User:Crystia12/sandbox

Definition
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is an undergraduate postsecondary degree that puts a focus on liberal arts and studies. In comparison, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) has a greater focus on science, math, and engineering. The Bachelor of Arts Degree is a type of Baccalaureate degree. A Bachelor of arts degree is usually completed in 4 years because they require 4 years of full-time coursework to earn. However, just like with other degrees, some may require a longer time period. This is due to factors of the student’s ability and movie to earn the degree. Just like other Baccalaureate degrees, Bachelor of Arts was traditionally offered at the only public and private 4-year universities and colleges. Bachelor of Arts, just like other bachelor's degrees is an admission requirement for graduate and professional school. Being in the 1990s, community colleges started to confer their own baccalaureate degrees. There are many more goal or career-specific Bachelor of Arts degrees. There is just a “Bachelor of Arts” but there is also a Bachelor of Arts in Administration, Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies, and Regents Bachelor of arts.

History
The Bachelor of Arts degree has been prominent in academics for centuries. It has influenced and lead to universities focusing on broad topics such as Algebra, Psychology, Biology, Art, History, and Philosophy. This aspect of the BA degree has been consistent in is history. The creation of the Bachelor of Arts degree was formed out of the study of Liberal Arts. Liberal Art is a term that was applied to the study of many branches of learning such as grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. The study of Liberal Arts started during the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, the term Liberal Arts was meant to be more broadly to describe general studies. This definition of liberal studies remains to this day. The Bachelor of Arts degree has all it's majors and credits attached and connected to the topics of liberal studies. For most of its history, Bachelor of Arts degrees was given only by 4 years public or private institutions and colleges. In the 1990s, other colleges like community colleges started to give out their own Bachelor of Arts degrees. Due to the rise of the internet, most online colleges now offer Bachelor of Arts degrees. In recent decades, Bachelor of Science degrees have become more prominent in higher education institutions. Bachelor of Science degrees often have more focus on math, science, and technology so, many institutions are moving away from liberal arts. The internet and online space have also moved away from the liberal arts focus on Bachelor of arts programs towards the types of disciplines found and focused in the Bachelor of Science. Despite this change, most traditional institutions, public and private alike do still offer Bachelor of Arts programs for online students.

United States
Along with B.S. or Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts is the most common granted degree in the US. B.A. Degrees are given after 4 years of studying at a college. Bachelor of Arts or undergraduate degree in the United States usually have the same association. Most US colleges and universities offer undergraduate programs. The two undergraduate programs are Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Bachelor of Arts degree is the most common undergraduate degree in the United States. Some Bachelor of Arts degrees have marks on them. These marks are either cum laude, with praise, Magna cum laude, with great praise, or summa cum laude, with the highest praise. There are a few differences between the United States and Europe. Unlike in Europe, most students earn their Bachelor of Arts over four years of college. In Europe, there are programs that can earn a student a Bachelor of Arts degree after 3 years of college. In the US, anyone can earn a master’s degree after they earn their Bachelor of Arts degree. Anyone trying to earn their master’s degree needs to complete one or two years of postgraduate work. Bachelor’s degree in arts and science is not a university degree in Europe. For instance in France, most of the schools are state-owned so the degree is acquired by passing a state examination at the completion of secondary education.