Bachelor of Arts v. Bachelor of Science degree

Years ago, I transferred from one state university to another. The first university offered the choice between a BA or BS in psychology. The difference was that the BA had 32 hours in the major and had a liberal arts requirement including a language requirement. The BS had a 45 hour major, a mandatory minor and no liberal arts or language requirement (other than the 2 year core). I was originally in the BS program. I transferred between my junior and senior year. The new university did not have a BS in psychology, I was required to switch to a BA. This meant going back and taking 6 semester hours of philosophy, 5 hours of art history, and 10 hours of Spanish as a senior. In the end it did not matter. I still got a job and got into graduate school. Neither were concerned about BA or BS.

I actually have a brother and two sisters who earned their BGS (bachelor of general studies degree) from Wichita Stae. All were originally worried that having a BGS would be seen as a lower degree. However in each of their situations it meant an earlier graduation so they took the risk anyway. It has in no way been a hindrance to any of them. Each are doing well in their respective fields. All three were accepted into graduate programs without having to take addtional course work (one in gerontology, one in an MBA program, and the other has two MA's, one in managment and one in human resource development). In each of their cases they had solid work experience and had built credible references. Additionally each of them performed at very high levels in their work. All are now in leadership and decision making positions.

I guess my point about all of this is that except for about 1% of the graduate schools and less than 1% of the jobs, BA, BS, BGS, B.Ed., BSE, etc. is not going to make a diference. What you bring to the table in terms of your own presentation, resume, etc. is what will make the difference.

 

Some schools will accept signing as an alternate to foreign language.

 

Since many, if not most, universities do not offer the choice between a BA and a BS in most disciplines, this would be a very foolish way to screen resumes. I would seriously question the competence of the person who gave these instructions to your wife. This assumes that a BS from, say, Kennedu-Western or California Coast would be superior to a BA from Harvard or Yale.

Tony Piña
Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino

 

Reply

I think that some of the posts with regard to not hiring people with a BA is pretty much trying to say that this is a rediculous question to ask or being somewhat sarcastic in nature. I don't know maybe this does really happen, but I don't think that someone would just say that, and how could you possibly find someone qualified? You can't just take a resume and discard it just because it says a BA or something. Otherwise, those of you that have a BA degree, WATCH OUT!!! LOL. I just feel that this is a good discussion question, and feel that based upon what I have heard and learned that the BA is mostly more general in composition, and the BS is more specialized, or technical in composition. I posed this question because from time to time I will see an ad for a job listing and they will sometimes say "BA preferred" or "BS degree." Perhaps, they mean to say Bachelor degree but just say one over the other. Any thoughts on that?

 

I'm not sure this is exactly true. I was a science Major (Chemistry). There was a BA program and a B.S. program. A B.S. degree were for the people wanting to be a chemist and the BA's were for people who wanted an "easier" route (Less Calculus, less Physics and even a different calculus and a different physics altogether) and were to be like H.S. single subject teachers. The B.S. was definately more rigorous and definately atleast in the core Sciences majors (Chem, Biol, Physics, Bio-Chem, etc.) I can see where the BA resumes get trashed and the BS's get kept.

For example, the program at Cal State Northridge:

http://www.csun.edu/chemistry/Undergraduate.html

Or your place of employment:

http://chem.csusb.edu/Chem/About.html

 

Re: Reply

I have seen the same thing many times. More often than not, it just means "bachelors degree". Often, in hiring situations, BA, MA and PhD are generic terms for, respectively, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, since these are the most offered forms of these degrees by colleges and universities.

Tony Pina
Faculty, California State U. San Bernardino

 

I have no doubt that this is true at the university that you attended. It is also more common in the area of chemistry than, say, computer info systems.

It is interesting that you chose CSUSB as an example. The difference that apparently justifies the trashing of the BA degree is that the CSUSB BS in biochemestry requires 6 quarter units (or the equivalent 4 semester units) than does the BA. So the San Bernardino BA in biochemistry would graduate with 180 quarter units (120 semester equivalent) while the BS would have 186 quarter units (124 semester).

Yep, that should be enough to trash those unqualified BA degree holders

Seriously though, the original poster seemed to be concerned about whether the BS degree is seen as inherently superior to the BA. The answer is that, with the possible exception of programs in chemistry and other some other sciences, the BA and BS are considered to be equal degrees. In the areas mentioned orginally on this thread (liberal arts & communications), there is no real significant difference between a BA and BS degree.

The same is true at the masters level. The MS degree is not superior to the MA, MEd or the myriad of other masters titles.**

Tony

** OK, some might call me to task for not mentioning that certain professional masters, such as the MBA and MDiv are considered terminal professional degrees and require more units than the MA/MS. There, I've mentioned it.

 

It's not quite that simple with regards to counting number of units for a BA vs. BS For example: The BA will require a lower 1 yr calculus whereas the B.S. will require the typical "For Scientists and Engineers" Calculus which is 1.5yrs which is the pre-requiresite for Calculus Based Physics for yr 1 and 2 which is a higher physics the BA people take and theirs is only 1yr...

It's a bit more than just 1 class that you seem to imply and admittingly Im surprised the difference @ CSUSB winds up to only 3 units in the end, usually it's more like 10-12 unit difference as the case with CSUN. However, it's the entire core sciences that is different which depending on the school and program effects everything else you take later, e.g. 300 level Thermodynamics (hardest class I ever took) vs something much much easier to take it's place.

 

You are right, of course. I will happily concede that chemistry departments (at least the ones of which I am familiar) tend to have more math/science-based requirements for their BS programs.

However, I still stand by my original assertion, that any difference between a BA and a BS is up to individual universities and cannot be accurately applied to BA and BS degrees in general, especially outside the "hard sciences". In the areas mentioned in the original post (business, philosophy and communications), as well as most other fields of study, either a BA or BS is offered by the individual university (but usually not both). One cannot say that a BS in business is a superior degree to a BA in business (as, apparently, we CAN say in chemistry).

Tony

 

I agree a BBA versus a B.S. in Business Admin? Hell if I know