The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is available in a variety of general areas. Many universities don't offer certain specialized degrees, such as a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (BChE). Instead, a university might offer a BS in chemistry designed to allow a student to go on for further post-graduate work in chemical engineering. Other common nonspecialized BS degrees include concentrations in physics, computer science, astronomy, biochemistry, mathematics and statistics. In many cases, a BS degree will require fewer courses in a specific concentration and more lower division, usually taken during your freshman and sophomore year, classes in areas outside of your chosen major or concentration. These liberal education classes create a more well-rounded education.
A Bachelor of Applied Science, sometimes called a BAS and other times a BASc, is a degree that focuses less on liberal arts and sciences and more on the applied, technical aspects of various sciences. It is a degree more suitable to people wishing to pursue a technical career without continuing on for a master's degree. Examples of fields where BASc degrees are available include biomedical engineering, computer engineering and electronics engineering. BASc degrees generally target people who have a two-year applied science degree and some work experience in the field of study. Some BASc programs are only two years because of an assumption of an existing two-year degree.
Two common specialized Bachelor of Science degrees are the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) and the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BChE). BSEE degrees offer students hands-on work in problem solving and analysis specific to the field of electrical engineering. BChE are similar but offer technical training in chemistry-related fields, including biochemistry. Engineering specific degrees give specialized analytical skill in a particular field.
Some colleges and universities offer a number of other specialized BS degrees. A BS degree specializing in math is the BMath degree. Some institutions may offer a more specialized Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, called a BComSci or BSC degree. Schools specializing in business may offer a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or a Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSE). Each of these degrees indicates more work in the area of specialization than a basic BS degree.