Psychology B.A. versus B.S.: Which is right for me?The Department of Psychology offers undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. The objective of both programs is to provide a broad overview of psychology, and both require extensive exposure to areas other than psychology as a context for study in the major. The B.S. program places relatively more emphasis on the natural sciences and mathematics. Both the B.S. and B.A. programs provide excellent preparation for graduate school. The Psychology major provides students with a background of fundamental subject matter that will equip students for subsequent graduate study in related fields. The major is also beneficial for students seeking careers that involve knowledge about interpersonal relationships such as medicine, education, law, or management. Psychology expertise is also relevant to standard business settings in which a major goal is to adapt products and services to closely reflect human needs and capabilities. B.A. and B.S. as Preparation for Graduate School Graduate and professional schools in general are not concerned with the kind of degree you possess but rather with the courses you have taken. Generally speaking, graduate programs check your GPA, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation
and GRE test scores. If you are more interested in math or the natural sciences, you may prefer the B.S. degree. The B.A. degree may be attractive to students interested in earning a minor or a concentration in another area, or perhaps pursuing a double major, and for students who desire more freedom when choosing their elective courses. The most important aspect of your choice is to determine what courses would best prepare you for the programs to which you may be applying. For guidance, take advantage of campus resources, such as Pre-Health Advising and Pre-Law Advising . There are additionally many external online resources, such as Gradschools.com and Petersons.com . Both the B.A. and B.S. in Psychology require students to complete a set of three core courses: Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Research and Writing in Psychology. These courses provide students with an overview of the range of questions psychologists ask, as well as the methods they use to address those questions. Both degrees also require students to sample from the department's survey courses of each of five major areas of psychological inquiry (Biopsychology, Clinical and Abnormal Psychology, Cognition and Perception, Developmental Psychology, and Social Psychology). To complete the psychology component of the major, B.A. students choose five additional courses, four of which must be upper division courses. B.S. students also must choose five courses, but one of them must be an advanced statistics course and one a lab course. All students majoring in Psychology also fulfill a writing requirement that can be met in any upper division Psychology course, including PSY 310. Courses Outside the Psychology Department:B.A. students are required to take a range of courses outside the department that are intended to complement their psychology program. These requirements are in mathematics, philosophy, biology, and other social science disciplines (e.g., anthropology, sociology, and political science). Students in the B.S. program take a series of courses in mathematics, biology, and other sciences. Psychology BA vs BS Before we tackle the differences between a BA in Psychology or a BS in Psychology, it is best to define certain terms, like BA and BS. BA stands for Bachelor of Arts. BS, on the other hand, stands for Bachelor in Science. With that being said, a BA degree in Psychology or a BS degree in Psychology is what this article aims to tackle and properly differentiate. Without including the difference of universities and what their curriculums would cover, the main differences between a BA in Psychology and a BS in Psychology is the main topic. Like any university or college student, it is always best to thoroughly peruse the core subjects each degree would be offering, as well as the subject matter courses and electives. When a course is offered with a degree in Bachelor of Arts, the focus is more on liberal arts general education. In most universities, a foreign language is a must take subject. On the other hand, when a course is offered with a degree in Bachelor of Sciences, the focus is more on the sciences and mathematics courses. This means when you would be taking up a BS in Psychology, there would be more laboratory and statistics as part of the course subjects in its general education classes. At the same time, a BS degree would focus on research methods and applied psychology. Let’s talk about the differences a BA versus a BS would offer. Educational experts as well as professors would probably say that a BS degree would have more flexibility. A BS degree offers more opportunities. What are the advantages of a BA degree in Psychology? Now comes a more interesting topic because one reading this article would assume that a BS is actually better then. On the contrary, a BA degree in Psychology is a very good choice for those whose strong interest in Psychology does not focus and concentrate on Psychology per se, but as another discipline and would probably want to study another discipline. In other words, those individuals who would wish to pursue law, education, journalism, and even business would definitely do very well having a pre-course like a BA degree in Psychology. What are the advantages of a BS degree in Psychology? A BS degree in Psychology is an excellent stepping stone for someone who wants to have a career in Psychology. If one wishes to further graduate studies in Psychology, being well-equipped with the preparations for this course as a science is a must-do. Because of the extensive studies in Biological Science, as well as being taught the research methodologies, the individual who wishes to become a clinical psychologist would have a very strong foundation with this as a degree. Summary: A degree in BA in Psychology is more related to the social aspects in the study of human behavior as well as the psychological function. A degree in BS Psychology is more on the biological and biochemical aspects of behavioral and mental function. A degree in BS Psychology concentrates more on biological and physical sciences. While these differences touch base on the more obvious facts and details as we try to differ the course, whether you take a BA or BS in Psychology, the bottom line is that each course is unique in its own right and would most definitely help the individual learn more about this chosen field. As you graduate and earn your degree, you would be able to come to a realization what your plans would be once you finish the course. Whether you wish to continue and further your education, you would be able to determine such need as you earn your degree.
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Bachelor of arts vs science in psychology
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