Bachelor of Arts Degree

Interested in a post-secondary degree with great career potential? A bachelor of arts gives you a broad base of knowledge and critical thinking skills that employers in a wide range of industries are looking for. Keep reading to learn more about areas of study, job opportunities and the real value of a bachelor of arts degree. Your future is in your hands!

What is a bachelor of arts (BA) degree?

Short answer: A bachelor of arts (BA) degree is a university degree rooted in the liberal arts. This means the topics covered will typically include classes in the humanities like history and philosophy, or in the social sciences like sociology, psychology or political science. 

A BA is the first degree you'd get after completing high school if you decide to go to university. They usually take about 4 years to complete. If you think you might also want a Master’s (MA) degree or PhD you’ll need to start with a BA.

One of the great aspects about a bachelor of arts is how well it can prepare you for a diverse range of careers. Through BA coursework, students gain valuable skills in critical thinking, research and problem solving. What’s more, bachelor of arts graduates usually have more flexibility and find better opportunities for competitive careers in industries as diverse as law, academia and government. 

In essence, a bachelor of arts degree is a university degree that can set you up for career success or prepare you for graduate school or other specialized post-grad programs.

Is a bachelor of arts a good degree?

Short answer: Absolutely! A BA is a good degree that provides a well-rounded education and solid foundation for building a successful career, or continuing your studies in grad school. 

A bachelor of arts degree from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) offers solid transferable skills that can help you find work in a wide variety of industries. Students graduate with: 

• A broad skill set
• A wide variety of career options
• A foundation for further academic pursuits
• Transferrable skills–critical thinking, communication, research, etc.

Ultimately, a bachelor of arts degree is a great post-secondary option for expanding your mind and gaining skills that will help move you forward in your career or academic goals.

What majors are available in a bachelor of arts program at TMU? 

The bachelor of arts program at TMU offers a wide range of majors across the humanities and social sciences.

• Humanities: English, History, Languages, Philosophy
• Social sciences: Criminology, Economics, Geographic Analysis, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
• Interdisciplinary programs: Arts and Contemporary Studies, Environmental and Urban Sustainability

Keep in mind, the above list is only a very small sample of all the bachelor of arts programs and majors you can take at TMU.

Can I double major or minor with a bachelor of arts degree at TMU?

Short answer: Absolutely! TMU’s bachelor of arts programs give students the flexibility to either pursue a double major or add a minor to their degree.

Overall, adding a double major or a minor to your bachelor of arts lets you broaden your horizons by specializing in more than one subject.

What is an honors degree?

Short answer: An honours degree is a four-year program with both coursework and a research component based on a topic of your choice, designed to strengthen critical thinking skills.

There are a lot of good reasons to go for an honours degree. For starters, it gives you an opportunity to dive even deeper into subjects that interest you. Some honours programs may even offer research opportunities that might not be available to regular BA students.

An honours designation also looks great on applications for everything from law school to teachers college, helping you stand out from the pack. What’s more, if you think you might like to keep going academically and apply to do a Master’s (MA) or PhD, an honours degree can help differentiate you from other applicants to the programs you’re interested in.

In essence, if you’re interested in diving even deeper into your chosen subject, or want to go on to grad school or professional college, an honours degree is a good option to consider.

Does the bachelor of arts at TMU offer co-op or internship opportunities? 

Short answer: Yes! A bachelor of arts degree at the Faculty of Arts at TMU offers co-op and experiential learning opportunities across 100% of our programs.

• Example: TMU’s Democracy Internships gives students an opportunity to gain real-world experience working for active political and community organizations. Some students even work directly with Members of Parliament.
• Benefit: Co-ops and internships give you an amazing opportunity to apply what you learn in the classroom, to solving problems in a professional setting. They also give you a chance to build a professional network and gain practical skills that can improve your career prospects after graduation.

At its core, a co-op or internship gives students an incredible opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to an actual work setting.

What skills do you gain from a bachelor of arts degree? 

Which career paths or professions can you pursue with a bachelor of arts degree? 

Final thoughts: From providing opportunities to pursue your interests to developing transferable skills, a bachelor of arts offers a lot of benefits for graduating students.

How do you get a bachelor’s degree?

Short answer: To get a bachelor’s degree at TMU you first need to apply through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC).

Ultimately, once you’ve been accepted to a bachelor of arts program, you’ll need to complete all the coursework and fulfill any other requirements the program asks for. Thankfully, TMU has resources to help you out at every step of the way.