<p>First off, I might be in the wrong section, sorry about that. </p>
<p>Currently, I'm a physics B.S. major. I remember that, during the process of scoping out various schools back during application time, that my school offered both a B.S. and a B.A. in physics. If any would be willing to answer, what does the difference mean for a physics (and other majors that offer both as well) major? </p>
<p>I suspect the coursework would be different, but would future opportunities start to differ as well? Are there different requirements for both? Do they tend to focus on different areas of the major? </p>
<p>Just answering these questions is greatly appreciated, but if anyone can give me a (reasonably) detailed description of the similarities and differences one would find in both, I would (maybe) name my future child after you. </p>
<p>Different schools have different criteria regarding the difference in BA and BS. You need to find out with the target schools. Some schools have different curriculum some schools the difference is a research paper.</p>
<p>“The Bachelor of Science degree requires a number of electives which may be taken according to the particular aims of the student, after consultation with a faculty advisor. It is designed to provide basic preparation for graduate school in physics, another physical science, or engineering, and for work in industry or a research laboratory. The Bachelor of Arts degree aims at providing students with a basic knowledge of the physical sciences that can be applied to a career in the natural or behavioral sciences, economics, or to further study in a professional school.” </p>
<p>So I guess B.A. allows for greater flexibility within the major? Is this a common goal of the B.A. degree in most schools?</p>
<p>You can’t really tell any distinction based on the name of the degree. Look at the curriculum involved. Schools that offer a BA AND a BS degree in a subject may be tailored to students with certain post-graduate interests.</p>
<p>Within a given school, the BS tends to be more “hard core” than the BA, often involving higher level math. Across schools, it’s impossible to tell, as some schools only offer a BA that is every bit as hard core as another school’s BS degree. </p>
<p>Some schools offer both a BA and a BS in economics and the difference between the two is almost always the math or the math you need to take certain courses.</p>
<p>From the above quote I’d guess the BA is aimed at pre-professional people, pre-meds, pre-law, etc. The BS is for people who actually want to be physicists.</p>
<p>For the description at your school, the BS seems to prepare you more specifically for grad school in physics so you will be a stronger candidate for that aim. The BA sounds more like general liberal arts education in the sciences with that major and when they say prepares you for a more general career like when they mention professional school that could be law or mba or medical. You might not want to work as hard at pure physics if you aren’t going to grad school specifically for that. Look at the requirements for the major at your school to tell the difference- obviously there will be a great deal of overlap. You can’t draw any conclusions about any other colleges based on this naming convention.</p>
<p>Also you should be able to discuss this with your department advisors, but I would at least be familiar with course requirements for each before seeing them.</p>
<p>You need to specifically look at the requirements for the schools you are considering. But in most cases the BS requires additional math/science coursework as compared to a BA.</p>
No. I know of no firm that won’t hire a BA Physics vs. a BS Physics. If considering Grad School you’ll just need to make sure you take appropriate classes.</p>
<p>I was just at an open house where a professor explained this. </p>
<p>B.A. allows form a more liberal arts education where it’s not as strong of a focus on pre-requisite courses. There’s an even focus between elective-esque courses and courses needed to graduate. </p>
<p>B.S. focuses on those pre-req courses and has only a 1/4 focus on elective/LA like courses. If you want to go into the STEM fields, B.S. is your best goal. If you don’t want to be as tied down/pigeonholed, you can go B.A. Some jobs and other opportunities may have a tendency but I’m not exactly sure. You should go over that with your advisor. </p>
<p>Ah, thank you. The information isn’t for me (I’m happy as is in the B.S. section), but I feel like it might help out some of the HS students back home. </p>
<p>^ That would be true for the college at which the professor teaches but not across the board. The college I attended only offers BS degrees. Some LACs only offer BAs. </p>