Courses You Can Study in Nigeria with Government, Literature and CRS

If you sat for Government, Literature in English and Christian Religious Studies (CRS), you are holding one of the most versatile Arts combinations in the Nigerian senior secondary curriculum. The short answer to the question in your search bar: you can study Law, Mass Communication, Political Science, English and Literary Studies, Theatre Arts, International Relations, Public Administration, Sociology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Education (Arts), History and International Studies, and even Psychology or Social Work at many universities. The longer answer — the one that actually determines whether you get admission — is that each course has its own JAMB subject combination, O'Level requirements and cut-off mark, and getting any one of those wrong is the most common reason Arts students lose admission despite good scores.

This guide breaks down the courses open to you, the exact requirements for the most popular ones, and one worked example of how JAMB actually tests this combination — because knowing the syllabus is not the same as knowing how the exam sets questions.

Why Government, Literature and CRS Is a Strong Combination

Three reasons. First, it satisfies the "Arts or Social Science subjects" requirement that most Nigerian universities ask for in Law, Mass Communication and the social sciences. Second, Literature in English is a compulsory JAMB subject for Law and English, and Government is compulsory for Political Science and Public Administration — so you have covered two of the most competitive Arts courses without needing to change anything. Third, CRS is accepted as a third Arts subject by virtually every federal, state and private university.

The one place this combination trips students up is when they apply for a course that quietly requires Economics, Mathematics or a science subject. This is why you must check the JAMB brochure for the specific course and university before you pay for the UTME form — not after.

Courses You Can Study with Government, Literature and CRS

Below are the courses most commonly open to this combination, grouped by faculty so you can see the shape of your options.

Law and Legal Studies

Law is the most competitive course this combination unlocks. The standard JAMB subject combination is English Language, Literature in English, Government and one other Arts or Social Science subject. CRS fits perfectly as the fourth subject. The challenge is not eligibility — it is cut-off marks. Law cut-offs at UNILAG, UI and OAU routinely sit between 250 and 280, and post-UTME screening is where many candidates are separated. If Law is your target, read our detailed breakdown of JAMB cut-off marks for Law at UNILAG, UI and OAU before you finalise your choice of institution.

Mass Communication and Media Studies

Mass Communication is the natural home for a Literature-and-Government student. The JAMB combination is English Language, Literature in English, Government and one other Arts or Social Science subject, and CRS is accepted. Cut-offs are high — 240 to 270 at competitive universities — because the course is oversubscribed. For the full requirements, see our guide to the JAMB subject combination for Mass Communication.

Political Science, Public Administration and International Relations

These three courses are the most direct fit for Government as a major subject. Typical combination: English Language, Government, Literature in English (or Economics) and one other Arts or Social Science subject. Cut-offs range from 200 at state universities to 250+ at federal universities in competitive states. International Relations is increasingly popular and often has a slightly lower cut-off than Political Science at the same institution — worth checking.

English and Literary Studies, Theatre Arts, and Languages

If Literature is your strongest subject, English and Literary Studies, Theatre Arts, Linguistics, and Modern Languages (French, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa) are all open to you. The combination is usually English Language, Literature in English, Government or CRS, and one other Arts subject. These courses tend to have more forgiving cut-offs — 180 to 220 at many universities — and they lead to careers in teaching, publishing, media, and the creative industry.

Sociology, Psychology, Social Work and Religious Studies

Sociology and Social Work accept Government and CRS comfortably. Psychology is trickier: some universities require Biology or Mathematics, so verify per institution. Religious Studies and Philosophy accept CRS directly and often have lower cut-offs, making them a realistic option if your UTME score is modest but you still want a degree in the humanities.

Education (Arts Options)

Education with English, Government, CRS or Literature is one of the most underrated routes into university. Cut-offs are typically 180 to 200, the combination is exactly what you already have, and graduates are eligible for the same teaching and civil service roles as their pure-arts counterparts. If your goal is a degree and a stable career, this is a genuinely strong option, not a consolation prize.

Worked Example: How JAMB Tests This Combination

Here is a past-question-style Government question that shows why Arts students lose marks, and how to answer it correctly.

Question: The doctrine of separation of powers was propounded by (A) John Locke (B) Baron de Montesquieu (C) Thomas Hobbes (D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Step 1 — Identify what is being tested. The keyword is "separation of powers." This is a specific constitutional doctrine, not a general political theory question.

Step 2 — Recall the origin. The doctrine was formulated by the French political philosopher Baron de Montesquieu in his work The Spirit of the Laws (1748), where he argued that the legislative, executive and judicial powers should be held by separate bodies to prevent tyranny.

Step 3 — Eliminate the distractors. John Locke wrote about natural rights and social contract theory; Thomas Hobbes is associated with the social contract and absolute sovereignty; Rousseau is known for the social contract and popular sovereignty. None of them is the originator of the separation of powers doctrine.

Answer: (B) Baron de Montesquieu.

Notice that the question did not ask you to define separation of powers — it asked you to attribute it. JAMB Government questions frequently test attribution, dates, and specific constitutional provisions rather than broad concepts. If you are preparing for Government, Literature and CRS together, the smartest revision strategy is to drill attribution questions in Government, character-and-theme questions in Literature, and doctrine questions in CRS, because those are the formats the exam favours. A structured JAMB study timetable that rotates these three subjects daily will do more for your score than reading the textbook cover to cover.

O'Level Requirements You Must Not Ignore

Your JAMB combination is only half the story. Every course above also requires five O'Level credit passes in not more than two sittings, and the specific subjects matter. For Law and English, you need credit in English Language and Literature in English. For Government and Political Science, you need credit in Government and English. For CRS-based courses, you need credit in CRS. Mathematics is required for some social science courses and not for others — check the brochure. A candidate with a 280 JAMB score but no Literature credit cannot be admitted to Law, no matter how strong the UTME result is.

How to Choose Between These Courses

Three questions will narrow your list quickly. First, what do you actually enjoy reading and arguing about — law, politics, media, or literature? Second, what cut-off can you realistically hit given your mock scores? Third, which universities in your state or region offer the course, and what is their catchment-area policy? If you are still deciding between courses, our guide on choosing a course based on JAMB subjects and cut-off marks uses the same decision framework, even though it is written for engineering — the logic applies to Arts too.

One practical tip: take a full mock under timed conditions before you finalise your JAMB choice of course. Your mock score, not your hope, is the best predictor of which cut-off you can clear. Tueri Prep's mocks are built on the same WAEC and JAMB syllabus your exam will follow, and the score report shows you exactly which topics are dragging your total down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study Law with Government, Literature and CRS?

Yes. English Language, Literature in English, Government and CRS satisfies the JAMB subject combination for Law at most Nigerian universities. The barrier is the cut-off mark, not the combination — Law cut-offs at top federal universities range from 250 to 280.

Is CRS accepted for Mass Communication?

Yes, at the vast majority of universities. Mass Communication requires English Language, Literature in English, Government and one other Arts or Social Science subject, and CRS is accepted as that fourth subject in most institutions. Always confirm against the current JAMB brochure for your specific university.

Can I study Political Science without Government?

Some universities accept Economics or History in place of Government, but Government is the safest and most widely accepted subject. Since you already have it, you are in a strong position.

What if my JAMB score is below 200?

You still have options. Education (Arts), Religious Studies, Philosophy and some state university Arts courses accept scores in the 180 to 200 range. You can also consider a change of institution to a less competitive university, or resit JAMB with a focused study plan. A low score is a data point, not a verdict.