Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree: What It Is and How to Earn One (2023)

FAQs

How to earn your bachelors degree? ›

What Is a BS Degree? A Bachelor of Science degree is a type of undergraduate degree that's focused on math, science, or technology. In contrast to a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science typically features more specialized classes with an emphasis on technical skills that can be applied directly to jobs.

Unsurprisingly, the list is dominated by bachelor's degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), as these degrees tend to have a better payoff compared to others (Day & Martinez, 2021).

A Worthwhile Degree Isn't Easy

While you can't expect bachelor degree classes to be a breeze, it's important to remember that college classes are difficult for a reason. If your courses felt easy, you wouldn't be adequately prepared for your future career.

The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. degree) is an undergraduate academic degree offered by universities and colleges worldwide. The study duration of a B.Sc. programme is three to four years.

The word bachelor is derived from the Medieval Latin baccalarius and originally referred to someone of low rank in the feudal hierarchy. Over time, the meaning was extended to denote persons of subordinate position in other systems, including those holding a preliminary degree from a college or university.

Earning your bachelor's degree also increases the likelihood that you will be considered by future employers for career advancement opportunities. An undergraduate degree is also an obvious prerequisite for earning a master's degree or PhD, if you aspire to pursue a graduate education in the future.

Is a BS degree worth it? ›

Higher salary potential

Speaking of higher salaries, data from the BLS shows that graduates with a bachelor's degree earn a median annual US salary of $67,860. That's significantly more than associate degree holders ($48,776) and high school diploma holders ($40,612) [7].

Finishing a bachelor's degree in two years with online accelerated degree programs, transfer credits, and degree completion methods is possible. Many students would choose to fast-track graduation to save money and time and explore careers.

The No. 1 spot goes to electrical engineering and computer science. The early-career median pay for majors is $119,200 annually.

A bachelor's degree is typically enough to help you qualify for a variety of entry-level and mid-level positions across many fields, including business, finance, social services, psychology, computer science, healthcare and more.

An associate degree is a two-year degree typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and career colleges. However, some four-year universities offer them as well.

How much can you make a year with a bachelor's degree? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $96,500 and as low as $25,000, the majority of salaries within the Bachelors Degree jobs category currently range between $38,000 (25th percentile) to $60,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $79,000 annually across the United States.

Bachelor's Degree on a Resume

It's advisable to put the full name of your degree on a resume, but if you're economizing on space, you can use an abbreviation instead. Bachelors degrees on a resume are commonly abbreviated to: BA (Bachelor of Arts) BS (Bachelor of Science)

A bachelor of science degree, in particular, is a four-year undergraduate degree with common majors such as science or psychology. Students with a B.S. degree often go on to work in more research-based fields.

B.Sc.

The Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) is a type undergraduate degree that focuses on combining theoretical knowledge with research practice. The Bachelor of Science is mainly awarded to students of Natural Sciences, Engineering& Technology, Mathematics, Computer Science& IT.

you would call the person a college graduate.

Yes, you can get two bachelor's degrees from two different schools. As long as you gained your first degree from an accredited institution, most schools that offer second degrees will allow you to enroll.

The short answer is no. Employers and graduate school admissions officers rarely care which type of Bachelor's degree you were awarded. They care far more about which major you pursued, where you went to school, the fact that you have a bachelor's degree at all, and how you performed in your classes.

In short, no. There's no type of bachelor degree that's seen as "better" or harder to earn by all employers and grad schools. Both BA and BS degrees require hard work and skills across multiple areas.

Do I need a bachelor's degree to get a masters? ›

Before pursuing a master's degree, you must complete your bachelor's degree. During your bachelor's degree program, which is typically four years, you take general education courses and several courses aligned directly to your major.

Bachelor's degrees in the USA typically take 4 years to complete. The first 2 years include common required courses, such as math, history, literature, and communications.

Personal preferences, goals, academic progress, transfer credit eligibility, cost and time considerations are all factors that may impact how many years it takes to earn a bachelor's degree, but 4 years is the traditional timetable to earn the 120 credits you need.

A bachelor's degree will typically take 4 years of sitting in class. But testing out of classes (credit by exam) and 8-week online classes are the turbo-boost needed to finish your bachelor's degree in 2 years. You still complete a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year. You just do it in half the time!

Traditionally, it takes four to six years to earn a bachelor's degree. Accelerated programs can speed up this timetable, while students who take minimal credits each semester or who change their major partway through their education may spend longer on their degree.

There are generally four categories of college degrees: associate degree, bachelor's degree, graduate degree, and doctorate or professional degree.

Yes, a degree in information technology is worth it for many students. Common information technology careers in this field include information security analyst, computer programmer, network and computer system administrator, computer support specialist, and computer and information systems manager.

More career opportunities

A bachelor's degree has become a minimum education requirement for many jobs, especially for knowledge workers—or those whose job requires more thinking than manual labor or service labor [1]. As of 2020, 35 percent of jobs require a bachelor's degree [2].

Master's degrees typically take two years to complete, but the timeframe can vary from person to person. Depending on your degree program and whether you're going to school full-time or part-time, it could take you less time to get your master's degree – or more.

Is a second bachelor's degree faster? ›

For some, pursuing a second bachelor's degree can be quicker, easier, and cheaper than pursuing a master's degree. Also, it can allow professionals to switch career paths or earn college credit for skills they developed in an area other than their first degree discipline.

Different types of associate degrees, such as an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA), are 60 credits and can be completed in 2 years or less, and are a great first step toward earning an entry-level job or promotion.

A bachelor's degree generally takes about four years to complete, but several factors can affect this timeline. If you've already started to take college courses or even taken Advanced Placement (AP) units during high school, your college of choice may recognize these units towards your degree at their institution.

A bachelor's degree is typically enough to help you qualify for a variety of entry-level and mid-level positions across many fields, including business, finance, social services, psychology, computer science, healthcare and more.

There are several benefits to getting a bachelor's degree. These include a higher potential income, increased job prospects, and new and enriching life experiences. If you've been working for a while, a bachelor's degree may also help you launch a new career or advance in your current one.

You can zip through college faster by taking online classes in conjunction with your regular classes, taking heavier course loads during the academic year, and studying during the summer months. The more classes you pack into each school term, the quicker you'll power through your studies.