Assessment of Factors Influencing the Choice of Specialization among Art and Design Students in Nigerian Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/star.V15.i1.10Keywords:
Specialization, trigger, art and design, universities, NigeriaAbstract
This study investigates the factors influencing specialization choices among art and design students in Nigerian universities. Specialization is a critical phase in students' academic and professional development, with options including painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, graphic design, and art history. The study was guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), which emphasizes self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals. The study aims to identify the major triggers shaping these choices. Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 167 students in 200-level courses and above through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms. Descriptive analysis revealed that self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals influence specialization decisions. Hypothesis testing further showed that gender has a significant relationship with specialization choice, indicating that culturally shaped gender norms influence how students align with particular disciplines. ANOVA results indicated that students' perceptions of financial stability significantly influence their specialization choices, affirming financial expectations as a critical decision-making factor. Contextual influences such as departmental orientation, parental guidance, lecturer preference, and learning experiences had minimal impact. The study concludes that specialization choices are shaped by intrinsic motivations, perceived career prospects, and demographic influences and recommends enhanced career guidance and entrepreneurship-focused curriculum development in art and design programs.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, N. A., & Ashraf, M. (2020). Comparative study of factors influencing the choice in area of specialization among management and social science students at university level. Journal of Managerial Sciences, 14(1), 66–72.
Adeloye, A. A., Akinnibosun, O. F. & Emidun, O. B. (2024). A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Components in Textile Design Curricula between Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics. Journal of Art, Design and Music, 3(2), 251-263.
Adikpe, J. O., Ochigbo, O. G., & Enyi, U. J. (2020). Arts education in Nigeria: A global challenge and implication for national development. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, 14(3), 47–53.
Akinnibosun, O. F., Adeloye, A. A., & Emidun, O. B. (2024). Entrepreneurial content of textile design in Fine and Applied Arts curriculum in Southwest Nigeria. Lagos Journal of Contemporary Studies in Education, 2(2), 109–124.
Brown, S. D., & Lent, R. W. (2017). Social cognitive career theory in a diverse world: Closing thoughts. Journal of Career Assessment, 25(1), 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072716660061
Chukueggu, C. (2010). The origin and development of formal art schools in Nigeria. African Research Review, 4(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v4i2.58365
Enamhe, B. B. (2013). The role of arts education in Nigeria. African Journal of Teacher Education, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.21083/ajote.v3i1.1963
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.
Imonikebe, M. E. (2016). Undergraduate specialization in painting in universities in South-South Nigeria, at the close of the last millennium. Educational Journal of the University of Patras UNESCO Chair, 3(1), 1–7.
Lent, R. W., & Brown, S. D. (2019). Social cognitive career theory at 25: Empirical status of the interest, choice, and performance models. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 115, 103316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2019.06.004
Nortey, S., Opoku-Amankwa, K., & Bodjawah, E. K. (2013). Factors affecting low ceramics specialization decisions within the KNUST Industrial Art degree programme. International Journal of Education Through Art, 9(2), 205–218.
Odewole, P. O., Adeloye, A. A., Afolabi, B. E. F., Oladesu, J. O., Oyinloye, M. A., & Uzzi, F. O. (2024). Relationship between Art and Design students’ technical and managerial skill traits and their entrepreneurial skill traits. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 16(1), 164–177. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30880/jtet.2024.16.01.012
Onuchukwu, C. (1994). Art education in Nigeria. Art Education, 47(1), 54–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.1994.11652253
Onyeche, H. N. (2020). Factors that influence students’ choice of fine and applied arts as a course of study in some universities in Rivers State. Brazilian Journal of Arts and Science, 14(2b), 47–51.
Owino, J. O., & Odundo, P. A. (2016). Factors influencing Bachelor of Education Arts students’ selection of History as a career subject: Case of University of Nairobi, Kenya. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 4(10), 2236–2243.
Perera, R. H. A. T. (2018). Exploring the factors that influence students’ choice of specialization area. In Proceedings of the International Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS 2018) (p. 140). Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
Sarwar, A., & Irfan, M. (2013). Factors affecting selection of specialization by business graduates. Science International (Lahore), 25(4), 945–949.
Segal, G., Borgia, D., & Schoenfeld, J. (2002). Using social cognitive career theory to predict self-employment goals. New England Journal of Entrepreneurship, 5(2), 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1108/NEJE-05-02-2002-B007
Tekindor, A. A., & McCracken, V. A. (2012, August 12–14). Uniqueness in art market: Specialization in visual art [Conference paper]. 2012 Annual Meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Seattle, WA. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.124922
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Science, Technology and Arts Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
STAR © Copyright; All rights reserved
