What Is a Bachelor of Arts Degree?
A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program offers instruction in the humanities, social sciences or liberal arts. These programs are commonly offered at most colleges or universities. If you are interested in pursuing a broad liberal arts education, read on to find out more on what a B.A. is and what a bachelor of arts degree is good for in the job hunt.
What is a BA Degree? - Bachelor of Arts Definition
A Bachelor of Arts is a broad interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program encompassing general education, electives and major area of study courses. As opposed to a Bachelor of Science program, B.A. programs generally give you more flexibility in choosing your courses and are less specialized. By taking courses in the arts and humanities, you can deepen your cultural understanding and awareness, in addition to developing analytical, critical thinking, written and communication skills.
After completing several general education courses, you can choose a major from a number of academic areas, such as social sciences, behavioral sciences and fine arts. A Bachelor of Arts degree may be appealing because of its broad and well-rounded approach, which can offer versatility and options when seeking a career or a graduate degree.
Important Facts About a Bachelor of Arts Degree
| Prerequisites | GPA and standardized test scores must meet school-based requirements before admission to a B.A. program |
| Degree Fields | Offers vary by school. Examples: English Studies, Humanities, Sociology, Criminology, Languages |
| Programs | B.A. programs often offer study abroad possibilities, online education, and continuing education for advanced degrees |
| Possible Careers | B.A. Degrees are foundational education for lawyers, teachers, architects, and communications professionals |
General Education Courses
In a B.A. program, you must complete coursework in several disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, foreign language and fine arts. The flexibility in a B.A. program can let you explore different academic areas and subjects that meet your interests. Typically, you'll spend the first two years of a 4-year B.A. program completing lower-division coursework before moving on to upper-division classes that involve your chosen major.
Major Areas of Study
Your major area of study involves specialized upper-division courses. You will likely have numerous major options to choose from, including literature, history and political science. Many arts and design disciplines also award B.A. degrees, such as art history, creative writing, architecture, theater and music. Other common majors and concentrations available through B.A. programs include:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Sociology
- Communications
- Education
- Journalism
- International studies
- Philosophy
- Religion
- Anthropology
Electives
Electives are a few courses in a B.A. program that you get to choose; these courses can be either related or unrelated to your major. For instance, if you major subject is political science, you might choose to take a course in psychology just because you are interested. Or, you may decide to use your elective courses to take more courses in your major area.
Is a B.S. Better Than a B.A.? - B.A. vs. B.S.
While no particular bachelor's program is 'better' than the other, a bachelor of science typically offers more 'hard skills' training for the more analytical individual. On the flipside, a bachelor of arts commonly focuses on soft skills, diving into fields such as sociology, humanities, creative writing, and communication. Students who have less of a set career in mind and who prefer a broader, more well-rounded study experience often opt for a bachelor of arts. On the other hand, those who wish to acquire many in-demand skills of employers today will often pursue technical training through a bachelor of science.