<p>Is this true? I checked out the biochem. major and it say that it only offers B.A.</p>
<p>Search SEAS as well, they might have a BS. Though maybe the college does, I'm not sure.</p>
<p>The College at Penn:</p>
<p>Degree offered: Bachelor of Arts
Number of majors: 52
Enrollment: 6,340</p>
<p>what's the difference b/t BA and BS, other than the fact that one is a Bachelor of Arts and the other is a Bachelor of Science...do employers and grad schools look at them differently? do you still take the same courses?</p>
<p>I think with a BA, you can go into law school, and for BS you can get into Engineering school but not vice versa</p>
<p>Not sure that's true. Wharton Undergrad graduates receive a B.S. in Economics, and many end up in law school.</p>
<hr>
<p>"These questions are answered in regard to the IUP Computer Science Department and its programs. Answers for the same questions relative to other departments may not be the same. </p>
<p>What is the difference between a BS and a BA degree? </p>
<p>Bachelor of Science degree programs tend to have more required courses than Bachelor of Arts degree programs. The purpose of the additional requirements is to give graduates with a BS a focus or concentration that graduates with a BA do not usually get. The Computer Science BS degree programs provide a focus on industry needs (the Applied Track), security (the Information Assurance Track) or graduate school preparation (the Languages and Systems Track). The BA provides a solid foundation on which the student may build in many directions. </p>
<p>Is the BS or the BA the better degree? </p>
<p>Employers may have a small preference for graduates with BS degrees because of the understanding that the student has taken more Computer Science courses. However, some employers may be looking for graduates who have combined their degree with things other than Computer Science. For some of these, the graduate with a BA degree may have an edge, depending on what the "things" are. "</p>
<hr>
<p>In Professor Arthur Levine's book,Handbook on Undergraduate Curriculum it's defined this way:
"The bachelor of arts (BA) and the bachelor of science (BS) are the most common of the baccalaureate degrees. Both consist of general education, a major, electives, and sometimes basic skills components. The BS is likely to require more courses in the major than the BA; the BS is awarded significantly more often in the natural sciences than in the humanities; and the BA is used four times as often by arts and sciences colleges than professional/technical schools. Beyond this, differences depend on policies of individual colleges...including having different general education requirements for the BS."</p>
<p>thinkjose1,</p>
<p>So if I get a B.S degree in engineering, can I still apply to law or business school later?</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Your undergraduate specialty is almost completely irrelevant for law school. GPA and LSAT are the gating factors with LSAT the more important. FWIW, language intensive undergrad programs like Classics are often believed to be the best prep for law school because of the language intensive nature of that profession. IMHO, your best bet is to major in something you love and get stellar grades with the knowledge that your job will be law, not whatever you majored in.</p>
<p>GPA and GRE/GMAT are important for B-Schools - Wharton places a great deal of emphasis on your essays and recs and less on test scores.</p>
<p>Your major will be important for B-School since you'll likely have to work a few years before you can get in (Check out the Wharton essay questions.)
and you'll need the technical background you get in undergrad. </p>
<p>Relax, enjoy your undergrad years - they won't come again (plus your body can handle more fun more of the time at 18 than at 50)</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>-bc</p>
<p>Well, Wharton MBA, for one doesn't specify what degree you should have:</p>
<p>"Applicants who have completed a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. college or its equivalent in another country are considered for admission. A number of universities worldwide offer three-year undergraduate programs. If you have received a degree by completing one of these programs, you are eligible for Whartons MBA program." - <a href="http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/downloads/publications/mba_app.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/downloads/publications/mba_app.pdf</a></p>
<p>Same for Penn Law: </p>
<p>"All applicants must hold a bachelors degree to be eligible to enroll in the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. Applicants for the J.D. degree are admitted in the fall semester on a full-time basis only. All applicants must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and must register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (see LSAT and LSDAS information below)." </p>
<p>"There is no pre-law educational requirement or even a specific recommended course of study for admission to Penn Law. Strength of character, breadth of knowledge, and intellectual maturity constitute the base upon which our legal education builds. [...] Importantly, we also seek individuals who will positively contribute to the Penn Law community, and ultimately, to the legal profession, based on their diverse backgrounds, their personal and professional experiences, and any challenges or obstacles that they may have overcome."</p>
<p>I imagine that others are like that too.</p>