Arts vs. Science Degree?

CBgaragebassist · #1 02-14-2011, 04:29 PM

Just curious if this have ever made a ton of difference for anyone? I'm going to be going for a psych degree and don't really know what I should choose. I would be looking to go into clinical psychology if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 02-14-2011, 04:32 PM

If it is the same subject, they should be weighted pretty similarly?

dj150888 · #3 02-14-2011, 04:35 PM

Now I'm not entirely sure how they do it in the States, but I'm fairly certain in the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, if its the same subject, its weighted the very same.

CBgaragebassist · #4 02-14-2011, 04:36 PM

I'm just curious if it would make a difference in a job application.

Kmolson50 · #5 02-14-2011, 04:37 PM

Just my 2cents-

I don't personally feel this way, but I know many people that are snobbish about the science degree over the arts degree. Of course, these are mostly physicists and engineers, so I don't know how it would pertain to a psych degree.

What is the difference in the arts versus science version of the program (e.g. differences in coursework, etc.)?

jp58 · #6 02-14-2011, 04:38 PM

My school requires 2 lab sciences courses for a B.S. , or you can take 2 foreign languages and get a B.A.

CBgaragebassist · #7 02-14-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmolson50

What is the difference in the arts versus science version of the program (e.g. differences in coursework, etc.)?

I believe the difference is two less science/maths and additional art/music classes for Arts. I'm leaning towards Arts as I'd like to take as many Music classes as I can.

crispygoat · #8 02-14-2011, 05:01 PM

A BS in Psychology is focused on the biology (for example, cognitive neuroscience) aspect of psychology whereas a BA in Psychology is focused on the social science (for example you will study Freud more in depth) aspect of psychology.

Of course the root will be the same.

Job wise, you might want to send an email to the psycho department of any University.

**Staccato** · #9 02-14-2011, 05:08 PM

There are utility companies, oil companies and a myriad of other cos. that require a basic four year degree as a pre-cursor to qualifying for a management position. Unless you're already in one of those jobs and grabbing a later in life degree to advance, or you have a specific path in mind (clinical psychologist for life), go for a specific degree such as mechanical engineering, or computer science. That way, you'll have a better shot at a job that's in demand-right after college.

CBgaragebassist · #10 02-14-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispygoat

A BS in Psychology is focused on the biology (for example, cognitive neuroscience) aspect of psychology whereas a BA in Psychology is focused on the social science (for example you will study Freud more in depth) aspect of psychology.

Of course the root will be the same.

What I thought too, until-(Science) http://www.valdosta.edu/coe/psycholo...etFall2008.pdf
(Art) http://www.valdosta.edu/coe/psycholo...etFall2008.pdf

Same Psych curriculum.

**bassybill** · #11 02-14-2011, 05:33 PM

I don't know whether things would be different over there to here, but the guy in the office next to mine is admissions tutor for our post grad pyschology students, and I know he generally expects a BSc rather than a BA.

CBgaragebassist · #12 02-14-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I don't know whether things would be different over there to here, but the guy in the office next to mine is admissions tutor for our post grad pyschology students, and I know he generally expects a BSc rather than a BA.

Do you know whether their curriculum differs at all besides additional math and sciences? This seems kind of strange if the difference is one math and a basic science...

coreyfyfe · #13 02-14-2011, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp58

My school requires 2 lab sciences courses for a B.S. , or you can take 2 foreign languages and get a B.A.

That's my understanding of how it works with most schools that offer both AFAIK. Also, I know some schools will do a BA if they are not properly accredited for a BS (for example a Chemistry BA is often given by a school/program not certified by the ACS).

LiquidMidnight · #14 02-14-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispygoat

A BS in Psychology is focused on the biology (for example, cognitive neuroscience) aspect of psychology whereas a BA in Psychology is focused on the social science (for example you will study Freud more in depth) aspect of psychology.

Of course the root will be the same.

Job wise, you might want to send an email to the psycho department of any University.

My bachelor's is in psychology and my university offered a B.A. and a B.S. The B.A. was focused more on clinical applications and students who wanted to go into counseling, school psychology, applied Master's, and Psy.d programs. The B.S. was more focused on research and students who wanted to go into Ph.D programs. Interestingly enough, the B.S. degree had higher grade requirements for its core courses. All things equal, at the end of the day, most employers and grad school admissions committees probably don't make a huge distinction between my alma mater psych department's degree offerings. The B.A. students had most of all of the same research and stats courses that the B.S. students had, and a B.S. student interested in clinical could have just filled up his or her electives with clinical courses.

Of course that's a falsifiable question and can be put to the empirical test. Of course, I was a research-oriented person.

TOOL460002 · #15 02-14-2011, 08:51 PM

+1 to post above

the only thing i will add is that if you want to be a psychologist, go with a ba (or bs), but if you want to be a psychiatrist, go with the bs.

some degrees, in my mind, are just prerequisites for a masters/md/phd/etc. im on the last leg of my bio bs, and while that will get me a job, i bet id be working under people with higher degrees.

hell, you can get into law school with pretty much anything, as long as your gpa is pretty good and you bust your ass on the lsats.

think a few years ahead, and then consider the fun of two music classes versus two hard science classes and make your call. you can be just as happy either way; just think ahead.

arbitrary · #16 02-14-2011, 08:54 PM

If you want to do anything with a psych undergrad you'll eventually end up in grad school, so I would see if they prefer a BA or BS. I would imagine it would be a BS though.

jrthebassguy · #17 02-14-2011, 10:59 PM

In my experience, BS tends to be looked more fondly upon in the job sector. I have a BS, albeit in Marketing - While some of my job functions include marketing and that aspect of it is pretty cool, if I had to do it all over again I probably would've gone into engineering.

**bassybill** · #18 02-14-2011, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBgaragebassist

Do you know whether their curriculum differs at all besides additional math and sciences? This seems kind of strange if the difference is one math and a basic science...

Sorry, I don't know details of any curriculum differences between BSc and BA Psych. And any information that did apply here in the UK would almost certainly be different in the USA.

DwaynieAD · #19 02-15-2011, 07:56 AM

the fact that you have a four year degree can be much more important than what the four year degree actually is.

unless of course we are talking specialized fields.

i_got_a_mohawk · #20 02-15-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBgaragebassist

I believe the difference is two less science/maths and additional art/music classes for Arts. I'm leaning towards Arts as I'd like to take as many Music classes as I can.

I'd call about and see what is the best option.

I don't know if doing extra music classes would be all that productive for a psychology course, regardless of it being BA or BSc.

At the end of the day, at least over here, your transcripts are usually used, not just the degree cert. So they look at the courses you take within the degree, where, IMO, it helps to keep things as relevant as possible.

Outside interests are a good thing, but, in an academic sense, people prefer to see them seperate from your main degree.

IMO/IME