How to Choose Between BA Psychology and BSc Psychology

Interesting subject to understand human behavior and the depths of the mind: Psychology

Have you ever wondered why people think the way they do? Or what is the reason behind someone’s mood changing suddenly? We get the answers to all these questions from “Psychology”. It is a subject that tries to understand the ways humans think, feel and behave.

If you are planning to do a degree in psychology, then you must have seen two major options – BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Psychology and BSc (Bachelor of Science) in Psychology. Both degrees look similar, but there are many important differences between them.

What are BA and BSc in Psychology?

BA Psychology – Study of Arts Based Psychology

BA i.e. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a liberal arts degree. The focus of this degree is how humans think, feel, and behave in society. It focuses more on social and cultural aspects.

For example, BA Psychology students learn how a person’s behavior is influenced by their upbringing, environment, culture, and society. The study method in this course is more theoretical. Students understand things like social psychology, personality theories, developmental psychology, and cognitive processes.

During this degree, students are also given information about humanities subjects such as sociology, philosophy, and anthropology.

BSc Psychology – Science-based Psychology Study

BSc i.e. Bachelor of Science in Psychology is a science-focused degree. Its primary goal is to know psychology in a scientific light- like how the brain functions, the part of the neurons in the process of thinking, and the biological explanation of mental illnesses.

Other subjects which students are forced to relate with in this course are biology, chemistry and physics. Form a large part of this degree are research methods, statistics and experimental design. That is, the studies here are more analytical and based on data.

For example, a BSc Psychology student tries to understand which chemical imbalances in the brain cause mental disorders like depression or anxiety.

Basic differences between BA and BSc Psychology

Now that we have understood the introduction of both the degrees, let’s understand some important differences in detail:

1. Approach of study
   BA Psychology focuses on society, culture and human experiences.
   BSc Psychology focuses more on the biological process of the brain and neuro-science.
2. Subjects and curriculum
   BA includes subjects like philosophy, sociology, anthropology.
   Biology, chemistry, physics and advanced statistics are taught in BSc.
3. Research and method of research
   Research in BA is mostly done using qualitative methods. Such as – interviews, case studies, etc.
   Research in BSc is mostly quantitative, which includes data collection and statistical analysis.
4. Career direction
   BA Psychology holders have more opportunities in the field of counseling, social service, education and mental health.
   BSc Psychology students move forward in technical fields like research, neuroscience, and clinical psychology.

Career options after BA Psychology

• Counseling Psychologist: You can help understand and cure mental problems of people in schools, colleges, hospitals or private clinics.
• School Psychologist: Identify mental or behavioral problems faced by students in studies and provide them proper help.
• Social Worker: Helping the needy people of the society by working in government and non-government organizations.
• NGOs and Helpline Services: You can work in services like tele-counseling to provide emotional support.

For example, if a student is interested in social service, then he can become a child welfare officer or family counselor by studying BA Psychology.

Career options after BSc Psychology

• Research Scientist: You can work on psychological experiments in a university or research institute. For example – understanding the effect of stress on the brain.
• Neuroscientist: Conducting profound studies improving the brain structure, and functioning. The profession also deals with medical and pharmaceutical profession.
• Clinical Psychologist: curing mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD etc using scientific treatment such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
• Data Analyst: Working in companies to understand the data of people’s behavior and make strategies.

Which degree is better for you?

It totally depends on what kind of work you are interested in:

If you are interested in interacting with people, understanding their problems and working with society, then BA Psychology may be better for you.

If you have a keen interest in scientific research, brain structure, or medical psychology, then BSc Psychology may be more suitable for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the difference between BA and BSc Psychology?
Answer: BA focuses on social and cultural aspects, while BSc looks at psychology from a biological and neurological perspective.

Q: Can I become a clinical psychologist with BA Psychology?
Answer: Yes, but for this you will have to do further Master’s and clinical internship, as well as some study in research and statistics.

Question: What are the jobs one can get after doing BA Psychology?
Answer: Counselor, Social Worker, Human Resource Professional, NGO Worker, Educational Counselor etc.

Question: What are the career options after BSc Psychology?
Answer: Research Scientist, Neuroscientist, Clinical Psychologist, Behavioral Analyst etc.

Conclusion

Psychology is a very interesting subject, which opens the layers of human mind and behavior. BA and BSc – both degrees have their own importance. The only difference is in the method of study and future career direction.

If you want to go into social service, counseling, or education sector, then BA Psychology is an excellent option. On the other hand, if you are interested in research, science and biological structure of the brain, then BSc Psychology can prove to be more useful for you.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that you take the right decision by understanding your interest, strength and career goals. Studying psychology not only gives you a good career but also teaches you the art of understanding yourself and others better.