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Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees don’t generally train a student for a particular career field; instead, the purpose of a BA is to teach students problem solving skills, reasoning, judgment and analytical skills. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Education degree which prepares a student for a career in teaching. Bachelor of Arts degrees are mostly humanities based. Graduates of BA programs can enter a wider variety of career fields since the skills they acquire along the way transfer to a number of professions. The BA’s emphasis on reading, writing and analytical skills is valued by many employers.
A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree focuses more on technical aspects of learning. A strong focus on math and science is a core component of the degree. There is an emphasis on quantitative work, research and data analysis. If you’re looking for a career in a research field, the BS degree is the one for you. The BS degree will also require a number of credit-hours in the humanities in order to produce well-rounded students. Nearly all careers in science, medicine, computing and math start with BS degrees.
Some programs have both options available. A program advisor in the department would be best able to discuss which option is right for you.
