The discussion centers on the decision between pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics. Participants agree that a B.S. is preferable for those intending to attend graduate school in physics due to its likely inclusion of essential coursework. However, if obtaining a B.S. requires additional semesters that lead to increased debt, a B.A. supplemented with relevant physics courses is a viable alternative. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual career goals and the specific offerings of the institution.
PREREQUISITESStudents considering a major switch to Physics, academic advisors, and individuals exploring career paths in physics or related fields.
kuruman said:Hi Kendo and welcome to PF.
It depends on what you plan to do after graduation and where you are in your College career. For example, if your goal is to go to graduate school in physics, then a B.S. is the way to go. If, however, you are far enough advanced in your studies so that getting a B.S. means staying in College for an extra semester or two and getting deeper in debt, then I would advise you to get a B.A. and to take as many physics courses that are part of the B.S. as possible. You may not end up with a B.S. but your B.A. will be souped up.
What is the difference between BA and BS in physics, in terms of course requirements, at your school? It varies at different schools.Kendo said:I see that there's BA and BS but I'm not sure which to choose?
jtbell said:What is the difference between BA and BS in physics, in terms of course requirements, at your school? It varies at different schools.
If you're thinking about graduate school in physics, graduate school admissions committees aren't stupid. They will probably focus on the specific courses that you've taken, not the name of the degree. A BS is probably more likely to contain the courses that grad schools look for, but in the end it depends on what your school offers.
The small college where I was an undergraduate offered only a BA in physics, but it was enough to get me into grad school. The small college where I taught for many years offers only a BS in physics, but it's pretty much like the BA at my undergraduate school.
If you're going to be looking for a job right after your BS/BA, I have no experience with that route. However, from what I've read here, few employers look specifically for a BS/BA in physics. Instead, they look for specific skills: programming, data analysis, writing, etc.
Good decision. Your advisor probably knows more about what's specifically going on at your institution than most of us.Kendo said:I guess I decided to schedule an appointment with my advisor and going to talk about it :L
Yep, I guess I'll report back here on the information I gather if it deems insensitive or not xDkuruman said:Good decision. Your advisor probably knows more about what's specifically going on at your institution than most of us.
Curious, when looking for Physics internships, does it matter if you're BA or BS?kuruman said:Good decision. Your advisor probably knows more about what's specifically going on at your institution than most of us.
Probably not. If I were evaluating your qualifications for an internship, I would look at three things, (a) how advanced you are in your field as judged by your coursework, (b) how much experience you have with working on research or semester-long projects and (c) what your letters of reference say about your ability to work well with others and with minimum supervision.Kendo said:Curious, when looking for Physics internships, does it matter if you're BA or BS?
Ok, I shall keep that in mind :). I'm going to declare my major to Physics (B.A.) now. :>kuruman said:Probably not. If I were evaluating your qualifications for an internship, I would look at three things, (a) how advanced you are in your field as judged by your coursework, (b) how much experience you have with working on research or semester-long projects and (c) what your letters of reference say about your ability to work well with others and with minimum supervision.
I mean yea but BS going to require an additional year or so and financial wise.. I mean my advisor said that I can either take technological courses or computer courses because BA freed up my schedule a little bit more so in the future I'll probably either take some Comp sci courses are other Physic courses.verty said:Please remind us why you are not doing the BS. I mean, isn't it better with more physics involved and more computers as well?
Kendo said:I mean yea but BS going to require an additional year or so and financial wise.. I mean my advisor said that I can either take technological courses or computer courses because BA freed up my schedule a little bit more so in the future I'll probably either take some Comp sci courses are other Physic courses.
Ok, then most likely I won't minor in computer science but since I got free spaces in my upcoming schedules, I guess I'll take some CS courses. Also, I do intend in minoring in Japanese though.verty said:Thanks for the explanation. What I'm thinking is this. It'll be nice to say, I have a BA in physics but I've also done computers. It makes you more broadly skilled for the employer. So even though you are changing, I think it is a good idea to do enough computers to be able to say that. That is my recommendation.