Bachelor of Science vs. Bachelor of Arts?
In brief, the BS is intended for the student desiring, after
four years of study, to begin a career as a design engineer,
scientist, or manager, or to enter graduate school. The BA
is for the student desiring a career or further degree in a
technologically-dependent field where lesser knowledge
of engineering or science is useful, complemented by a
substantial and coherent liberal studies component.
The differences at WPI between the Bachelor of Science
and Bachelor of Arts degrees are not enormous in terms of
academic requirements. At WPI, both degrees have the
same entrance requirements and the same general graduation
requirements. The BS requires more study in the
field of the major; the BA, a broader distribution of learning
between the major and other, related fields. The differences
between the two degrees have more to do, in
many ways, with the career and life goals, both immediate
and long term, of the student making the choice of
degrees.
WPI is the only technological university to offer both
the BS and the BA degrees. We initiated the BA in 2006 in
order to provide students with an option to pursue a program
of study with more choices in the humanities, arts,
social sciences and management than is typically available
with the BS. We believe achieving a BA at WPI can
offer a student a broad "liberal" education appropriate to
our increasingly technologically-dependent world. Because
WPI is a technological university, a BA from WPI
includes more opportunities for the study of science or
engineering at a more advanced level than at a liberal arts
university. A BA from WPI will also enable students to
live and work with students pursuing the BS, enriching
opportunities for students pursuing either degree to become
managers and leaders in technological innovation
and entrepreneurship.
Further to assist students and their families in selecting
between these two degree options at WPI, we offer the
following guidelines.
REASONS FOR SELECTING THE BS OPTION
If your career interest is in design or research where a
strong base in engineering and/or science is essential, you
probably wish to take a BS degree.
If your primary goal after receiving your undergraduate
degree is entry-level professional employment in engineering,
science, or management, the BS option is for you.
If you are reasonably certain you will go on to further
study in the field of your degree after graduation, in either
a master's or doctoral program, specializing in the
field of your interest at the level of the BS is appropriate.
Career options. The WPI BS prepares students for
careers in:
• engineering—biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical and
computer, environmental, industrial, manufacturing,
mechanical;
• the sciences—computer science, chemistry and biochemistry,
mathematical sciences, physics;
• management (especially in high-tech areas)
• social sciences and policy studies—(especially in system
dynamics, law and policy affecting high-tech industries).
REASONS FOR SELECTING THE BA OPTION
If you have not focused yet on a specific career field, but
know you want an undergraduate program with broad
options and a concentration in science or engineering, the
BA may be the degree for you.
If you want to learn to apply the problem-solving methods
of engineering and/or science to broad problems involving
both science & technology and social needs &
values, consider the BA.
If your primary goal after receiving you undergraduate
degree is entry-level employment in a field where some
depth in science or engineering is needed, along with
broadening skills of communications and human & cultural
interactions, the BA degree may be your best bet.
If you are looking for a traditional liberal arts education
adapted to contemporary culture, the BA degree will provide
opportunities to pursue both the traditional breadth
study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences along
with specific pre-professional study in engineering, science,
or management.
Last modified: March 26, 2007 13:42:59