When a college or university student attains a certain level of academic standard, a bachelor's degree is awarded. Some students will earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, while other students will earn the Bachelor of Science degree (BS). There is a difference between these two kinds of degrees, not only in the fields of study but also in the emphasis within the fields of study.

Significance

In a global community where technology is experiencing unparalleled growth, the Bachelor of Science degree is a hot commodity. Most applicants will find ample opportunities for employment in research, development, design, technology, education and medicine in jobs as varied as software engineers to physician assistants to project managers.

Function

The Bachelor of Science degree is distinguished by its emphasis on math and science. A student can expect to gain an understanding of both scientific analysis and application of scientific principles. A student will also grow in comprehension of mathematical reasoning and problem-solving in the natural and social sciences.

Types

The Bachelor's of Science degree is conferred upon students who have achieved a level of competency in their chosen field of study. These programs usually take four years, and consist of 120 or more credit hours, with at least 40 credit hours in the chosen major field of study. Examples of some of the many specific BS degrees are: Accounting, Agriculture, Biomathematics, Computer Science, Dietetics, Dramatic Arts, Economics, Geography, Graphic Design, Information Technology, Nursing, Psychology, Statistics and Zoology.

Considerations

A student should have a strong interest in mathematics or science when considering a Bachelor of Science degree program. As early as high school, a student needs to prepare by taking courses in a challenging math or science track. As with any program of higher education, a student should be aware of the financial needs to attend four years of college or university. However, there are several courses of study in the BS program, for example, accounting and engineering, that will require five or more years to complete.

Potential

There is a growing trend today to offer fields of study traditionally considered in the Bachelor of Science degree as Bachelor of Art degrees. For example, a student may take biology through the BA program. These programs, though academically strong in the chosen field, do not require as many hours in math or science. Instead, a student includes more courses in related fields, such as communications. With the Bachelorof Arts in Biology a student may pursue a career in teaching biology or a career in writing and producing web information associated with biology.