Im a Geology Major currently in the B.A. program should I switch to the B.S.? Can I go to grad school with the

Question

Im a B.A. Geology Major, Should I switch to the B.S.? Can I get into grad school with the B.A.? Will I still make decent money with the B.A.?

Answer 1

As a working geologist with enough experience that I am frequently asked to interview job candidates, I would say that I would give preference to a B.S. over a B.A. However, it really depends on the individual. If for example I badly needed a geologist with GIS skills who had a B.A., and none of the B.S. candidates had GIS experience, guess who I would recommend? If on the other hand I wanted a geologist to train for doing regional studies and I had two candidates, one with a B.S. and one with a B.A., who had similar skill levels, I would probably pick the B.S. That's just how it is, the B.S. is more respected.

As for grad school, again in my experience it depends on 1)grades, 2)your test scores, and finally, most importantly, how badly a professor wants you as a grad student. If they want you badly enough, they will just make you take extra undergrad level classes to meet the level they expect. For example, if you were not required to take physics or two semesters of calculus as a B.A. the school would likely require you to add these to your grad student curriculum in order to address your deficiencies. Depending on the school you apply to, and the program, there will be different requirements, but it is likely you will end up taking some make-up classes in grad school to address the B.A.

In some respects, the current job market for geology majors is going to change the answer to your question. Because there are shortages of geologists I am seeing companies hiring candidates with Bachelor's degrees when in the past they would not have considered anything below a Master's degree (at lower pay than the Master's of course). In the long run, the M.S. and B.S. are likely to earn the most, but again, this really depends on the individual. When the job market changes, and there is more competition, the B.A. may be a disadvantage. With every year of work experience you add to that B.A., the less significant it will be in the eyes of a potential employer.

Keep in mind, that I am writing this in the context of five fields that geologists most often go into: 1) petroleum 2) mining 3)environmental, 4)higher education, or 5) government. If you decided to combine a B.A. in geology with a J.D. (law degree) or an M.B.A. (business) you might find it makes no difference and your future might still be very bright. If for example, you got a B.A. and managed to win a Rhodes Scholarship, I doubt the B.A. would ever hold you back (at least one of this year's Rhodes Scholars has a B.A., and there is one geologist- who I suspect has a B.S.).

Answer 2

Like someone already said, different interests play a big role. I'm not arguing that some majors aren't easier than others. I am arguing that just because someone doesn't choose one particular major doesn't mean they aren't capable of earning a degree in it. Also, what makes a major more intellectually demanding than another? Men tend to choose math and science related majors in a higher percentage than women, and some would argue that those are more difficult, which is what I'm guessing you're implying. I admit that I'm not great at math. I could never be a physics major, but I'm pursuing a degree in History because I have a great memory, and I can write. So, no I could never be a chemist or a physicist, but I can retain large amounts of information that I read only one time, and I can write papers about the downfall of a society. Why is my major any less difficult just because it doesn't require complex formulas and the propensity to be an evil genius? And I know my personal experience doesn't say anything about women as a whole, but women have always chosen more service-based or interactive, social professions, and most of these "easy" majors that you talk about lead to jobs like that. This is a useless question, anyway, though. Easy and intellectual are such relative terms. You can't do everything I can do, and I can't do everything you can. That doesn't make you better or more intelligent or proof that men are more "intellectually capable."

Answer 3

No problems getting into grad school with a BA (all other things being equal), especially if you have a secondary concentration (declared or not) in a related science such as biology, physics, or chemistry. If you want to go right to work, you would be better off with a BS.

My source is the advice I received from my professors in 1979 (I went to a very good grad school with just a BA). Little has changed in that regard since, except perhaps the value of even the BS is less, and decent employment opportunities now require a minimum of a MS.

Answer 4

B.A. is decent but B.S program is better and more job operatunity. ex. to be a teacher you need at least a bechelors degree. Personal experience. will be transfering to B.S. program myself. You can get into grad school without a doubt as long as your GPA is within their standards.