How does a B.A. in biology affect me?

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>Hello, I am transferring to Berkeley as an MCB major in the fall but am wondering why I’m not getting a B.S. I am not premed but do plan on going to graduate school, will having a B.A. instead of a B.S. affect me?</p>

2

<p>No</p>

<p>10 char</p>

3

<p>All bachelor’s degrees awarded in the Berkeley College of Letters and Science are Bachelor of Arts degrees.</p>

<p>It does not really matter that the degree says “of Arts” instead of “of Science”.</p>

4

<p>So this only applies to Berkeley then? Because I know at other schools the standards for a B.A and a B.S are quite different…</p>

5

<p>At Berkeley, that would only be the case for a major offered in different divisions. The only one currently is chemistry, which is offered in the College of Chemistry (BS) and College of Letters and Science (BA). The BS version has somewhat greater upper division chemistry and related course requirements; breadth requirements differ between the two divisions.</p>

<p>[General</a> Catalog - Chemistry (Department of)](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM)</p>

<p>Environmental science used to be available in the College of Natural Resources (BS) and the College of Letters and Science (BA), but the latter no longer accepts new students.</p>

<p>There are a few other cases where similar majors are offered in different divisions where different degree titles are granted:</p>

<p>BS EECS vs. BA CS
BS IEOR vs. BA ORMS
BS chemical biology vs. BS various majors in College of Natural Resources vs. BA MCB vs. BA IB</p>

<p>For majors only offered in the College of Letters and Science (e.g. math, physics), all bachelor’s degrees granted will be BA degrees.</p>

6

<p>it can only ‘affect’ you as much as you let it</p>

7

<p>Cal is one of the top universities in the world for a reason. Speaking of Physics, a Prof in Letters and Sciences (which only offers a BA in Physics) recently won a Nobel. Think about it.</p>

<p>Congrats on the acceptance. Go Bears!</p>

8

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<p>Well, I’ll put it to you this way. At Harvard, with the exception of the tiny handful of engineers, all undergrads - including the science concentrators - earn Bachelor of Arts degrees.</p>

9

<p>I htink you’re fine if you’re going to graduate school</p>

10

<p>Thanks guys for all your responses. I figured it wouldn’t matter but thought I would ask to make sure…</p>