Bachelor's in Psychology: BA vs. BS
A bachelor's degree in psychology is consistently one of the most popular undergraduate majors, but its utility is often misunderstood.
The Hard Truth
It is crucial to understand that a bachelor's degree alone does not qualify you to work as a licensed psychologist or therapist. It is almost entirely a preparatory degree.
BA vs. BS: Which Should You Choose?
Most universities offer two tracks. The choice depends on your long-term graduate school goals.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA): Focuses more on liberal arts, humanities, and elective courses. Ideal if you plan to go into counseling, social work, or non-psychology fields like marketing, law, or HR.
- Bachelor of Science (BS): Requires more math, statistics, and hard science courses (like biology and chemistry). Better preparation for medical school (psychiatry), neuroscience, or heavily research-focused PhD programs.
| Career Goal | Recommended Track |
|---|---|
| Therapist (LCSW, LPC) | BA (focus on clinical electives) |
| Psychiatrist (MD/DO) | BS (fulfills pre-med requirements) |
| Neuroscience Researcher | BS (focus on stats and bio) |
Do you even need a Psychology Bachelor's?
Surprisingly, no. If you know you want to be a clinical psychologist, you do not strictly need a bachelor's in psychology. Many doctoral and master's programs accept students with degrees in English, Business, or Biology, provided they complete prerequisite courses (typically Intro to Psych, Statistics, Abnormal Psych, and Research Methods).
FAQ
Without graduate school, psychology majors often work in HR, sales, marketing, psychiatric technician roles, case management, or administrative positions.
Next steps: See how a bachelor's feeds into Master's programs.