Distinguishing Between BSc Psychology & BA Psychology

BSc Psychology vs BA Psychology

BSc Psychology and BA Psychology are two degrees in the same discipline that are offered to students in numerous colleges and universities across the world. Generally, psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. However, the course content and specialization of the two degrees differ, which can be confusing for psychology students. This article highlights the differences between BSc Psychology and BA Psychology.

What is BSc Psychology?

BSc Psychology is considered more practical than BA Psychology. In other words, the practical application of psychology is given more importance in the degree of BSc Psychology. Another significant difference between BSc Psychology and BA Psychology is that BSc Psychology students are required to undergo rigorous training in the practical aspect of the subject and must submit a dissertation at the end of the course. Additionally, since BSc Psychology students study the subject in a more practical way, they study applied psychology more than BA Psychology students. The period of study for BSc Psychology is three years in most universities, but some universities prescribe four years of study for the completion of the course. Most people believe that having a BSc in Psychology provides more opportunities than a BA in Psychology since it prepares students for career options in science after completing the degree. However, these depend on the individual and the needs and skills that the student has. The exposure to research and methodology-related experience is relatively high in this stream.

What is BA Psychology?

BA Psychology students take the course in a more traditional way, while BSc Psychology students take the course in a modern way. The traditional significance and importance of psychology as a subject are imparted to BA Psychology students. Submission of a dissertation is not mandatory for BA Psychology students. The period of study for BA Psychology is three years in most universities. BA Psychology students tend to study subjects such as philosophy and logic more than BSc Psychology students, as BA Psychology students study the subject in a traditional way. However, it should be noted that in some universities, BA Psychology students and BSc Psychology students are taught the same courses. In these cases, the difference in discipline stems from the elective courses. For example, an Arts student would take elective courses such as English, Mass media, and Statistics, while a Science student would choose elective courses such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Key Takeaways

• BA psychology students take the course in a more traditional way, while BSc Psychology students take the course in a modern way.
• Traditional significance and importance of psychology as a subject are imparted to BA Psychology students, whereas the application of it is with the BSc Psychology course.
• BA Psychology students tend to study subjects such as philosophy and logic more than BSc Psychology students.