Is a BS worth spending another year in school?

October 28, 2008 12:31 PM

I'm working on a BA in chemistry, with a concentration in biochemistry. Compared to getting a BS, will it be harder for me to find a job when I graduate? If so, how much harder?

I realize that the economy sucks, all bets are off, etc.

If I want to switch to a chemistry BS, I'll need to take an additional year or more of math and physics, recapitulating the courses I took for my BS in Biology, which were part of a different track. Biology was my first degree—I started with a minor in chemistry, and switched to the full BA program when I started to look at the job prospects for biologists with only an undergrad degree.
I'm not going to graduate or professional school after I graduate.

posted by pullayup to work & money (13 comments total)

Some hiring managers might not even realize that your university offers a BS and you chose the BA.

If switching to the BS will delay your graduation, then don't do it. It's unlikely that it will improve your job prospects enough to be worth a year out of the workforce.
posted by grouse at 12:44 PM on October 28, 2008

It won't matter much. I have only a BA in chemistry, and it's never come up in a job interview or anything.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 12:46 PM on October 28, 2008

Thanks, you guys are reassuring. I should preemptively note that I'm also getting the BS in biology, if that makes a difference.
posted by pullayup at 12:47 PM on October 28, 2008

I've got a BA in a major that's usually offered as a BS (Computer Science). Nobody ever cared.
posted by Calloused_Foot at 12:51 PM on October 28, 2008

I agree with everyone so far, I don't think anyone will notice or care. My personal thinking is that a BA in a science field (like chemistry) is a very well-rounded choice.
posted by mjcon at 12:53 PM on October 28, 2008

For what it's worth, there's no systemic bias.

Many prestigious universities confer the B.A. upon all undergraduates regardless of major, and most high ranking universities grant the B.A. to pure science graduates (physics, math, biology), while the B.S. goes to applied graduates (engineering, business, etc.)

However, employers and graduate programs are well aware of when programs at a particular school can culminate in either BA or BS degrees, and of the differences between the requirements.

I must disagree with grouse and say that one more year is worth it if it serves your long term interests. The question you want to ask is whether your school is one of those schools where a meaningful distinction between BA and BS is drawn, and whether your ambitions would be shortchanged by opting for the BA.

(Preliminarily, though, you might want check with your advising service about your options. At my undergraduate school, where there was a distinct, and less rigorous, pre-med / life sciences track for lower division math / chemistry / physics, it required special dispensation to retake courses taken on the pre-med track at the hard-core track.)
posted by MattD at 1:03 PM on October 28, 2008

There's an off chance that it will come up, but most places will just assume you went to one of the many schools that does not offer a B.S. My undergrad was a B.A. in chemistry, and I don't recall being asked to explain it on job interviews (if it did come up, it didn't seem to hurt me).

That said, if you were to end up looking at grad school, they will get transcripts and the lack of classes (rather than the degree) could hurt your chances. Which is not to say I'd advise delaying graduation; just that it's something to keep in mind.
posted by Dr.Enormous at 1:18 PM on October 28, 2008

I'd say it actually gives you some flexibility in your resume. If you're going for a position where science is a plus, you have "a bachelors degree in chemistry", and if you're going for a position where writing or arts/humanities is a plus, you have a "Bachelor of Arts degree".
Same degree, but it can play to more situations.
posted by -harlequin- at 1:53 PM on October 28, 2008

I too have a BA in a traditionally BS field (Economics). No one even asked about it. My graduate degree is an MSc in what I'd have expected to be an MA -- I apparently like doing things backwards.
posted by TravellingCari at 2:57 PM on October 28, 2008

I got a B.A. in biology before getting a Ph.D. in biochemistry; the B.A. was the only degree conferred upon undergraduates by my university (as far as I can recall). Nobody has ever questioned it and I'd be surprised if anybody ever asks you about it either.
posted by Quietgal at 5:10 PM on October 28, 2008

I have a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering degree which is what some places give out. Doesn't matter as long as it's a real college.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 5:16 PM on October 28, 2008

I have a BA in Biology/Biochem-Cell&Molec/Philsophy, a MSc in Pathology/Immunology, and working on a PhD in Neuroscience (and I've worked in industry for a couple of years).

The BA is fine and if I'm in a position to hire someone, I'd give someone with a BA a second look over someone with a BS. The potential for a more well-rounded individual and all that.

If you're looking for a job in science with a bachelor's degree... you're very likely not ever going to be able to decide what you're researching. If that's ok with you, that's great. You're going to hit the ceiling really fast without a graduate degree (or hell, a successful post-doc or two), though.

However, if that's what you want, experience and good references (esp. organization, safety, attention to detail, work ethic) trumps grades and academic accolades.

There are, also, other things that you can do with an undergrad chemistry/biology degree. If you play it right, or do a MA in economics or geography or epidemiology, there are government jobs that you'd be very much qualified for.
posted by porpoise at 7:48 PM on October 28, 2008

I don't know, as I have a BS in biochemistry, but the temp in our lab has a BA from UCSB, and he swears to GOD that it has prevented him from finding a permanent position for the past two years. Personally, I think it's cuz he's dim and really creepy, but those two things haven't stopped others here from getting hired....
posted by wuzandfuzz at 10:09 PM on October 28, 2008