senior School Certificate (SSC), including English Language, at not more than two sittings.
Direct Entry (DE): 3-Year Degree Programme
Direct Entry candidates must possess credit level passes in five relevant subjects at the Senior School Certificate (SSC), including English Language, two of which must be at the advanced level. Holders of NCE, University/National Diploma (ND) at minimum of credit level are eligible for consideration for Direct Entry admission into 200 Level. In addition, candidates must meet the required qualifications at Ordinary Level.
Duration of the Programme
The minimum duration of Arts/Humanities programmes is four academic sessions or eight (8) consecutively-run semesters for candidates who enter through the UTME Mode. Direct Entry candidates admitted to the 200 level of their programmes will spend a minimum of three academic sessions or six (6) consecutively-run semesters.
Graduation Requirements
A student shall qualify for the award of a Bachelor’s Degree when he/she has:
- completed and passed the prescribed number of courses, including all compulsory courses;
- obtained a minimum CGPA specified by the University but not less than 1.00, and
- earned the minimum credit units of not less than 120 for UTME and 90 for DE candidates.
General Definition of Common Terms and Principles Governing the Course Unit System and Graduation.
Course System
All programmes in the Nigerian University System (NUS) shall be run on a modularised system, commonly referred to as Course Unit System. All courses should therefore be sub-divided into more or less self-sufficient and logically consistent packages that are taught within a semester and examined at the end of that particular semester.
Credits are weights attached to a course. One credit is equivalent to one hour per week per semester of 15 weeks of lectures or three hours of laboratory/studio/ workshop work per week per semester of 15 weeks. In addition to the current 15 weeks semester system, universities should be encouraged to inaugurate a blended system which is based partly on physical contacts and partly using virtual or online platforms.
Definition of Course System
This should be understood to mean a quantitative system of organization of the curriculum in which subject areas are broken down into unit courses which are examinable and for which students earn credit(s) if passed. The courses are arranged in progressive order of complexity or in levels of academic progress. Level 1 courses are for example 100 and 101; Level II courses are for example 200 and 202. The second aspect of the system is that courses are assigned weights allied to Units.
Units
Consist of specified number of student-teacher contact hours per week per semester. Units are used in two complementary ways: one, as a measure of course weighting, and the other, as an indicator of student workload. As a measure of course weighting for each Unit course (e.g. HIS 105, ZOO 203, ARCH 504), the credit unit to be earned for satisfactorily completing the course is specified; e.g. a 2-credit unit course may mean two 1-hour lecture per week per semester or one 1-hour lecture plus 3-hour practical per week per semester.
As a measure of workload, “One Credit Unit” means one hour of lecture or one hour of tutorial per week per semester. For other forms of teaching requiring student teacher contact, the following equivalents may apply: two hours of seminar, three hours of laboratory or field work, Clinical practice/practicum, studio practice or stadium sporting activity, six hours of teaching practice; four weeks of industrial attachment where applicable.
Normally, in Course Credit System, courses are mounted all year round, thus enabling students to participate in examinations in which they are unsuccessful or unable to participate on account of ill health or for other genuine reasons. In such a system, no special provisions are made for re-sit examinations.
The minimum number of credit units for the award of a degree is 120 units, subject to the usual Department and Faculty requirements. A student shall therefore qualify for the award of a degree when he has met the conditions.
The minimum credit load per semester is 15 credit units. For the purpose of calculating a student’s cumulative GPA(CGPA) in order to determine the class of Degree to be awarded, grades obtained in all the courses whether compulsory or optional and whether passed or failed must be included in the computation.
Even when a student repeats the same course once or more before passing it or substitutes another course for a failed optional course, grades scored at each and all attempts shall be included in the computation of the GPA. Pre – requisite courses must be taken and passed before a particular course at a higher level.
Grading of Courses
Grading of courses shall be done by a combination of percentage marks and letter grades translated into a graduated system of Grade Point as shown in Table 1.2.
Table 1. 2 Grade Point System
| Mark % | Letter Grade | Grade Point |
| 70 – 100 | A | 5 |
| 60 – 69 | B | 4 |
| 50 – 59 | C | 3 |
| 45 – 49 | D | 2 |
| 40 – 44 | E | 1 |
| 0- 39 | F | 0 |
Grade Point Average and Cumulative Grade Point Average
For the purpose of determining a student’s standing at the end of every semester, the Grade Point Average (GPA) system shall be used. The GPA is computed by dividing the total number of Units x Grade Point (TUGP) by the total number of units (TNU) for all the courses taken in the semester as illustrated in Table 1.3.
The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) over a period of semesters is calculated in the same manner as the GPA by using the grade points of all the courses taken during the period.
Table 1:3 Calculation of GPA or CGPA
| Course | Units | Grade Point | Units x Grade Point (UGP) |
| C1 | U1 | GP1 | U1 x GP1 |
| C2 | U2 | GP2 | U2 x GP2 |
| – | – | – | – |
| – | – | – | – |
| Ci | Ui | GPi | Ui x GPi |
| – | – | – | – |
| – | – | – | – |
| CN | UN | GPN | UN x GPN |
| TOTAL | TNU | TUGP |
Degree Classifications
Classes of degree are to be awarded depending on the cumulative GPA obtained. The classes of degrees that may be awarded are First Class Honours, Second Class Honours (Upper Division), Second Class Honours (Lower Division) and Third Class Honours (see Table 1.4).
Table 1.4: Degree Classification
| CGPA | Class of Degree |
| 4.50 – 5.00 | First Class Honours |
| 3.50 – 4.49 | Second Class Honours (Upper Division) |
| 2.40 – 3.49 | Second Class Honours (Lower Division) |
| 1.50 – 2.39 | Third Class Honours |
| 1.00 – 1.49 | Pass |
Probation
Probation is a status granted to a student whose academic performance fall below an acceptable standard. A student whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.00 at the end of a particular year of study, earns a period of probation for one academic session.
Withdrawal
A candidate whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.00 at the end of a particular period of probation should be required to withdraw from the University. Where possible, consideration may be given to a student withdrawn from a programme of study for transfer to any other programme within the same university.
Subject to the conditions for withdrawal and probation, a student may be allowed to repeat the failed course Unit(s) at the next available opportunity, provided that the total number of credit units carried during that semester does not exceed 24, and the Grade Points earned at all attempts shall count towards the CGPA.
Modes of Student Assessment
All courses taken must be evaluated and a final grade given at the end of the semester. To arrive at the final grade, the evaluation must be a continuous process consisting of some or all of the following where applicable:
- Continuous Assessment
- Examinations
Continuous Assessment
Continuous assessment shall be done through essays and tests. Scores from continuous assessment shall normally constitute 30-40 per cent of the full marks for courses which are primarily theoretical.
Examinations
In addition to continuous assessment, final examinations should normally be given for every course at the end of each semester. All courses shall be graded out of a maximum of 100 marks comprising:
Final Examination: 60% – 70%
Continuous assessment (Quizzes, Homework, Tests and Practical): 30% – 40%
External Examiner System
The involvement of external examiners from other universities is a crucial quality assurance requirement for all courses in Nigerian University System. In this regard, external examiner should go beyond mere moderation of examination questions to examining of examination papers to scope and depth of examination questions vis a vis the curricular expectation.
Students’ Evaluation of Courses
There should be an established mechanism to enable students to evaluate courses delivered to them at the end of each semester. This should be an integral component of the course credit system to serve as an opportunity for feedback on the effectiveness of course delivery. Such an evaluation which should be undertaken by students at the end of each course, should capture, among others:
- improvement in the effectiveness of course delivery;
- continual update of lecture materials to incorporate emerging new concepts;
- effective usage of teaching aids and tools to maximize impact of knowledge on students;
- improvement in students’ performance through effective delivery of tutorials, timely in; and
- presentation of continuous assessment and high-quality examination.
It is very important that students’ evaluation of courses be administered fairly and transparently through the use of well-designed questionnaires. The completed questionnaires should be professionally analyzed and results discussed with the course lecturer(s) towards improvement in course delivery in all its ramifications.
