What Does a B.A. Degree Stand For?

The B.A. degree stands for a Bachelor of Arts degree that undergraduate students receive after completion of a 4-year program at a college or university. Another abbreviation used for this degree is A.B., which stands for the Latin words “Artium Baccalaureus.”

To receive this degree, a student’s major area of study is usually in liberal arts, humanities, or the social sciences. Some typical programs for a B.A. degree are philosophy, English literature, anthropology and sociology. On a diploma, the field of specialization follows after the title Bachelor of Arts, such as Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Students can complete this type of degree by receiving instruction in different settings that include on-campus, distance learning, or taking online classes.