<p>I see that there are offerings of a BA degree in chemistry and physics, along with mathematics at my school. Why would someone pursue a BA in a science instead of a BS?</p>
<p>The BA degree tends to be more “well rounded” so to speak, there are more liberal arts requirements often times including required courses in a 2nd world language (that does not include the high school courses that most universities want). It is less science and more arts and humanities. Why someone would get a BA in an obvious science like chemistry or physics is beyond me, but I am sure there are some advantages to the BA, even if I do not see them.</p>
<p>There are usually less required classes for a BA. My brother’s friend was a physics major but was basically a professional stage designer, so switching to a BA gave him more time to do what he was interested in.</p>
<p>I don’t think that people in those majors choose to get a BA over a BS. I think that it depends on what college the department is in. For us, Math/Science is in the same college as all the other humanities, so they only offer B.A.s</p>
<p>It really depends on the school, college, and departments, but I don’t think many people would choose to get a BA over a BS in a science degree.</p>
<p>Something I find interesting, is that at MIT, you can get a BS in humanities, since everyone there is required to complete a rigorous science curriculum. </p>
<p>I just find it somewhat outrageous that you would get a BS in Theater Arts at MIT, and a BA in Physics at other places.</p>
<p>All of you who think a science major should get a B.S. rather than a B.A.–why?</p>
<p>A chem major pretty much has to take the extra math/science required by a B.S. Therefore the degree doesn’t add anything. At least a B.A. might hint to an employer that you had a well rounded education in the humanities/foreign languages as well. </p>
<p>IMO, a B.A. just gives a little more information. A B.S. in a science major means nothing. </p>
<p>Likewise, I would want to get a B.S. if I were a humanities/social sciences/english major. Just seems one dimensional and unhelpful to have the type of degree match the major. You should only do that if you ARE one dimensional (i.e. you are a very solid math/engineering type and despise the liberal arts or vice versa and want to take more electives in your area of interest)</p>
<p>I didn’t realize there were colleges where the type of degree wasn’t determined by your major.</p>
<p>I was referring to colleges within a university. Here, they have a college that houses all of the math/science, languages, arts, and social sciences. That college only offers BAs.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t want to take the classes required to get a BS and then have them not give me the degree I earned. I guess I would be someone who would avoid taking humanities classes if possible.</p>
<p>If you look at my intended schedule (I’m engineering) I have enough courses in physics and math to have simultaneous majors in them, but the additional requirements for the BA forces me to only minor in them, because I won’t have time to take all the humanities courses (I’m taking 5 total humanities courses, mostly English and economics).</p>
<p>So, I guess I would just prefer that they offered a BS in physics or math, because that is what I’m interested in, not the additional requirements.</p>
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<p>UW Madison offers BA and BS for chem–I know that much.</p>
<p>But how do they decide which you get? A lot of schools offer both BS and BA’s in the same subject, but they’re technically different majors with different requirements.</p>
<p>At my school, people who get a BA in science are generally in the education certification program, and people who get a BS in science are more interested in hard science.</p>
<p>My college gives BAs to everyone, from the science majors to the fine arts majors. No BS or BFA degrees here.</p>
<p>I don’t think one can make generalizations across colleges.</p>
<p>Some schools ONLY offer a BA degree, no matter what the major (that was the case with my Alma Mater in the old days, so I have a BA in Computer Science).</p>
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<p>A Bachelor of Science in a… science major… doesn’t make sense?</p>
<p>^^^A Bachelor of Science is awarded (at my school anyways) because you completed certain requirements that focus more on science/math rather than foreign language/humanities.</p>
<p>Someone who has a science major obviously took many science courses. Thus the B.S. doesn’t add anything to the degree. It’s implied that you’ve taken math/science courses anyways. This is usually a sign that someone used his/her electives to take more science/math classes and had a very technical education with few english/communication classes. </p>
<p>In contrast, a B.A. shows you took quite a few extra liberal arts classes. Considering employers already know you have technical skills due to your major, I would assume they appreciate the fact that you’ve taken several communication classes, too.</p>
<p>Anyone who doesn’t plan to go to grad school (where a narrow yet deep education might be valued) shouldwant their degree to be a B.A. in Chem rather than a B.S. in chem-- if they have a choice. </p>
<p>No one said it didn’t make sense to have a B.S. in science. It simply means nothing. You might as well have a gotten a BBA in Chemistry (sarcasm). At least that shows you learned some business. A BS coupled with a science is meaningless. A BA coupled with a humanities is meaningless.</p>
<p>Would it make a difference in future career opportunities to choose a BA over a BS in a science?</p>
<p>Mainly I just want to avoid Calc 2 and I enjoy humanities classes.</p>
<p>At the university where I got my undergraduate degree, there was no difference at all in my major between the B.A. and B.S.</p>
<p>I cannot think of any instance where an employer would care at all which of thee degrees you earned. I don’t remember which one I have.</p>
<p>It’s really not important. I doubt anyone actually cares. But why would you prefer a B.S. in Chem over a B.A. in Chem? My school caps potential major credits at 40 anyways, so you couldn’t take additional classes in your field of interest. So what’s the point? That’s all I was asking the people who though it was so strange to get a B.A. in a science.</p>
<p>A lot of people that major in science degrees like science classes (hence, it’s their major). Note I didn’t say all, or even most. Thus, they would tend to take science/technical electives.</p>
<p>I know that as an engineer, humanities classes are honestly taxing for me. I’m an EE so taking CS elective classes sounds much more appealing than History of Czechlosovakia from 1870-1872. I can write 15-page papers for an english class, but why would I want to?</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t want to, and I’m not saying anyone has to. But there’s no reason to think that a BS in science is somehow valued more than a BA in science. Which seems to be implied by the people who can’t understand why a science major would choose a BA. If you chose a BA in science, you’re arguably even more well-rounded and ready for the workforce.</p>
<p>It certainly isn’t a nonsensical decision to get a BA in science; that’s my only point. </p>
<p>Personally I’m getting a BBA in Accounting and Comp Sci, so I have no hidden agenda to make people love the BA degrees.</p>