BFA? BS? BA? AA?
Why you should know the difference.
When researching colleges it’s important to know which degrees are offered for each major as this greatly impacts your academic requirements and experience. In general, the three main bachelors degrees offered are: a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) (or Bachelors of Musical Arts (BMA)), a Bachelors of Science (BS), and a Bachelors of Art (BA). Most schools require a total of 120 credits to graduate with the general guidance that most courses are three credits each (the general rule is that a classroom hour equals a credit), meaning that students are required to take about 40 courses over four years. No degree is more valuable than another, there have been successful artists with BA degrees and well respected doctors with BFA degrees. Your undergraduate degree is the foundation of your education but there are many paths you can take with any course of study.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMA)
A Bachelors of Fine Art (BFA) or Bachelors of Musical Arts (BMA) degree usually requires that about 70-80% of your courses are in your chosen area of study. The remaining courses are usually required general education courses with maybe an allowance for a few electives. Only a few BFA/BMA programs allow you to pursue a minor. This provides an intensity that you might not find in a BS/BA program as most BFA/BMA programs have a defined foundation year in the visual arts and very prescribed coursework in the performing arts. For this reason, few BFA programs allow for a semester abroad and if they do they are usually part of the curriculum. Most BFA/BMA programs require you to apply specifically to that program and have an advanced knowledge of the subject beforehand, hence visual arts BFA programs require portfolios and performance based BFA/BMA programs require auditions. A BFA/BMA is a great option if you are sure of your chosen area of study. The downside of a BFA/BMA is that switching majors often requires you to start your studies almost from the beginning, which can be costly in both time and tuition. Some visual arts BFA programs allow students to transfer in to them, most performing arts BFA programs do not.
Bachelor of Science (BS)
A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree usually requires that about 50-60% of your courses are in your chosen area of study. The remaining credits can allow you to minor and/or take a variety of electives in addition to a college’s general education requirements. Most schools that offer a BS in the arts do not allow you to double major, only to minor in addition to your BS. Usually visual and performing arts programs that are NOT offered as a BFA are offered as a BA, though some schools do offer a BS. The BS usually means that there are more STEM oriented courses required for the major. These courses may include math/science courses for design students, or programing courses for animation or game arts majors, or math/science courses in engineering for sound design students. Some schools require you to declare your major for a BS at the end of freshman year to allow time to take all the requirements by graduation.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree usually requires that about 35-40% of your courses are in your chosen area of study. The remaining credits can be used to double major or minor as well as take many classes outside your area of study. A BA is the most flexible degree if you want to take a semester or year abroad. A BA allows often allows students to explore possible areas of study before declaring their major, usually at the end of their sophomore year. While most visual and performing arts students assume that they must pursue a BFA, there are some excellent BA programs in the arts. For the performing arts, if they require an audition, it is usually a prerequisite for declaring your major.
Some schools may offer a BFA and a BA in the same subject, in this case the BFA is likely to be more hands on and more creatively focused, whereas the BA in the same subject is likely to be more theoretical and historically based. A frequent example is a BFA in Film teaches the technical aspects of creating movies, including camera work, lighting, sound, screen writing, producing, etc. A BA in Film is usually focused on discussing films and their cultural and historical impact and relevance.
Associates of Arts (AA) or Associates of Fine Arts (AFA)
Associates of Arts (AA) or Associates of Fine Arts (AFA) are two year degrees that can often be used to fulfill initial requirements towards a four year degree. Many community colleges offer an AA or AFA and this can be a perfect choice for students wanting to “test the waters,” save some money (they are often far less expensive than four year colleges), or continue to live at home for the first years of college. Some students may decide to stop after graduating with an AA or AFA, others may choose to continue on to earn a Bachelors Degree, which are four year degrees. Most often continuing to receive a Bachelors Degree requires transferring to a four year college. When you take this route make sure to check that there are articulation agreements (agreements allowing the transfer of credits between two schools) which will make continuing your degree far easier and less expensive as the credits will transfer. Also make sure that ALL your credits will transfer, especially if you are considering a BFA program as many programs are quite specific about their required courses and sequence and may not allow for transferring these credits, adding to the expense of your education.
The exact calculations of numbers of credits, degrees (BFA/BMA, BS, BA and minors) offered by subject, and other requirements for graduation varies tremendously by school. ALWAYS CHECK SPECIFIC SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS. These descriptions are meant only to provide a generalized understanding of the terms.