The Difference Between a B.A. and B.S. Degree

Picking a college major can be a daunting task for students.

But once students settle on a major, they may be faced with another decision: choosing between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. While some colleges have B.A. or B.S. programs only in certain disciplines, others offer both options.

To choose, experts say students should consider their long-term goals. Generally, a B.A. focuses on the humanities while a B.S. emphasizes science and math, notes Ellen Schendel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

"I think a lot of this becomes about what the student wants to learn and how they want to use their education once they graduate, and how they want to tell their story about who they are," Schendel says, adding that the type of degree can shape a student's future career path.

Here are some key points on the two degree types.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

For starters, a B.A. is often less specialized than a B.S., with more of an emphasis on humanities courses that allow students to study a broader range of topics. Depending on program structure, that may mean more opportunities to take electives for students pursuing a B.A.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

A B.S. is typically centered around technical fields. Additionally, there may be more math and science courses or lab work, as opposed to a higher number of electives more common in B.A. programs. Depending on the structure of the program, a B.S. may require more classes focused on a chosen major as opposed to a B.A. degree that offers more avenues to explore other topics.

What Is the Difference Between a B.A. and B.S.?

A B.A. degree reflects the liberal arts tradition guiding many colleges, Schendel says, which emphasizes philosophy, literature, history, social sciences, art and foreign language study. While a B.A. isn't devoid of math and science, it typically doesn't have the same emphasis on these subjects as a B.S.

In general, colleges can determine what constitutes a B.A. or a B.S. Some liberal arts colleges award only a B.A. but still emphasize math and science within their curriculum. That's the case at St. John's College, which has locations in Maryland and New Mexico. About half of a student's curriculum at St. John's consists of math and science, says Nora Demleitner, the college's president.

The University of Colorado Boulder explains both the B.A. and B.S. tracks in computer science on its website. For computer science students interested in becoming engineers, the CU website highlights the B.S. option, whereas students interested in web design or writing for the web may be interested in the B.A. track.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers several majors with a choice between a B.A. and B.S. Within the environment, ecology and energy program, students can pursue a B.S. in environmental sciences or a B.A. in environmental studies. Within the economics degree, the B.A. offers a more traditional economics degree, whereas the B.S. offers a science, technology, engineering and mathematics approach, notes James W.C. White, dean of arts and sciences at UNC.

The STEM approach to the B.S. economics degree "opens doors for STEM majors to double major with economics, which in turn opens doors for our graduates in their careers," White wrote in an email.

Employers are unlikely to split hairs over the degree type, White says, and "it's far more important when you apply for a job to make sure your employer knows what classes you've taken and what background you have because that will make a difference."

Both degree options offer value depending on what employers are seeking. As long as someone can demonstrate learning, it doesn't matter what label is attached to it, Demleitner says.

“It’s really about skills," she says. "I think, increasingly so, what employers are looking for is critical reasoning, really first-rate communication skills – oral and writing – and they don’t really care that much how you acquire them."

Schendel says the differences between a B.A. and a B.S. aren't vast, which she attributes to how "disciplines have grown and changed and become more complicated."

She notes, for example, that BGSU's psychology program has B.A. and B.S. options. The B.A. track requires language and culture study, whereas the B.S. requires additional research methods and science courses, she says.

"Both are useful pathways and just demonstrate the breadth of options one has in matriculating with a degree in psychology," she says.

The CU Boulder website reflects that point, noting "demand for graduates with computer science skills is so high that employers are not making a distinction" between B.A. and B.S. degrees in the field, and that technology jobs will have a high need for years to come.

Which Degree Program Is Better: B.A. or B.S.?

Kristi Wold-McCormick, assistant vice provost and university registrar at CU Boulder, offers a historical perspective on the difference between a B.A. and a B.S. degree and how it has evolved over the years.

"Historically, the BA degree was considered the premiere degree, and at some institutions is still the primary or only degree awarded regardless of major or concentration," Wold-McCormick wrote in an email. "This is likely more prevalent at private liberal arts institutions. As colleges and student bodies became more diversified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prompted by things like the Morrill Act (which established many state universities), the industrial revolution and the GI Bill, the BS degree became more common, especially in fields such as engineering, agriculture and business. Again, these disciplines tend to be more science-oriented and thus, the BS degree makes sense."

She adds that there has been a growth in specialized degree programs, particularly in "professional or applied" disciplines, such as engineering and fine arts. Students who are unsure of which degree to pursue should take a close look at the curriculum of each to inform that decision, she suggests.

"I think students are best advised to look at the overall quality and content of the curriculum offered by an institution more so than the degree awarded," she wrote. "Neither the BA or BS should be viewed as superior to the other. Rather, they should be viewed as ... comparable or equal in quality with a slightly different focus based on curricular requirements and the student's academic experience."

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