IS PSYCHOLOGY B.A. or B.S.?

The student should not be totally blamed if he or she do not know the difference between a BA, and a B.S. because most University and colleges give this degree invariably; some Universities would see a course as a BA and another University would see the same course as a BS, so the confusion is now left for the students to deal with.

For so many reasons it is inevitable to be confused at some points, in whatever a person does, and these are assertions cannot be overruled in academics, and other related endeavors.

So many people, even graduates sometimes get confused about some terms, and abbreviations in academics and I don’t think anyone should feel inferior or ashamed because it is something that happens to almost everybody.

There are things we just see in academics but,  don’t have a full understanding of what they mean or the difference between them we just take them the way we see them.

It is not unconventional or new to know that many people, even graduates do not know the difference between a BA and a BS, many people see these two things as the same on the platform of being a degree. But there’s actually a huge difference between them.

What’s the Difference Between a BA and a BS

 B.A ( BACHELOR OF ARTS)

What differentiates a bachelor of Arts and a bachelor of science is the content of the course and whether one is awarded a BA depends on the course combination a person offered during their undergraduate studies.

A bachelor of Arts is simply a bachelor’s degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, sciences, or both. Bachelor of Arts programs generally takes three to four years depending on the country, institution, and specific specializations, majors, or minors.

A Bachelor of the Arts degree program provides students with a more expansive education, requiring fewer credits that are directly linked to a particular major. Instead, students are expected to earn credits in a variety of liberal arts subjects.

Courses in the humanities, English, the social sciences, and a foreign language are typically part of this degree program.

Students can pick and choose from a broad array of courses to fulfill these requirements, allowing them greater flexibility to customize their education to match their individual goals and interests. Bachelor of Arts degree is commonly offered in fields like English, art, music, modern languages, and communication.

A B.S (BACHELOR OF SCIENCE)  

A bachelor of science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years, or a person holding such a degree.

Whether a student of a particular subject is awarded a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree can vary between universities. For example, an economics degree may be given as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) by one university but as a BS by another, and some universities offer the choice of either.

Some liberal arts colleges in the United States offer only the BA, even in the natural sciences, while some universities offer only the BS even in non-science fields.

Programs resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree are generally more strictly focused on their subject matter, requiring more credits that are directly linked to the major. Students are expected to concentrate their academic energies on mastering the technical and practical facets of their field.

They have fewer opportunities to explore topics outside of the subject of their major. A Bachelor of Science degree is usually offered in technical and scientific areas like computer science, nursing, mathematics, biochemistry, and physics.

What is Psychology?

The confusion students have concerning psychology is bred by the misappropriation of this Particular course by the tertiary institutions, and the complexity that comes with it.

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology is a multifaceted discipline and includes many subfields of study such areas as human development, sports, health, clinical, social behavior, and cognitive processes.

Psychology is really very new science, with most advances happening over the past 150 years or so.  However, its origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, 400 – 500 years BC.

The emphasis was a philosophical one, with great thinkers such as Socrates influencing Plato, who in turn influenced Aristotle.

This is one of the most important courses in the universe because it deals directly with the human mind, a good manipulate of this course can change a person’s life or doom a person, yes, it is as sophisticated as this.

Because psychology is a science it attempts to investigate the causes of behavior using systematic and objective procedures for observation, measurement, and analysis, backed up by theoretical interpretations, generalizations, explanations, and predictions.

It cannot be overlooked or denied that psychology is being applied every day of our lives,  just that most of us do it unconsciously.

The study of Psychology would have a person apply for this course in the right dimensions to get the desired results.

The classic contemporary perspectives in psychology to adopt these strategies were the behaviorists, who were renowned for their reliance on controlled laboratory experiments and rejection of any unseen or subconscious forces as causes of behavior.

And later, cognitive psychology adopted this rigorous, scientific, lab-based scientific approach too.

Most of us have seen in movies where psychologists are appropriating this course to help a person get through depression, loss, or tragedy that further showcases how important this course can be.

With its broad scope, psychology investigates an enormous range of phenomena: learning and memory, sensation and perception, motivation and emotion, thinking and language, personality and social behavior, intelligence, child development, mental illness, and much more.

A psychologist cannot be hidden in any environment,  because he or she has this way of discerning people psychologically, and easily takes charge of the environment, because they can predict people’s actions after discerning them.

Each psychological perspective is underpinned by a shared set of assumptions of what people are like, what is important to study, and how to study it.  Some conduct detailed biological studies of the brain, others explore how we process information; others analyze the role of evolution, and still, others study the influence of culture and society.

What is the difference between BA and BS in psychology?

Now to further expose the complexity of this course,  unlike other courses this can be studied under the science and art dimensions,  this is basically an amazing thing about this course.

One can b a psychologist under art and also a psychologist under science, these are differentiated by the course combination of the student during their undergraduate study.

Therefore, this apparently shows that this course can be a BA or a BS depending on the course combination of the student during the undergraduate studies.

Students interested in earning a psychology degree have the choice of whether to work toward a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Both are undergraduate degrees, and both are offered in the field of psychology. Deciding between a BA and a B.S. hinges on how a student wants to study psychology and depends on their ultimate career goals.

The primary difference between a BA and a B.S. is the focus of the coursework necessary to graduate. A Bachelor of Arts entails psychology-focused courses; students earning a BA will take more courses in the social sciences. A B.S. degree has a course load emphasizing technical studies in science, math, and statistics.

Now studying psychology can lead to so many other things depending on which area of psychology the students decide to major in, which might be a BA or BS in psychology.

BA in Psychology

Students best suited to pursue a BA in Psychology are those who are interested in a career in the psychology field. For instance, students considering specialized psychology fields such as child psychology, forensic psychology, or organizational psychology would do well to work toward a BA degree, as they’ll have the flexibility to take classes on those topics.

Earning a BA in Psychology can lead to careers in law, social work, counseling, journalism, political science, education, or business. This freedom to choose is typically seen as one of the chief benefits of choosing a BA over a BS — the BA allows students the option to tailor their experience based on specific interests.

BS in Psychology

This degree is a great choice for students preparing for careers in science. It also is the path to take if a student plans to go to medical school or attend graduate school for psychology or a related field.

Students earning a BS. in psychology should expect a course load that includes classes in biology, chemistry, and calculus. People with a BS in Psychology typically pursue graduate school or entry-level positions in mental health facilities, government, or business.

Should I Choose a BA in Psychology or BS in Psychology?

Now after reading this article, a person might get confused about which one to choose. Whether to go for a BA in psychology or a B.S. in psychology.  But I think this shouldn’t be a problem when a person knows his abilities and the courses he can handle.

Academically, the two degrees are valued. Each degree has advantages, so students trying to decide which to pursue should consider their post-graduation plans.

For example, students who want to join the professional workforce immediately upon graduation should choose a Bachelor of Arts.

Those who enjoy math and science, who want to go on to graduate school and who tend to be more technical and analytical will probably find the Bachelor of Science to be the better option.

Look inward and figure out yours, so as to make the right choices.

Bonus: 5 Psychology Courses Psych Majors Should Take

Here are 5 psychology courses you can take as a psych major:

#1. General Psychology

This is just an introductory course that offers an overview of the entire field of psychology. It may seem overwhelming at first, due to the sheer volume of information you’ll learn, but this important class lays the groundwork for your future studies.

Remember, however, that the goal of this class is to provide an introduction to the history of psychology and the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. While it may seem like you are skimming over huge topics, you’ll be able to delve deeper into these subjects in a later course.

#2. Abnormal psychology

Courses in abnormal psychology focus on the biological, environmental, and cultural influences on abnormal behavior.

Some of the topics studied in this course might include mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosomatic disorders, and substance abuse. In addition to exploring the background, assessment, and diagnosis of these disorders, students also explore some of the available treatment approaches.

#3. Physiological Psychology

In order to form a full understanding of the mind and behavior, it’s important to develop your knowledge of the brain, neural actions, sensation and perception, basic neuroanatomy, and physiological processes.

A course in physiological psychology serves as a good introduction to the field of neuropsychology, although it may be listed under an alternate course title such as behavioral neuroscience, biopsychology, or biological psychology.

#4. Cognitive Psychology 

In this course, you will learn more about the cognitive process that forms the foundation of human behavior. Cognitive psychology involves the study of internal mental processes all of the things that go on inside your brain, including perception, thinking, memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and learning.

#5. Experimental Psychology

A course in experimental psychology is an essential foundation for any psychology major. In this course, you will learn about basic research methods and experimental design.

While course requirements may vary from one school to the next, most experimental psychology courses require students to carry out experiments.

Available Psychology Scholarships VA

Let’s take a look at some of the Psychology scholarships available:

Undergraduate Scholarship Program (CIA)

Students are able to maintain full-time status at their host institution while gaining valuable work experience by working with the CIA in Washington, D.C., during their summer breaks. Successful completion of the program requires its recipients to continue agency employment for a period 1.5 times longer than the duration of the college sponsorship.

High school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores who are enrolled in a four- or five-year college program and seeking work experience are eligible to apply for this Psychology Scholarship.

$18,000 is awarded annually for tuition and fees, covered transportation, and a package of benefits.

APA Student Travel Award

The American Psychological Association (APA), the largest scientific and professional psychology organization in the U.S., offers an annual psychology scholarship designed to help graduate psychology students travel to the APA convention in order to present their research.

Students whose research papers or posters have already been accepted by the APA are invited to apply for this Psychology Scholarship.

Around 100 students are awarded $300 to support travel expenses to the convention in Toronto.

Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Psychology Graduate Student Fellowship

Sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation (APF), this psychology scholarship offers recipients the chance to be awarded up to $25,000 in support of graduate-level study in the field of child psychology, particularly doctoral students of child-clinical, educational, developmental, pediatric, and school psychopathology.

Roy Scrivner Research Grants

This grant is geared towards graduate students or recently licensed psychologists just beginning their careers. This Psychology Scholarship is also open to researchers working in any of the behavioral or social science fields, although preference is given to dissertation candidates. its benefits accrue to about $15,000.