What Are the Types of Bachelor's Degrees?
A bachelor of arts, or B.A., and a bachelor of science, or B.S., are the two traditional types of bachelor's degrees. A B.A. is earned in social sciences, humanities and fine arts, and is sometimes called a bachelor of liberal arts, bachelor of general studies, or bachelor of liberal studies. A B.S. is granted in the fields of science, math and statistics. Some universities offer bachelor's degrees in fields not recognized as separate disciplines by other colleges.
The Sciences
Several specialties fall under the general heading of bachelor of science, including the BAS or BASc, a bachelor of applied science, for those heading into engineering or research and development. Other four-year engineering degrees include the standard BEng, or bachelor of engineering; BSEE, bachelor of science in electrical engineering; and the BChE, bachelor in chemical engineering. A bachelor's denoting a concentration in mathematics is a BMath, while computer sciences offers the BCompSc. Bachelor's degrees are also available in the science of forestry (BSF) and technology (BTech).
Business
Common bachelor's degrees in business include the BBA, or bachelor of business administration; the BComm, or bachelor of commerce; and the BSE, or bachelor of science in economics.
The Arts
Several universities offer distinct degrees for completing a curriculum in the arts, including a BFA, or bachelor of fine arts, covering painting, sculpting, dance and other aesthetic disciplines. Visual designers are awarded the BDes, while musicians receive the BMus.
Health Care Professionals
A BSN, or bachelor of science in nursing, is an increasingly common bachelor's degree for people entering the nursing profession. It requires more training than that received by a registered nurse and is transferable from state to state. A BPharm is a bachelor's degree given to those completing a four-year pharmaceutical program, while psychology students receive a BAPsy, or bachelor of arts in psychology. Health care degrees are also available to health care workers not dealing directly with patients. Future hospital administrators, public health officials and social workers can receive a bachelor's in public health (BPH) or a bachelor of arts in social sciences (BA/SS). Veterinary students commonly receive a BVSc, or bachelor of veterinary science.
Religion
Not all bachelor's degrees come from traditional four-year institutions. Theological seminaries grant a B.D., or bachelor of divinity, while yeshivas, schools devoted to the study of Jewish religious texts, offer a BTL, or bachelor of Talmudic law.
Tags: bachelor science, bachelor arts, also available, arts bachelor, bachelor degree, bachelor degrees