Choosing Between the B.A. and B.S. Degrees

Human Developmental Sciences offers the option of completing a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Academically, a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree are equally valued. Both offer the students who earn them the opportunity to continue their education at the graduate degree level. Most academic or professional tracks will not require one degree over the other -- it is far more important that you focus on the specific classes you need for your future academic preparation and choose the program which has the right fit for you. Typically, Bachelor of Arts degrees in any discipline allow students to sharpen their communication and writing skills. By comparison, a Bachelor of Science degree typically fosters analytical skills and a detailed understanding of subject matter. All of the courses listed within the Human Developmental Sciences B.S. -- such as the methods elective -- can be taken for B.A. elective credit, so the B.S. degree is not required to take advantage of advanced research opportunities. For information about the difference in coursework between the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degree, please see the table in the Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science Requirements Overview document. 

Switching from a Bachelor of Arts to a Bachelor of Science

Current students in Human Developmental Sciences who are on track for the Bachelor of Arts and would like to switch the to Bachelor of Science should first review the requirement differences between the B.A. and the B.S. degree, found below. While reviewing the requirement differences, students should make note of what additional courses they would need to complete to satisfy the B.S. degree requirements. Students should then schedule an academic advising appointment with an HDS advisor to go over their academic plan for switching from the B.A. to the B.S. degree.