A bachelor of science is an undergraduate degree awarded to students who successfully complete a set of college-level courses. Bachelor of science requirements differ from college to college and country to country. The degree is typically earned students studying a scientific field such as chemistry, mathematics, or engineering, as the name implies. A bachelor of arts degree is typically awarded to students who study liberal arts or social sciences, though some schools award science degrees to students who study fashion or graphic design.
In the United States, undergraduate students must complete at least 120 credit hours, or about 40 classes, in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, a student can earn an associate of science degree after two years of study and then transfer to a bachelor’s degree program. However, the majority of students complete their studies and only receive a bachelor’s degree.
Typically, a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science does not take only science courses. In the United States, most colleges require students to take a certain number of general education or core courses. These courses are typically taken during the first two years of study, before the student begins to specialize in a particular field of study. Many schools require students to take writing intensive courses, such as a freshman composition course, as well as a few civilization, history, or humanities courses.
After earning a degree, a student is qualified to work in certain positions in his field, such as working as a registered nurse or as a research assistant in a laboratory if he majored in nursing. In some cases, obtaining a bachelor’s degree is the first step toward a student’s desired profession. After earning their bachelor’s degree, students who want to become lawyers or doctors must attend law school or medical school. Other students may find that enrolling in business graduate school improves their job prospects.
The price of a bachelor’s degree varies depending on where the student goes to school and how long it takes her to finish. In the United States, private institutions are more expensive than state or public institutions. Many European universities offer free courses. A student studying part-time in the United States will pay per credit and may end up paying more in the long run. Students who are short on time may benefit from an online program to complete their degree.