Know the differences between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science

Let’s say you want to study in the U.S and you start doing some research about possible universities or professions to get into, and you notice one particular thing: people talk about a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. What are the differences? We will explain it to you.

Understanding educational systems around the world can be a difficult task. If we want to make the right decision for ourselves it’s important to know which option suits our career goals.

In the United States, specifically, there are two main branches: arts and science. In fact, you might even find the same major in both specialties. So, what’s the difference between them?

Bachelor of Arts

As its name pretty much says this branch is more focused in arts, literature and human studies. Usually, specialization offers a much wider general studies curriculum that may include liberal arts such as history, social sciences, communication and foreign languages.

Students of this degree must earn credits in different classes related to liberal arts while focusing on their chosen major program. What makes it attractive is the fact that it provides a variety of classes in order to fulfill the requirements of the degree and allows the students to create their own schedules according to their personal goals and interests.

In a few words, those who study a Bachelor of Arts tend to have a much wider education regarding many topics. You might say they know a bit about everything.

These are a few of the majors associated with this type of bachelor's degree:

• English and Languages
• Music
• Arts
• History
• Philosophy

However, there are a lot more options you can find according to your vocation, and Bachelor of Arts provides a good foundation for many different career paths.

Bachelor of Science

If we go to the other side, we’ll find the Bachelor of Sciences degree which offers a much more specialized education about a pretty specific career. Unlike the arts degree, in this branch students learn about technology, math, and sciences, among others.

Due to the deep-level of education in the classes of this specialization students tend to stick primarily to the curricula of their major program and have fewer opportunities to take classes outside of it, unlike in a Bachelor of Arts.

In other words, this branch is much more technical and requires more career related credits to fulfill all the classes that the program demands. Students have to focus all their academic energies in mastering the technical and practical facets of their area.

That’s why we find careers such as:

• Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Nursing
• Engineering

Keep in mind that no specialization is better than the other, in fact, they’re both perceived the same around the world. And no matter what you choose, you can start a master's program if that’s what you want in the future. Your choice will depend entirely on your vocation: do you want a much wider education about humanistic topics or a specialization in the sciences?

And if you already have an idea of what you want to study, the best thing you can do is research: Which courses does your ideal career include? Does it really fit what you want to do for the rest of your life? And if it appears in both branches find out which one is more like you. Remember they may have a completely different approach to the same profession.

It while a Bachelor of Science tends to develop analytical abilities and of detailed understanding of information, a Bachelor of Arts will you improve your writing, communication and critical thinking skills.

No matter what you choose, always keep in mind it should make you happy and be your true vocation. That’s the key to become a successful professional!