Why are we given a BA?

toots_old · 07-12-2007 1:18pm #1

Why are Science graduates given a BA and not a BSc in Trinity? we're concerned because apparently a BSc looks better, and we do more lab work than alot of other universities!

Time Magazine · 07-12-2007 1:20pm

Welcome to a four-hundred year old university.

Dick Turnip · 07-12-2007 1:21pm

check this link and go to section re uk & ire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts

uglyjohn · 07-12-2007 1:22pm

are you sure about this? my sister did computer science and she got a BSc. anyway whatever the your degree is called is fairly irrelevant. you studied science in trinners. who cares about the name? a degree from trinity looks better anyway.

EGaffney · 07-12-2007 1:40pm

All standard four-year courses involve a BA at the end, it's tradition. Employers know that a BA (Dubl.) is functionally identical to a hypothetical BSc (Dubl.). For diplomatic reasons, I will reserve comment on its merits vis-a-vis a BSc (NUI).

europerson · 07-12-2007 1:47pm

If you don't like, you ought to have attended a college of a modern university, which would probably award Scientiæ Baccalaureus degrees to graduates in fields such as science. There are BSc degrees awarded in the University of Dublin, but they are usually only for evening courses.

Dermo · 07-12-2007 1:48pm

uglyjohn wrote: »

are you sure about this? my sister did computer science and she got a BSc. anyway whatever the your degree is called is fairly irrelevant. you studied science in trinners. who cares about the name? a degree from trinity looks better anyway.

night students of computer science get a BSc.
Full Time students get a BA(Mod) which is accredited by the engineers guild of ireland.

uglyjohn · 07-12-2007 1:51pm

oops, my mistake. she was a full time student, i probably just remembered wrong.

i got a b.a.i. (engineering) and they threw in a b.a. for sh*ts and giggles.

godtabh · 07-12-2007 2:09pm

uglyjohn wrote: »

i got a b.a.i. (engineering) and they threw in a b.a. for sh*ts and giggles.

No they didnt

xebec · 07-12-2007 2:39pm

As someone already mentioned, the reason we are awarded BAs is that we attend an old university. The BA (Mod) is the equivalent of BA (Hons) at other universities. I remember seeing a definition somewhere that a moderatorship is an honours degree awarded by the University of Dublin, so I guess it has some status and differentiation attributes too.

ApeXaviour · 07-12-2007 2:45pm

I think it's funny, and a good conversation piece that I've a BA in Physics.

shay_562 · 08-12-2007 9:18pm

xebec wrote:

As someone already mentioned, the reason we are awarded BAs is that we attend an old university.

But what about the Bbs they give you if you study BESS and take pure business?

Time Magazine · 09-12-2007 2:37pm

That's because "BESS" is actually called Economic and Social Studies. Initially, there was no Business component. You can lump in Business + A.N. Other into the B.A. job, but the University regulations got complicated when an ESS degree with no E, S or S was sought.

paperclip · 09-12-2007 7:08pm

We get a B.Sc (Pharmacy). I wonder if that's because it's a relatively new course....?

EGaffney · 09-12-2007 9:59pm

It is a vocational course. Vocational courses are given non-BA degrees. (Like law.)

Mark200 · 11-12-2007 4:56pm

What's the difference between BA and BSc?

Isn't there just a new system where you just say "level 8" or something like that?

DublinWriter · 11-12-2007 6:00pm

toots wrote: »

Why are Science graduates given a BA and not a BSc in Trinity?

Who cares. Stay alive for three years and claim your free MA.

EGaffney · 11-12-2007 6:16pm

Mark200 wrote: »

What's the difference between BA and BSc?

Isn't there just a new system where you just say "level 8" or something like that?

Baccalaureus Artium and Baccalaureus Scientiae. They are both just titles, there is no difference really. The coursework matters more than the name.

There is a new system, but doesn't it seem so dehumanising and... well... European Union-esque?

11-12-2007 7:37pm

Mark200 wrote: »

What's the difference between BA and BSc?

Isn't there just a new system where you just say "level 8" or something like that?

europerson · 11-12-2007 8:52pm

You just love showing that off, don't you, Myth?

11-12-2007 9:03pm

...just in case you didn't get it first time.

12-12-2007 12:53pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

Who cares. Stay alive for three years and claim your free MA.

Just something I remember being told... if you do this and then do a masters, and try to claim taxback on the masters, you won't be able to. So perhaps wait to get your MA when you have a masters/PhD under your belt.

Worth checking out the (now) official line on this, of course.

doonothing · 12-12-2007 1:40pm

Jesus. And I'm getting a B.Sc. in Multimedia!

DublinWriter · 12-12-2007 6:14pm

Myth wrote: »

Just something I remember being told... if you do this and then do a masters, and try to claim taxback on the masters, you won't be able to. So perhaps wait to get your MA when you have a masters/PhD under your belt.

Nope, sounds like complete BS to me, give the Proctor's Office a call.

12-12-2007 6:35pm

Try an accountant.. I can see the logic in what Myth is saying.

Istrancis · 28-03-2008 1:28am

Myth wrote: »

...just in case you didn't get it first time.

Has anyone got any idea what the difference between a level four Leaving Cert. and a level 5 Leaving Cert. is? It's something that I've been wondering about since I saw this poster at school.

Thanks in advance!

ApeXaviour · 28-03-2008 2:47am

I'm guessing the reason there is a division is due to the leaving cert applied program. It's a step up from the Junior Cert, but doesn't qualify one for higher level education.

PHB · 28-03-2008 10:27am

Myth wrote: »

Just something I remember being told... if you do this and then do a masters, and try to claim taxback on the masters, you won't be able to.

Does this work if it was a foreign postgrad?

paperclip · 28-03-2008 10:45am

level 4=5th year
Level 5=6th year?

That's what I always thought, anyway.

28-03-2008 11:55am

PHB wrote: »

Does this work if it was a foreign postgrad?

No idea - ask revenue!

sunnyjim · 28-03-2008 2:12pm

toots wrote: »

...and we do more lab work than alot of other universities!

Source?

AlexD · 28-03-2008 4:43pm

Gaffney made my point already.

On the issue of specific degree titles already, it doesn't really matter that much to a potiential employer. I'd say they put less emphasis on the two letters and more on your description of what you've studied etc.

The same issue is coming up with the demands of ITs to be made universities, a silly grounds for upgrading them. There are differences in degree titles and names all across the world, a French university awards a diplome, which is a degree not a diploma. Scottish universities award a Magister Artium (MA) for undergraduate study. American students commence summa cum laude etc and their degrees are structured differently with a greater emphasis on a liberal education.

Homogenising and destroying all our traditions to facilitate a couple of lazy people who could't be bothered to check the university's website or wikipedia is a bad idea. Do you really want to work for someone anyway who's so stupid that they would infer the content of the degree from the title?

shay_562 · 29-03-2008 12:52am

AlexD wrote:

Do you really want to work for someone anyway who's so stupid that they would infer the content of the degree from the title?

If they'll pay me well? Yes. Tradition Vs. personal interest, the latter wins every time.

snorlax · 29-03-2008 10:41am

got a Bsc too, or a BSc. Occ. Although my course used to run by UCD not TCD.

John · 29-03-2008 3:16pm

Myth wrote: »

I'm only a few hundred experience points from levelling up and being a level 10 mage, erm, student.

AlexD · 29-03-2008 5:37pm

shay_562 wrote: »

If they'll pay me well? Yes. Tradition Vs. personal interest, the latter wins every time.

That depends on your personal preferences. The point is that any reasonable person knows that the title of the degree matters less than the content. You can get full information on any course in any university with just a few clicks.

snorlax · 29-03-2008 8:21pm

Istrancis · 29-03-2008 11:57pm

Thanks for answering my question, Ape, Paperclip. I'd be inclined to agree with what you said about the LC Applied, Ape, I'd actually considered that that may be the level 4 Certificate, whereas the level five Certificate is given for completion of the traditional Leaving Cert.

Thanks again!

EGaffney · 31-03-2008 12:14am

Level 33 Pokemon = (Post)^23-doctorate on the fan diagram.

Level 4/5 for the Leaving Cert, on the other hand, exists so you can compare its standard with the standards of qualifications in other sectors, like FETAC awards.

the Leaving Certificate is treated as a single award, incorporating the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), the Leaving Certificate Established and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP). The published, general aims, objectives and outcomes associated with the various Leaving Certificate options, in their totality, are consistent with the level indicators at Levels 4 and 5 of the Framework so the award is viewed as involving learning outcomes and standards spanning these levels.

according to http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/frame_action/documents/DeterminationsfortheOutlineNFQ.pdf.

Why are we given a BA?

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