Bachelor of Arts

degree

Also known as: A.B., B.A.

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a program of study, typically lasting three to six years. This degree usually signifies that the recipient has completed a number of courses in the humanities. It is often a prerequisite for pursuing postgraduate studies, such as a master's degree or doctorate. Common fields of study for a B.A. include English, history, social sciences, and psychology. The degree abbreviation is B.A. or A.B..12

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degree
…American universities customarily grant the bachelor’s as the first degree in arts or sciences. After one or two more years of coursework, the second degree, M.A. or M.S., may be obtained by examination or the completion of a piece of research. At the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, holders of…
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…American universities customarily grant the bachelor’s as the first degree in arts or sciences. After one or two more years of coursework, the second degree, M.A. or M.S., may be obtained by examination or the completion of a piece of research. At the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, holders of…
Read More

bachelor’s degree
Degree types include the popular Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) as well as the Bachelor of Literature (B.Lit.), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. or B.T.). The American education system distinguishes between the major, or primary, field of study and the minor field…
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Degree types include the popular Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) as well as the Bachelor of Literature (B.Lit.), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. or B.T.). The American education system distinguishes between the major, or primary, field of study and the minor field…
Read More