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BA and BS Degrees in the US

What are the differences between a BA and a BS?

The most common undergraduate degrees in the US are the bachelor of arts (BA) and the bachelor of science (BS).

Both types of degrees are academically and professionally equivalent. There are differences between the BA and the BS, however, and each denotes a unique expertise.

Who Earns a BA? Who Earns a BS?

The biggest difference between students who receive a BA and those who receive a BS is their college major.

The BA generally indicates a humanities curriculum: history, literature, philosophy, comparative studies, film and so on. Some schools, however, award BAs to any major that is not specifically vocational (that is, a major with no direct career path). Chemistry is one such major. Nursing is not.

The BS indicates a technical or science-based curriculum: physics, mathematics, statistics, sociology, economics, etc.  Some schools in the US don’t offer the BS, while others — most notably MIT, California Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech — offer only that.

Deciding Which Degree To Earn

You can argue that BA and BS degrees have more similarities than differences. Each takes 3 to 4 years to earn, each is eligible for honors distinctions and each is a prerequisite for an master’s degree or doctoral degree.

Most students don’t deliberately choose either a BA or BS. Instead, they choose a major that excites and challenges them, and the degree they’re awarded is incidental.

Your personal and intellectual life will be enriched no matter whether you earn a BA degree or a BS degree. It’s important to think carefully about your undergraduate major and choose one that stimulates your curiosity and passion.

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