BS in Psychology Versus BA

So you've decided to go to college and major in Psychology, what's next? Will you pursue a Bachelor of Arts, or a Bachelor of Science? What is the difference? This article seeks to differentiate between these two courses of study, and who should apply for each of them.

With the advancement of Psychology as a science, and interest in it grows, the gap between BA and BS programs has begun to shorten. However, there are still some very distinct differences between the two. Firstly, BS degree students have more science requirements than BA students do. For example, BS students are required to take more extensive biology and chemistry courses. BA students do not have these science requirements, but are often required to fill these slots with liberal arts credits. This often means a foreign language, anthropology, or similar classes. For someone with a more creative brain, the BA program may keep their interest more, since the BS is so heavily focused on science.

Another main difference is the emphasis on math that is present in the BS program. While the BA will also study math as part of their college education, they will not have the same emphasis on it, or will not have to go as far up. This is because the science required of BS students will call for higher forms of math. Additionally, the science focus of a BS will require higher psychological statistics classes, while BA students may only need a basic statistics class.

This is not to say that the BA program is less intense, merely that it focuses on other areas. The BA student will also take math classes, but can stop at a lower level, and instead hone liberal arts studies.

Lastly, BS programs generally culminate in an experimental design and application. This means the student will need to design an experiment, conduct it, gather and interpret the data, and then write a paper on it. This is similar to what many career research psychologists do on a regular basis, which is why it is often requisite for completion of the BS program. Alternatively, BA students will finish off their course with community work, or a written project focusing on an experiment or research.

As you may have noticed, the BA degree lends itself better to those students who are seeking a career working in the community, or getting careers straight out of college. On the other hand, the BS degree created more for students who are looking to continue their education after their undergraduate degree (Masters and PhD), and those who are looking to go into research. Additionally, the BS is geared more toward those with science-oriented minds, while the BA works better for more creative-oriented minds.

References:

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (N.d) "Should I Pursue a BA or a BS Degree in Psychology at IUPUI?

Washington and Lee University (N.d). Psychology.

Penn State (2008). Department of Psychology.