<p>I'm a non-traditional 24 year old community college student. I'm about to complete an associates degree(liberal arts transfer) with 60 transferable credits this following semester Winter 2010. I have completed all of my distribution requirements for the college of LSA at University of Michigan but I still have not yet decided on a major. I have a passion for the environment and I would like to go for a Bachelor of Science in their Program in the Environment , problem is it would take me at least 3-4 semesters to complete the prerequisites to the program since I am behind on science and math. My other option is to go for my Bachelor of Arts in English, I would be able to start this program right away. I have an excess of humanities and english credits already. I'm very stuck in between, I love the abstract, analytical, and critical thinking a BA will give me but it would be very rewarding to complete a science degree. I'm transferring in the Fall of 2010, if I complete the science degree I should graduate in winter/spring of 2013, I will be 27 If I do the BA I will should graduate by winter/spring of 2012. Will the extra year be worth it, I will have broader career opportunities with the BA I think, but it might be easier to find a specific job with the BS. I really am stuck, I feel like I don't want to spend forever on a bachelor degree, I am also being pressured by my parents about how long school is taking me. I really didn't officially begin college until 2007..... </p>
<p>I'm just so lost!! I love writing and reading, and critical thinking, I know I would thrive as an English major and I would be able to go on to grad school or a career faster. I also LOVE science, and the environment, and jobs available to me with a science degree I think would be much more interesting and hands on. </p>
<p>I don’t necessarily think a Program in the Environment really qualifies you for a job that is any less or more different from one that would qualify you with an English degree.
This is assuming that a program in the environment is not a technical major like engineering, accounting, nursing, etc which actually teach you specific skills to qualify you for a specific job, ie engineer accountant nurse.</p>
<p>If you’re assumption is the difference between BS vs BA, remember that the difference is additional science classes that you take from a BA to a BS. You could probably get a BS in just about anything, it still won’t qualify you for a “Specific” job unless you have those specific skills.</p>
<p>It would help if you would tell us what specific jobs, a bs in environment prepares you for,and how realistic the job market is for such jobs. </p>
<p>Your decision should be made based on your immediate goals after undergrad. is it a job or grad school. if its grad school, for what discipline? It is possible to attend grad school in a completely different field of your undergrad major, but you better have taken side classes or picked up a minor if you plan on doing that.</p>
<p>grad school in what, you need to be more specific if you really want people to assist you. look at the pre-reqs for whatever grad school program interests you.</p>
<p>Weigh the advantages of both paths. Which degree engages you, and makes you feel like you are most alive? Which degree puts you in classes with more interesting teachers and friends? Which degree hones and crafts the skills more easily outsourced?</p>
<p>One path gets you out of school in 2012; another gets you out at 2013. What will you do in that year’s time? Graduation is very satisfying, but will rushing to graduate in this economy guarantee a job is waiting for you? Hindsight will be 20/20, and bitter, if you rushed to get to commencement in order to be unemployed in that gap year, with student loan payments starting.</p>