If you struggle to find purpose in life, a common area that may frustrate you might be in college. This, however, is something that should quickly be resolved when looking at future goals and career decisions. Here at Eastern, the school offers 53 different Bachelor’s degrees from different majors. Within this plethora of options, we also find the divide between the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS).
While both degrees are presumably great programs, some majors may actually fall into either one–and the path chosen can actually affect both curriculum and future career opportunities. More specifically, I’d like to cover the psychology major at Eastern. The psychology program is known to be intensive and very beneficial for students seeking future careers in the field. Despite having a low amount of on-ground professors within the department, each of them have their own way of teaching, different experiences within the field, and dedication for building connections with their students.
More specifically, the reason I’d like to cover this major is simply because of the degree options discussed earlier. At Eastern University, the bachelor’s degree you get when majoring in psychology is a BA. There is no BS, compared to other schools which offer both degrees to their students. This, however, was no mistake. Eastern had a BS option many years ago, but they decided it was the best decision for students to offer a BA instead. Other factors, such as faculty and course options, possibly tie into why it works best as well.
But how does this actually affect students who choose to study for the degree in the long run? Luckily, we do not have to take any educated guesses, as we have lots of students here from freshmen to seniors who are already in the program! For starters, while it might seem unfair for the choice to be made for you, you aren’t necessarily missing out on much.
Even as a first year student, Myia Grant has shared how she feels how not only is the BA verses BS not a huge divide, but that they work well together. After just two courses, Grant shared that while there may be a slight difference, “the science side of psych and the art side of psych need each other,” she said. Moreover, the “arts” versus “science” areas can be more fitting for some students than others. Grant, after sharing an initial preference for a BS, stated that her career path is actually unaffected from the degree, and it actually supports her goal of becoming an occupational therapist. “A BA is beneficial for therapeutic and interpersonal spaces,” she said.
In the end, Grant also expressed how the difference between the two is not very vast and can even go unnoticed, which is one factor that might not be agreed upon with certain career choices but definitely can be seen in many ways especially as the years of learning go on.
Nevertheless, opinions regarding a degree are multidimensional, with years of experiences applying to how one might feel. This is why I spoke with Paige Snell, a senior at Eastern majoring in psychology, minoring in business administration and a member of the women’s soccer team. For Snell, the difference between the two degrees has faded away and become an overall passion. “When I first declared psychology, I didn’t really think about whether it was a BA or a BS,” she admits. “I just knew it was the field I wanted to pursue.”
Despite the degree in arts, Snell proves that the program is much more than unscientific. She shared multiple experiences demonstrating how the curriculum is built with research methods, statistics, and even evidence-based practice. All of this and more proves the major’s intensity and shows us we are not missing out on anything despite the degree.
Not only this, but Snell shared her personal motivations when it comes to the field of psychology, which is a motivation with which I, too, resonate. “I genuinely care about understanding what others are going through and being able to support them in a meaningful way,” She said. With that statement, we have all the evidence we need to recognize that regardless of degree, psychology as a whole is important. “I do think there can sometimes be a perception that a BS sounds more technical than a BA, but I believe that difference is often misunderstood,” she said. Snell believes that both degrees require critical thinking and scientific reasoning.
The Bachelor in Arts allows students to have a human connection with what they study, looking at people as more than just data or diagnoses as Snell put it. Now preparing for graduate school for counseling, Snell feels that the BA has provided her lots of insight for the real world.
All in all, as you venture further in your career and studious decisions, know that it seems the plans and options given to you are made in your best interest. You will experience times where things won’t be as clear but it will get better.
