I want an A.B. !

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>When I graduate from UChicago in 2011 (hopefully!), I wish I would get an A.B. with a concentration in philosophy as opposed to the bland B.A. with a major in philosophy.</p>

<p>What prompted UChicago to make the switch?</p>

2

<p>The addition of minors.</p>

3

<p>Haha this is kind of embarassing, but can anyone explain the difference in A.B and B.A?</p>

4

<p>I think it's exactly the same thing, except Chicago names the degree differently because Chicago is being pretentious/classy depending on how you look at it.</p>

5

<p>A.B is Latin: Artium Baccalaureus</p>

<p>B.A. is English: Bachelor of Arts</p>

6

<p>I can understand how the addition of minors forced UChicago to switch from 'concentration' to 'major' but it has nothing to do with A.B. / B.A. does it?</p>

7

<p>Ah, good times. Good times.</p>

<p>Relax, when you come onto campus you'll still be a first year instead of a freshman; you're professors will go by their first names or Mr. or Ms. instead of Dr., Sir, or Professor; you'll "write your BA" instead of write your thesis; and you'll overall be an awesome person.</p>

8

<p>will the switch only affect the 2011 graduates or all graduates from here on out?</p>

9

<p>I just found this online. They don't have much information on the switch on their site that I could find.

[quote]
I say B.A., you say A.B.
Chicago has a habit of calling a bachelor of arts degree an A.B., rather than today’s usual B.A. The A.B. stands for the Latin artium baccalaureus. Chicago’s diplomas—including the names of the graduate and of the University president— were originally printed in Latin. When the language on the diplomas was changed to the vernacular— thus, bachelor of arts—the abbreviation was kept the same. But whether it’s written in Latin or English, the diploma the president will hand you at your graduation will represent the same Chicago degree.

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