What is a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science?
	A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (abbreviated B.S.) are the two types of undergraduate degree granted by Illinois College. Your diploma will either be for a B.A. or B.S. no matter what your major is and no matter how many majors you complete. You may see the Bachelor of Arts abbreviated A.B. in some old Illinois College records, the Latin abbreviation for Artium Baccalaureum or Bachelor of Arts. We are sometimes asked which is better: the answer is that neither is “better” but some disciplines have a degree which is more commonly received and students in those disciplines will be advised that there is a preference by their department. There is no standard definition among colleges of requirements for a B.A. and B.S. – they simply represent different general requirements as you complete your major. At Illinois College a B.A. requires two additional courses in Humanities or Fine Arts beyond our General Education requirements and outside the discipline of your major. A B.S. requires two additional courses in Physical or Natural Sciences, Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning, or Social Sciences beyond our General Education requirements and outside the discipline of your major. Students at Illinois College may receive only one degree at a commencement, so all your majors will have the same degree requirements. If you return after graduation to Illinois College, you must complete the other degree requirements which you did not complete the first time along with your new major.  Details are in the relevant academic catalog.