BA vs BS

[Danielp248]

Hi, I think I remember seeing this here, but the search tool won't let me search for "ba" or "bs" because they're too short.

I'm planning on getting a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Studies from Excelsior. I'm not sure what the difference is between a BA or a BS. From what i gathered from their catalog, the only difference in requirements is that with a BS, I can use upper-level applied professional credits towards my required 30 upper level credits.

My question isn't about the requirements, my question is which is better for my situation. I do hope to go to a master's program afterwards, but I'm not exactly sure what field i would like to go into, so i decided to get a degree in Liberal Studies. Does it matter to a college if i have a BA or a BS? Does it depend on what my master's degree will be in? (i'm thinking psychology, economics, law, or communication)

Please share any insights on the differences between a BA and a BS

[jake.fl.1987]

Do not take what I say as fact. I could be wrong. However how I understand it a BA vs BS in liberal arts.

BS has more core classes. This is preferd when applying for a job. It shows you have more experience on the subject than others. However you have fewer gen eds than other a BA.

BA has fewer core classes and more gen eds. This is preferd on in acedemia professions. The more gen eds means you are more well rounded. Also most of the graduate programs in the medical field I have looked up require specificly a BA. However the graduate programs I looked up are all at university of florida.

So I think if you want a to get a job right after a BS is easier. If you are planning to go directly into a graduate program after graduation look at the requirements from the schools you might want to join.

I hope this is helpful. Like I said I am explaining it as I was told. If my view is incorrect I hope some one will give their two cents.

[pmc2009]

The BS in Liberal Studies is Excelsior's most flexible degree according to their website. It simply mean you have less liberal arts credits. But as someone above said you could use more professional or business related courses. Any of the master's degree fields you have listed should be ok with taking a BS Liberal studies.

[originalbigjim]

to a grad school or employer BA and BS are the same, id take the BS personally because of the flexibility and science sounds way cooler than arts.

[Degreeasap]

I believe among other things, the BA Liberal Studies requires 90 liberal arts credits while the BS Liberal Studies requires 60 credits which can be sciences and/or applied professional courses.

In other words the BSLS is much more flexible than the BALS, so if you have a chunk of applied professional credits you'll be closer to the finish line with the BS.

[Danielp248]

What I have observed about the EC BA v BS is that the BS is more flexible (which is why I am pursuing the unusual combination of a Bachelor of Science in Literature.) The Liberal Arts advising team steered me into a BS instead of a BA because of the 30 applied professional credits benefit of the BS.

Do you think a grad school or employer will respect a BS less, because of the fewer liberal arts credits?

[Danielp248]

(Geez. Someday, the residue of years of rewriting resumes & project descriptions will no longer show in my writing.)

hilarious

thanks for the explanation cinderly. I think i'm going to go for the BS because i will be able to take more DSST's for upper-level credit, saving myself time & money.

[cannoda]

Do you think a grad school or employer will respect a BS less, because of the fewer liberal arts credits?

No. However an unusual mismatch between a major and the degree typically associated with it may raise questions. For example, a BS in music or english literature, or, a BA in nursing would be unusual.