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College degree: B.S. or B.A. Which is better?

S

Scrapster

Diamond Member
Lets say the major of study is the same but they offer a BA version and a BS version. Which one would you choose and why? I know the B.S. programs are often more rigerous, but will that score you a better job or more money later on down the road? Do graduate schools have a preference?

What are the general pros and cons of both?
 
Depends on what field you want to go into or what you want to specialize in.

I'm getting a BS for my Anthropology degree. I already had enough science credits for when I switched from meteorology, and I guess I just enjoy "hard" sciences a little more than arts and humanities.
 
At my school (a small liberal arts college), the BS was actually the same as a BA but with fewer requirements.

I.E. a BA in Chemistry consisted of: the same requirements for a BS in Chemistry + a foreign language and maybe some writing class or something, don't remember exactly.

So the BA was actually harder to get at my school.

Edit: in practice, it really doesn't matter much.
 
Depends, I'd imagine that if you could get a 3.5 in a BA program but only a 3.0 in a BS program then you should go into the BA program. I think it depends more upon the type of job you want to have after college. If you want to focus on a technical aspect, get the BS, otherwise the BA. I'm just making some slightly educated guesses here though, I'd ask a counselor.

Zenmervolt
 
Whether you choose to get a B.S. or a B.A. all that matters is how much time you put into it. I was a B.S., and it wasn't nearly as challanging as the B.A. program I'm in now. Of course, many opposite cases can be sited as well. I've found that anyone can get through college, its just the smart(not the same as bright) people that actually learn while they're there.
 
Generally speaking, people in the hard sciences consider a B.S. to be better. People in liberal arts and social sciences don't usually perceive there to be a difference. So if it's perceived value you're looking for, there's your answer.

If it's really about what's better, there's no answer. Often a B.A. will have a language requirement, while a B.S. will have a longer science requirement. But that's not true at all schools or in all programs.

 
Didn't you know getting
B.A. = Bull's Ass ??
B.S. = Bull Sh1t ??
M.S. = More Sh1t ??
🙂😀😉😛

Well, I myself have a B.S. cuz I guess computer science is under the College of Sciences etc....not that it matters to me. But I agree with the other folks. It depends on what you're getting yourself into.
 
I am getting a BA in Economics right now and it's worked out the way I planned, got a good job offer and will use it to eventually get my MBA...but who cares really, probably could reach the same level with a BS, just a matter of tastes I guess
 
techically, a BS should be better.

depending on the school of course.....

it has been my belief that a BS in some subject A requires more courses in A to complete than a BA.

//edit, i am going to graduate with a BS in math, and perhaps a BE in electical engineering... =P 2 separate degrees from 2 unis =)
 
Mday, that's not the norm. It definately varies from school to school, but the general principle is the difference in core - B.S. usually has at least the equivalent of two years of science (12 semester hours), and a lab requirement. B.A. degrees usually have at least two years of a foreign language as a requirement.

As I said, this is not always the case. You may have a B.S. that requires two years of a language, or a B.A. that requires two years of a science. Each school sets its own core curriculum requirements. But this is the general difference - a B.A. is more directed toward the arts and social sciences, while a B.S. is usually geared more toward the hard sciences.

 
the college of liberal arts here at UT only offers BAs, so i had to take 2 years of language. the natty sci college offers both, the difference is that the BS has 3 semesters of language and a science or two more. personally, i'd have rather gottern the BS if it were offered, but thats only because i'm terrible at languages (although most people think spanish is exceptionally hard here at UT) and i already had the science stuff from when i was trying to be an engineer. not trying ver hard, mind you, but enough so that i have some physics, chemistry, and biology under my belt. okay, i got most of that from AP testing.
 
BA = Democrat
BS = Republican

Doesnt really matter except a BA usually requires a foreign language although English would qualify for some.

Heard BA if going for MS, PHd., MS if last stop but dont believe that at all.

JUST GET ONE !
 
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