<p>I was just looking over UChicago's website and it looked like many, (maybe all) majors didn't have Bachelors of Science degree options.
Even the Physics Major only offered a Bachelors of Arts degree!!!!!</p>
<p>Is this the same throughout the whole college? I don't think I would even apply to the school if they don't offer a B.S... </p>
<p>Answers or proclamation that I'm wrong would be cool.</p>
<p>Is there any inherent difference between a BA and a BS? I mean, if we want to get super-technical, Chicago refers to those who have Bachelors degrees as ABs.</p>
<p>Chemistry is offered as a BA and a BS. The BS has more courses:
<a href="http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_09/CHEM.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_09/CHEM.pdf</a></p>
<p>Math is offered as a BA and BS:
<a href="http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_09/MATH.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_09/MATH.pdf</a></p>
<p>I'm not 100% sure, but I've heard that the difference comes in the number of required courses. The distinction I heard was that BA's require more courses (you have fewer electives), and you have to take courses outside of the major (so, even if you're a chem major, you're going to have to take a lit class to get your BA). My mom has a BA and my dad has a BS, and it's the only difference that they can tell.</p>
<p>but, yeah, cheeto, what's the difference that makes it so important to you? Why would you be unwilling to receive a BA?</p>
<p>I don't know what the professional advantages of taking the B.S. over the B.A. are, but I found at one point that the B.S. was not what I expected. I considered it for my math degree, until I realized that I wouldn't be taking much additional math, just a lot of physics, to the exclusion of electives which I would like to dedicate in part to math. Don't get me wrong, I love physics, but I thought the purpose of the B.S. was to explore one's chosen field intimately. Now I see that it is a horizon broadener, albeit restricted to the sciences, as the B.A. requires one to explore languages and arts. You can always take extra science if you want an experience resembling that of earning a B.S. If you want the initials on a piece of paper, though, I'm not sure what to say.</p>
<p>At elite universities, there's no meaningful difference between the value of a BA and a BS degree. You don't get extra brownie points for the "S". I believe -- I'm not entirely sure -- that Harvard doesn't offer any BS degrees at all. No one will ever care that your University of Chicago Physics degree is a BA rather than a BS. (Well, maybe someone might, but that's not someone whose judgment and intelligence you are going to respect.)</p>
<p>I should note that a friend of mine is being reamed by his adviser right now for attempting to take a B.S. in English. :)</p>
<p>There is no difference at all. Employers don't care, and graduate schools pick through your transcript. For instance, a BA in math from UChicago is not going to hurt you if you did well in the right courses.</p>