By Noël Rozny
Web Editor and Content Manager
BA, BS, BArch, BSN, BFA … are the different types of bachelor’s degree programs and all of their acronyms making your head swim?
If you’re a high school or college student preparing to earn your bachelor’s degree, you’ve probably been doing some research on degree programs and which one might be right for you. The many different kinds of bachelor degree programs can be overwhelming, though. Here, we’ll break them down into several main categories to make them a little easier to understand.
Types of Bachelor’s Degree Programs Include:
Bachelor of the Arts (BA)
A Bachelor of the Arts is an umbrella degree for a wide variety of programs that focus primarily on the arts, social sciences, and the humanities. For example, if you wanted to major in a humanities subject, such as English, a foreign language, history, psychology, or sociology, you would complete your coursework and have a Bachelor of the Arts when you graduate.
Bachelor of Science
Similar to a Bachelor of the Arts, a Bachelor of Science covers the many degrees that focus on the sciences. If you’re interested in focusing on biology, math, chemistry, or physics, you would graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree once you have completed your coursework.
Specialty Bachelor Degree Programs
This is where the acronyms get a little tricky. Certain degree programs require such specialized coursework and training that they are separate from a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science program. Some of the most common include:
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) - The degree program future architects must complete.
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) - An undergraduate program for students interested in business.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Students who pursue study in creative writing, dance or another fine art graduate with this degree.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - This specialty degree prepares nurses to treat patients.
The key to specialty bachelor degrees is that they are often separate programs or departments within the university you’re attending. This means that if you want to enroll in the Bachelor of Architecture of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, you generally need to apply directly to that department for admission.
Bachelor of General Studies
Some schools also offer a Bachelor of General Studies degree. Unlike other bachelor’s degree programs, which require students to follow guidelines and fulfill certain requirements, this program allows students to combine several disciplines and chart their own learning course.
Tips for Choosing a Type of Bachelor Degree
Hopefully the list above gave you a better sense of the different kinds of bachelor’s degrees available to you. Which one is right for you will depend on where your interests lie and what future career you’d like to pursue. For information on the degree requirements for different careers, check out the career profiles section on our site. And remember, you do have time your first few years of college to take different classes and figure out which type of bachelor degree program is right for you.
Which degree will you choose and why? Let us know in the comments below!
