Tourism has become one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide. With its rising popularity, many individuals are considering pursuing a degree in tourism to advance their careers. However, there seems to be confusion about whether tourism is a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree.
Let’s explore the differences between the two and see which category tourism falls under.
What is a BA Degree?
A BA degree is an undergraduate course that emphasizes on liberal arts subjects such as literature, philosophy, history, and social sciences. Students pursuing this degree gain knowledge and skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and creativity. A BA degree is typically awarded in fields like humanities, languages, and social sciences.
What is a BS Degree?
A BS degree is an undergraduate course that applies scientific methods to solve practical problems. Students pursuing this degree gain knowledge and skills in quantitative reasoning, analysis, research, and problem-solving. A BS degree is typically awarded in fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, and natural sciences.
So What About Tourism?
Tourism can be categorized as both a BA and BS degree depending on the program’s focus. In general terms, a BA in tourism focuses on developing students’ management skills while emphasizing cultural studies and social sciences like anthropology or sociology. On the other hand, a BS in tourism focuses on teaching students technical skills such as accounting or marketing while emphasizing environmental studies like ecology or geography.
BA in Tourism
A BA in Tourism aims at developing students’ managerial abilities to work efficiently within the travel industry. The coursework typically includes subjects related to business administration such as finance, marketing management along with subjects that provide an insight into cultural studies such as anthropology or sociology which helps students understand different cultures better.
Students who opt for a BA in tourism can expect to learn about hospitality, tourism management, and event planning. They also get to explore the significance of tourism in the global market and understand how to create sustainable tourism practices.
BS in Tourism
A BS in Tourism aims at preparing students with technical skills that are required to work in the travel industry. The coursework typically includes subjects related to business management such as accounting, marketing management along with environmental studies such as ecology or geography which helps students understand the impact of tourism on nature.
Students who opt for a BS in Tourism can expect to learn about tourism development, eco-tourism, and sustainable tourism practices. They also gain knowledge about how to use technology efficiently within the travel industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that while both BA and BS degrees have their importance, choosing between them depends on individual interests and career goals. Students who are interested in a managerial role within the travel industry may opt for a BA degree while those interested in technical roles may choose a BS degree.
It is important to note that whichever path you choose, pursuing a degree in tourism can open up many opportunities for you within this growing industry.