What Is the Difference Between M.B.A. & B.A. Degrees?

After all the years and time put in to receive a bachelor’s degree, further schooling could be a significant benefit. A master’s degree may seem like the next obvious step for a serious student. However, a bachelor’s degree in a complementary or second subject can also benefit a student’s professional career or help in the pursuit of specialized academic goals.

Some students find that they have a thirst for knowledge after wrapping up their college career. After graduation, if you intend to continue schooling but are on the fence of whether or not you should pursue an MBA vs. a bachelor's degree to add to your list of credentials, there are a few things to consider.

Depending on what industry or profession you hope to pursue, a second bachelor’s or a master’s can truly improve your professional goals. There is much to consider when pondering which degree to put your efforts into that will best serve your needs.

Basics of a B.A. Degree

Four-year collegiate institutions offer bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in a wide variety of areas. The B.A. degree is granted for liberal arts, social science and humanities. A B.S. degree focuses on math, technical and science subjects.

Each undergraduate degree typically requires a minimum of 120 course credits or more, depending on the student’s area of focus. A bachelor’s degree can be granted from a public, state, private, for-profit or not-for-profit institution.

Benefits of a Bachelor’s Degree

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree you can move on to a master’s or Ph.D. However, another bachelor’s degree in a subject along the same lines of your first can also be beneficial if you plan to extend your professional reach. A second bachelor of arts or science degree can complement a student’s other certificates, degrees or program completions to further their research pursuits or income within a specific industry.

If you are attempting a second bachelor’s degree you may want to include a dual major or second minor as well. These can help to round out a degree to fit in with previous studies. Choose minors and dual majors that will make you more attractive to potential employers.

Difference Between Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

A college degree opens up opportunities for your career. Attending college courses, hunkering down for extensive lab work and diving into research studies stimulates the students both intellectually and socially when they first pursue a B.A. The experiences that a student gains in college to get a B.A. can help in the professional world.

MBA vs. B.A: Which is better? A master’s degree can launch students into a career path that will widen their horizons and double what they would have otherwise made without the experience they gained in a higher degree program. A master’s degree requires two to three years of further study.

Benefits of a Master’s Degree

With a master’s degree in hand, graduates can transition to senior positions within a firm they are already employed with or stretch beyond their current employment opportunities. Master’s degree grads tend to pull in more than 30 percent more than their bachelor degree counterparts.

Some students become motivated to move onto a Ph.D. as they immerse themselves in the master’s degree workload. A master’s degree can improve your research and analytical skills and make moving on toward a Ph.D. a natural transition from your graduate studies.

Where to Apply for a Master’s or Bachelor’s

Staying with the school where you obtained your undergraduate degree when considering going after a second B.A. can make the pursuit smooth and easy. Often, you can transfer undergraduate credits to your next degree at the college. This can help you to get a second bachelor’s degree at a faster pace.

Online programs can streamline your class work and attach the MBA letters to your professional title at a faster pace than a traditional brick-and-mortar college. Networking and lab research opportunities are in abundance for online MBA students.