Standards to Bachelor of Arts/Science Degrees

The following is the criteria that differentiate a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, which are specific to discipline, certified degrees, and specific to professional education. All three types of degrees should have a reasonable balance of the following three components:

A major providing depth of preparation in an academic or professional field General education providing basic university-level education in science and mathematics, in the

social sciences, in the arts and humanities, and in human communication Electives chosen to fit the student's preferences or needs. (It is recognized that the number of

these electives may be fewer in some degrees because of accreditation requirements, academic or professional)

The difference between these types of degrees is that a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree:

Is generally called a liberal arts degree Requires a certain number of credit hours of general education courses in a wide range of areas Includes many subject areas, such as English, geography, and psychology. Has additional college requirements such as foreign language, additional literature and social

sciences, PHIL/RELI, and Non-Western Culture Is usually less specialized than a Bachelor of Science degree Requires a minimum number of credit hours for the degree; certain credit hours are required in

the major, of which at least a certain number credit hours are at a designated level by each institution

Is normally awarded in such majors as the languages, literature, other humanities, and history

Whereas a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree:

Is more mathematics or science oriented May require fewer general education courses and more math and/or science courses. Some are

career or research oriented--for example, accounting, computer science, etc. Is science based Is designed to provide a scientific, technical, or professional entry level competence requires a minimum number of credit hours for the degree; a certain number of credit hours are

required in the major, of which at least a certain number of credit hours are at a designated level by each institution

Is normally awarded in such majors as the physical and biological sciences, engineering, and agriculture

And a Certified Degree:

Can be similar to a B.S. degree when involving professional fields such as nursing, dental hygiene, education, etc.

Can be an Associate or Bachelor level depending on required level of certification for different professional capacities.

Is normally awarded to students who are in school to career pathways