Online College Degrees

If you are beginning your college career and making a decision on a major, you will need to decide whether you want either a BA (Batchelor of Arts) or BS (Batchelor of Science) degree. The major you select will sometimes determine which degree is appropriate, but you may face a dilemma.

The BA and BS are different types of degrees, each focused on preparing you for the specific demands of a particular set of career fields.

However, each may require some of the same educational needs, such as a college level understanding of mathematics, basic science, humanities, and definitely fundamental communication skills. You should be able to register for a number of elective classes that supplement your degree but are not required.

Overview of Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is a broader, more inclusive degree that provides a humanities-based education at most schools. Focusing on scholarly abilities like reasoning, complex thinking, question forming, and close analysis, it provides a broad knowledge of many fields.

Not only do the courses in this type of degree teach a student a specific field, it helps to produce in the student the ability to think and learn on their own. This prepares him or her for a wide range of career options.

Earning a BA generally requires 120-160 credits or more of a wide range of college level courses. At least 30 of these credits will be in one focus area, with half of them at upper levels. Majors that offer BA degrees include, but are not limited to, languages, history, and literature.

Overview of Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, on the other hand, is for majors focussed on scientific fields, as the name obviously implies. This means that, as a degree, it is much more technical, as scientific knowledge requires a closer study to grasp in a functional manner.

Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of mathematics is generally required. Often students will spend much of their time mastering new technology and memorizing the complex systems in one’s field of study. Less time is spent on general thinking skills, and more on research methods.

This degree also usually requires 120-160 credits or more, but otherwise is very different. Most of the classes taken will be related to the major. While there is room for electives, there are fewer choices and a much more narrow focus to prepare you to become a professional in your field.

If you want to be a scientist or work with new technology, you need a BS degree. In general, it is more stringent than a BA, but prepares you more fully for a specific career.