A bachelor’s degree indicates completion of a four-year program in a specific field, with the most common types being Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS). Other specialized degrees are available, but requirements vary by school and field. The difference between BA and BS is not always clear, and there may be little difference when applying to graduate schools. It is important to consult academic advisors to determine which degree is necessary for employment or advancement.
A bachelor’s degree is generally interpreted as meaning that a person has completed studies at a four-year university in a specific field. When a person obtains this degree, it is usually obtained with a specific degree such as literature, history, biology, business or many others. Bachelor’s degrees are most commonly Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS), but there are a few other types that people can obtain depending on the course and university they study at.
Bachelor’s degrees that are BAs tend to focus more on liberal arts studies. Most liberal arts degrees are BA-type, but that doesn’t mean that the BA is earned exclusively in fields like liberal arts or business. Some schools award bachelor’s degrees in science, technical studies, or mathematics.
On the other hand, in scientific and technical studies, BS could be obtained and the difference between BA and BS is not always completely defined. Sometimes schools offer the option of obtaining one or the other degree in a particular subject. In these cases, earning the BS is likely to mean taking a few more upper division technical classes, and the BA will be a broader and more generalized field of study.
Some suggest that the Bachelor of Science degree is best suited for students who plan to double major. However, when it comes to applying to graduate schools, there can be very little difference between the two degrees. Some students may need to take one or two upper division classes in order to meet all graduate entry requirements. Others will have no problems.
There are several other bachelor’s degrees that can indicate study in a specific field, and again, what is called a diploma can vary greatly from school to school. Students can earn bachelor’s degrees such as a BRN or Bachelor of Registered Nursing, which can be contrasted with a BSRN or Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing. Some students earn a BSW or Bachelor of Social Work, and others may earn a BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Also, bachelor’s degrees that could be offered at some universities include the BMus (Bachelor of Music), the BASc (Bachelor of Applied Science), or the BPharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy). They simply indicate a little more specialty than BS or BA degrees. It is also not always necessary to obtain these specified degrees if you are going to specialize in these fields.
What should be noted about the variation in bachelor’s degrees is that, in almost circumstances, they indicate completion of a four-year program. Whether in the arts, sciences, or some other designation, these degrees are proof of graduating from college. The best way for students to find out if they need a specialized degree, especially for employment or advancement in school, is to start asking their academic advisors this question. As each school may define its degrees in different ways, it can be more useful to discover minimum requirements for employment or acceptance of graduates and use these to model choices of which classes to take or which degree to pursue.
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