Programs Does a B.A. or B.S. Impact Your Path to a Masters in a Different Field?

AI Thread Summary
The impact of a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) versus a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) on acceptance into a master's program, particularly in unrelated fields like transitioning from physics to computer science or engineering, is minimal. Key factors influencing graduate school admission include course-specific GPA, recommendations, and GRE scores. A B.A. may be advantageous for students shifting disciplines, as it often includes a broader range of coursework. Nonetheless, candidates with degrees in unrelated fields, such as philosophy, can still gain admission to engineering master's programs if they demonstrate relevant experience. Ultimately, while having an undergraduate degree is generally preferred, it does not significantly hinder the ability to pursue a master's degree.
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Does a B.A. vs. B.S. strongly impact your ability to get a masters degree? Especially if it is in an unconnected area? E.g. Physics to C.S./Engineering?
 
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From what I have read, course specific GPA, recommendations, and GRE scores are some of the most important factors when it comes to acceptance into grad school. A B.A. may be more preffered if you are planning to switch from (using your example) physics to c.s./engineering since the coursework is less concentrated in physics and is more spread out upon engineering science, chemistry, and the such (or atleast this is the B.A. program at Cleveland State University).

However, it is important to note that you could get a bachelors in philosophy and still be able to get accepted into a masters program of engineering. If you have enough experience and you can prove it you could also get accepted into a masters program with no degree. So, in short the degree you receive as an undergrad does not have a significant effect on the ability to get a masters degree. However, many universities do prefer that a candidate has an undergraduate degree.
 
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