BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Which One is Better?

When students pursue a career in Psychology and mental health, they have the option to pursue it through BA Psychology or through B.Sc Psychology. B.Sc Psychology is a three-year undergraduate courses that deals with the biological study of psychology, while BA Psychology three-year undergraduate courses that deals with more understanding and human-human bonding.

Let’s find out more about these courses in detail.

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Course Highlights

BA Psychology is a three-year degree offered by several universities and colleges. Students who enroll in this undergraduate course can specialize in core areas such as Organisational Psychology, Child Psychology, Social Psychology, etc. A degree in BA Psychology can help students create a career in Law, Counselling, Social work, and so on.

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B.Sc Psychology is a field of applied sciences that focuses on science and mathematical aspects of the domain. There is an emphasis on experiential learning, and students can use their theory education in practical cases. There is an enormous scope in the field of research and cross-field studying after graduation.

Read more on B.Sc Psychology

The comparison between BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology is detailed below.

Particular	BA Psychology	B.Sc Psychology
Full-Form	Bachelor of Arts in Psychology	Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Duration	3 years	3 years
Stream	Arts/Humanities	Science
Eligibility	10+2 cleared with a minimum 45% score	10+2 cleared with 50% aggregate scores in the science stream
Average Course Fees	INR 10,000 – 50,000	INR 20,000 – INR 2.5 Lacs

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Admissions

BA Psychology and B.Sc Psychology is an undergraduate course that most universities and multidisciplinary colleges offer. Students seeking admission in either course would have to score well in their class 12 exams and fulfill other eligibility criteria to get admission in the courses they desire. The eligibility criteria and top colleges are listed below.

To be eligible for studying BA Psychology students can complete their class 12 from any discipline; however, students pursuing B.Sc Psychology must have completed class 12 from a science stream, with Biology as one of the core subjects. Other eligibility criteria are as mentioned.

BA Psychology

• Students must have completed class 12 in any stream with a minimum of 45% aggregate scores.
• Some institutes conduct their entrance exams for admissions to their courses.
• Final admissions are based on merit or through Management Quota

B.Sc Psychology

• Students must have completed class 12 in the science stream with Biology as a core subject.
• The aggregate score in class 12 must be 50% or above.
• Some institutes conduct their entrance exams for admissions to their courses.
• Final admissions are based on merit or through Management Quota.

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Benefits of Pursuing

BA Psychology and B.Sc Psychology are exceptionally closely aligned with the growing concern of psychological issues in light of the pandemic. Both courses offer specialized training in the field and help students become well-versed in this science field. There are equal benefits of pursuing a degree in Psychology through a BA program or a B.Sc Program.

Benefits of Pursuing a BA Psychology

BA Psychology is a multidisciplinary course with a chosen specialization in the area of psychology. Students who pursue their career becoming mental health professionals through a degree in arts have the following advantages.

• A. Psychology is a course in the stream of humanities. Thus, in the course of study, students will encounter subjects from other disciplines such as sociology, cultural studies, etc., from a psychological perspective. Students may learn to specialize in forensics or social work, broadening the extent of the program to train students in these fields.
• A. Psychology is a course that focuses on interdisciplinary knowledge about the field of psychology. Students can expect to learn about the various schools of thought in the area and understand the theories that build the foundation of the course. The subjects also ensure the students have a multifaceted approach to the field.
• A. Psychology builds students to graduate in a way that helps them become practitioners in their field soon after graduation. Students with a BA degree can pursue careers in social work, human services, or journalism that require interpersonal and communication skills.

Benefits of Pursuing B.Sc Psychology

Students who choose the B.Sc route to gain a degree in psychology open avenues for research work, intensive training in experimental psychology, and many other benefits.

• A B.Sc in psychology consists of related coursework in subsets of psychology and specialized courses in neuroscience, quantitative analysis, and clinical psychology. Workplace, developmental, and addictions counseling concentrations train students for work in the field.
• Sc. Psychology has a higher application of concepts and more focus on experiential learning. The course is designed to build a concentration on the research and statistical aspect of psychology.
• Students with a B.Sc degree will work in healthcare, communications, and industrial-organizational psychology, including data collection and analysis. There is also a substantial scope of pursuing research work and higher education in this field.

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Higher Studies

After completing graduation in BA Psychology or B.Sc Psychology students may opt to pursue higher education in their fields. Higher education and other learning experiences are modeled after pursuing a specialization or gaining more knowledge and skills after graduating.

Higher Studies after BA Psychology

After completing graduation in BA Psychology, students can opt for the most natural step to pursue M.A. in Psychology or to look for more specialized courses. The details are as mentioned below.

• MA Psychology
• MSW
• MBA

Higher studies after B.Sc Psychology

B.Sc Psychology is a technical course with a heavy emphasis on research and analysis. If students wish to delve deeper into this area and gain expertise, they can pursue any studies below.

• M.Sc Psychology
• MBA

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Subjects 

The BA Psychology and B.Sc Psychology degree programs focus on behavioral and cognitive studies of the mind, emotions, and feelings. The following are the subjects covered by the courses:

BA Psychology Subjects

• Psychological Research
• Social Psychology
• English Communication
• Counseling Psychology 
• Behavior and Modification Counselling
• Statistical Methods For Psychological Research

Read more on BA Psychology Syllabus and Subjects

B.Sc Psychology Subjects

• Psychology and Social Issues
• Human Development
• Physiological Psychology
• General Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Computer Assisted Testing and Field Study

Read more on B.Sc Psychology Syllabus and Subjects

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Job Opportunities

After graduating from their bachelors’ course, students can also look for job opportunities in the fields that are open for them. Social work, counseling, and therapy are some of the areas that open up for BA Psychology students. Graduates from B.Sc Psychology can look for areas of employment in healthcare, counseling, and research.

Particular	BA Psychology	B.Sc Psychology
Areas of Employment	Social Work, Education, Therapy, Counselling, Teaching, HR, Advertising	Mental Healthcare centers, Mental Health Hospitals, Psychiatry Centres, HR
Job Opportunities	Career Counsellors, Teachers, Social Workers in NGOs, Recruiters, Day Care Supervisors, Organization Psychologist, Advertising Agent	Human Resource Executives, Psychology Assistant, Mental Health Counsellor, Research Scholar

With the growing requirement for mental health professionals in all fields, there are multiple options for students pursuing these courses in the job market. There is also the scope of earning higher when students pursue higher education, especially in sought-after fields like MBA. The career path for graduates in Psychology is filled with opportunities.

Read more on BA Psychology Jobs & B.Sc Psychology Jobs

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Salary

The salary is determined by the type, of course, that is taken. Furthermore, there are different pay scales for different specializations. Below you will find information about salaries for various courses.

According to Payscale, BA Psychology graduates may earn INR 4.87 LPA on average. Here are a few BBA job titles and salaries after graduation.

Designation	Salary
Psychologist	INR 3.86 LPA
School Counsellor	INR 2.56 LPA
Executive Assistant	INR 4.59 LPA
Communication Specialist	INR 7.45 LPA

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A B.Sc Psychology graduate may earn INR 4.23 LPA on an average, according to Payscale. A student's level of education and degree program may also determine how much money they earn. 

Designation	Salary
Operations Team Leader	INR 4.38 LPA
Human Resource Manager	INR 6.39 LPA
Senior Quality Assurance	INR 5.26 LPA
Senior Professional Service Consultant	INR 4.63 LPA

Read more on B.Sc Psychology Salary

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Top Colleges

The colleges that students opt for to pursue their graduation determine their learning experience and the depth of their knowledge. This makes studying in some of the top colleges crucial as students access the best faculty, learning material, and methodologies. Since the courses also require practical exposure, students are advised to study from institutes with ample resources to fulfill the course’s learning objectives.

Top Colleges for BA Psychology

• Lady Shriram College, New Delhi
• Christ University
• Fergusson College
• Gargi College Delhi University
• Isabella Thoburn College
• Mithibai College of Arts

Top Colleges for B.Sc Psychology

• Presidency College Chennai
• Xavier’s College Kolkata
• Madras Christian College
• Kirori Mal College
• Thiagarajar College

BA Psychology vs B.Sc Psychology - Which One to Pursue?

Students in class 12 who are gearing up for a career in psychology must be aware of the road ahead of them. The field is very intense but has enormous scope for personal as well as career advancement.

Job Opportunities: With the increasing awareness and emphasis on mental health in India, more eyes are turning towards psychology as a field of study. Employers are seeking graduates from this field more than ever, and there are many opportunities for advancement.

Rewarding Careers: Mental health professionals may not earn much in the initial stages of their practice, but their careers are enriching from a mental and emotional standpoint. Their careers help them improve people's lives and help them become the best version of themselves. As their experience in the field increases, their salaries also increase significantly.

The career opportunities after graduating from B.Sc Psychology or BA Psychology is immense, and the allure of the career does not seem to be fading anytime soon. With a solid knowledge base and practical experience in the field, students can find themselves building highly lucrative jobs.