Social science courses encompass a diverse range of subjects that study human society and social relationships. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) provides a detailed guideline on all subject combinations through its brochure. Here is a full list of JAMB subject combinations for all Social Science courses in Nigeria.

Source: UGC
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Key takeaways
- The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) required for gaining admission into any higher institution in Nigeria.
- The board provides a syllabus brochure known as the JAMB Brochure.
- It contains the subject combination for each programme, the universities offering each programme and the subject areas the candidates are expected to cover.
- You can access the brochure via the official JAMB iBASS website.
JAMB subject combination for Social Science courses 2026
Social Sciences courses are academic disciplines about society and the relationships of people in society and with society. There are many courses in Social Science in Nigeria that anyone can do. Listed below are some of the most popular and best Social Science courses to study in Nigeria.
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Criminology and Security Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- Law
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- History and International Studies
- Mass Communication
- Social Work
- Linguistics
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Public Administration
- Banking and Finance
- Demography and Social Statistics
- Library Science
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Social Works
- Industrial Relations
- Human Resources Management
- Cooperative and Rural Development
- Tourism
- Marketing
- Insurance
Social Sciences course subject combination for JAMB
The use of the English language is compulsory. 4 subject combinations for social sciences are the most common in JAMB. Below is a simplified list of all Social Sciences course subject combinations.
|
Courses |
Major subject combinations |
|
Sociology and Anthropology |
English and three Social Science or Arts Subjects |
|
Criminology and Security Studies |
English, Economics, Government and any one of the following: History, Geography, or Literature in English,‎ French, IRK, or Hausa |
|
Economics |
English, Mathematics, Economics and |
|
Geography |
English, Geography and any two of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Agricultural Science |
|
Law |
English, Literature, CRS and Government |
|
Political Science |
English, Government or History and two other Social Science/Arts subjects |
|
Psychology |
English and any three subjects from Arts or Social Science |
|
Sociology |
English and three Social Science or Arts subjects |
|
History and International Studies |
English, History/Government and any other two subjects from Arts & Social Science |
|
Mass Communication |
English and any three Arts and Social Science subjects |
|
Social Work |
English Language, Mathematics, Economics/ Geography and any other subject |
|
Linguistics |
English, two relevant Arts subjects and |
|
Accountancy |
English, Mathematics, Economics and any other Social Science subjects |
|
Business Administration |
English, Mathematics, Economics and any other Social Science subject |
|
Public Administration |
English, Government, Economics and any other subject |
|
Banking and Finance |
English, Mathematics and one Social Science subject and any other subject |
|
Demography and Social Statistics |
English, Mathematics, Economics/ Geography and |
|
Library Science |
English and any three Arts or Social Science subjects |
|
Philosophy |
English, Government and any other two subjects |
|
Religious Studies |
English Language, CRK/IRS and any two other subjects |
|
Social Works |
English Language, Mathematics, Economics/ Geography and any other subject |
|
Industrial Relations |
English, Mathematics, Economics plus and one other relevant subject |
|
Human Resources Management |
English, Economics, Government and any other relevant subjects |
|
Cooperative and Rural Development |
English, Mathematics, Economics and one other subject |
Where can I get the JAMB subject combination for all Social Science courses 2026 PDF?
You can access the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) subject combination for all social science courses 2026 PDF download via the official JAMB iBASS website. It provides the PDF downloads for the mandatory subject combinations, institutional requirements and guidelines for the 2026 UTME candidates.
What are the Social Science subjects in Nigeria?
The social science subjects accepted by Nigerian tertiary institutions are Mathematics, English, Commerce, Geography, Economics, Accounting, Marketing, Agriculture, Government, and Christian Religious Knowledge. Examples of courses where these subjects are applicable include:
- JAMB subject combination for Sociology: English and three subjects from the fields of Social Science or Arts.
- JAMB subject combination for Psychology: English and any three subjects chosen from the Arts or Social Science disciplines.
- JAMB subject combination for Mass Communication: English and any three subjects from the Arts and Social Science fields.
- JAMB subject combination for Political Science: English, Government or History, and two other subjects from Social Science or Arts.
- JAMB subject combination for Business Administration: English, Mathematics, Economics, and any other Social Science subject.
- JAMB subject combination for Economics: English, Mathematics, Economics, and one additional subject from Government, History, Geography, Literature in English, or French.
What are the compulsory subjects in JAMB?
There is only one compulsory subject for all JAMB exams, and that is the English Language. Other required subjects will depend on the course of study you are applying for.
How many courses are there in Social Science?
There are more than 60 courses one can pursue. Some include Business Administration, Mass Communication, Sociology and Anthropology, Public Administration, and Human Resources Management.
What are the subjects for Social Science in JAMB?
The major social science subjects combination includes literature in English, Government, Economics, Geography, History, Commerce, and the Principles of Accounting.
What is the JAMB subject combination for art courses?
JAMB subject combination for Art courses generally requires English Language (compulsory for all), plus three other subjects, usually starting with Literature in English, Government or History, and a third art/social science subject like CRS/IRS, French, Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa.
What is the WAEC subject combination for all courses?
WAEC subject combinations require 8-9 subjects, including mandatory Mathematics, English Language, Civic Education, a trade subject, and Economics or ICT/Computer Studies. Specific courses require three to four elective subjects tailored to Arts, Science, or Commerce fields to meet university admission requirements.
How many years does it take to study Social Science?
Most institutions require four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science. Depending on the individual, this could include full-time or part-time studies.
Is Criminology a Social Science?
Yes, Criminology is a social science course that draws on various social science disciplines, including demography, psychology, and geography. Students majoring in criminology learn about the biological, psychological, and social causes of crime, such as socioeconomic status.
Is biology a Social Science subject?
Biology is a natural science in which researchers investigate living organisms and what makes them up. Genetics, environmental biology, plant biology, zoology, biochemistry, and molecular biology will be covered, with opportunities to specialise as your interests develop.
What are the JAMB requirements?
The general JAMB registration requirements include the following:
- National Identification Number (NIN)
- O-level results (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB)
- JAMB registration fee
- JAMB profile code
- Valid email address and phone number
- Passport photograph
What is a good JAMB score?
JAMB has a general minimum score of 180 to be eligible for admission into any Nigerian university. Individual universities and specific courses may have higher cut-off points.
You can find more information on JAMB subject combinations for Social Science courses 2026 in Nigeria, as well as available programmes and universities in the JAMB Brochure, which is available in hardcopy or online.
Legit.ng recently published a list of JAMB subject combinations for Psychology in Nigeria. Psychology is one of the best university courses in Nigeria. The course is competitive, so students must have the minimum cut-off for the subject combinations needed.
The JAMB subject combination for psychology sets the guidelines for who gets administered for the course. If you are curious about the JAMB subject combination for psychology, this guide is for you.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng











