Bachelor Degree Types: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor in Business Administration
Students may choose from two primary Bachelor degree types: Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programs or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programs.

The Bachelor of Arts degree offers these characteristics for students to consider:

• Most appropriate for students who want the flexibility of liberal arts in interdisciplinary studies, with a wide range of electives.
• Most suitable for students who plan to focus on literature studies, communications and language, the humanities, or social sciences such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, economics, and international relations.

The Bachelor of Science degree offers these characteristics for students to consider:

• Most appropriate for students who enjoy more intensive studies for career paths such as engineers, teachers, researchers, scientists, lawyers, and business owners.
• Most suitable for students who plan to focus on math, computer science and technology, engineering, or sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics.

Within either the BA or BSc degree programs, students may also choose a concentration. There are about two dozen or more possible specialty fields, but here are 10 popular areas of concentration:

• Bachelor of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Computer Science
• Bachelor of Education
• Bachelor of Engineering
• Bachelor of Finance
• Bachelor of Health
• Bachelor of Marketing
• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor of Technology

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree offers these characteristics for students to consider:

• Most appropriate for students in the business field, with a wide range of specializations.
• Most suitable for students who plan to focus on business, economics, finance, management, entrepreneurship, and international relations.

Common General Education Courses
Before students delve into their areas of concentration, they typically must take core or foundation courses, otherwise known as general education courses, depending upon what each specific institution and respective BA, BSc or BBA degree program requires. Some of the categories of common general education introductory courses include the following :

• Arts and Humanities, including art appreciation, music appreciation, drama, and the humanities such as language and literature, philosophy and religion.
• Behavioral and Social Sciences, including psychology and sociology.
• Biology and Physical Science.
• Computer studies, including basic computer applications and online research techniques.
• Language and Communications, including composition and research writing, literature, and communication media.
• History, civilization studies, and world history.
• Mathematics, including general and finite math.
• Philosophy and contemporary issues.
• Business, Economics, and Management.

Benefits of Earning a Bachelor's Degree
When thinking about pursuing a bachelor's degree one should consider the time, effort, and money one must invest. Individuals pondering the idea, however, of going to school - or back to school -should consider the following benefits:

• Many employers now consider a bachelor's degree as mandatory for entry-level positions across a wide variety of fields and industries.
• Individuals with bachelor's degrees improve their opportunities for career advancement and promotions, as well as gain an edge in the hiring process over those who do not have bachelor's degrees.
• Certain fields are considered in high demand and continue to grow faster than average among all industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Individuals with bachelor's degrees can gain an edge on the competition in areas such as healthcare, education, technology, and other professional areas.
• Individuals with bachelor's degrees can increase their earning power. For instance, referencing American students, a 2012 report by the U.S. News University Directory highlighted the importance of earning at least a four-year degree in this statement: "Americans with a four-year degree can expect to see weekly earnings that are 64% higher than their peers who did not attend college."

Cost of Pursuing a Bachelor's Degree
Education, like so many things in today's world, is expensive. Rising tuition costs, as well as room and board for residential students, or commuting costs for non-residential students, and expensive textbooks, all contribute to the high cost of education. Yet the investment of time, money, and effort will certainly be worth it in the long run. Fortunately, many students are eligible for some form of student financial aid to cover a significant part of their expenses. Depending on where a student lives, student loans or other financial aid would be essential

To Study or Not to Study?
The thought of going into debt for student loans and investing the money, time, and effort to one's studies may seem daunting. Yet, in today's world, higher education is nearly a necessity in order to succeed. Ultimately it is up to each individual to determine if he or she is willing and able to make the commitment to pursue a bachelor's degree in an area of interest.