# Going back to school for a second B.A. - is it possible?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 20, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734 "2010-02-20T04:24:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/1 "2010-02-20T04:24:36Z")
more importantly, is it possible to have the lion’s share of your previous undergrad classes transfer in?
Basically, what I would be interested in doing is getting another major to completely re-orient my career.
So, say for example I had a B.A. in English, and I wanted to get into a profession like Nursing or Accounting.
Do you have to go and repeat the entire 4 years? what kind of options are there?
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/2 "2010-02-20T04:51:46Z")
As long as your degree is from an accredited school, your core classes should transfer and you would only have to take major classes plus whatever math or science etc is required in your new major that wasn’t for the old one.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/3 "2010-02-20T04:53:50Z")
Sure, it’s possible. I had a friend who did it. He had a BS in chemistry with a minor in accounting. (Yeah, he’s a real party animal.) He decided he wanted more formal training as a musician so he went back on got a second BA in music. All of his general-education credits and electives that he could use towards the second degree counted, so it only took him like a year and a half of nights and weekends.
But it might be worth investigating a master’s program, too. Not all courses of study require a bachelor’s in the same field to begin a master’s degree.
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/4 "2010-02-20T05:06:16Z")
> [@friedo](#):
>
> But it might be worth investigating a master’s program, too. Not all courses of study require a bachelor’s in the same field to begin a master’s degree.
Any respectable, decent-paying professions (let’s say 60-90k) have masters-level novitiate programs?
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/5 "2010-02-20T05:07:37Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#):
>
> As long as your degree is from an accredited school, your core classes should transfer and you would only have to take major classes plus whatever math or science etc is required in your new major that wasn’t for the old one.
Thanks. Are there any time limits on this? or could you conceivably go back 10 years later and still transfer the stuff?
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### Author:  [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/6 "2010-02-20T05:19:19Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Thanks. Are there any time limits on this? or could you conceivably go back 10 years later and still transfer the stuff?
Ooh, that’s what I’d like to know, too…only I’m talking 20 years!
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### Author:  [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/7 "2010-02-20T05:20:47Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Thanks. Are there any time limits on this? or could you conceivably go back 10 years later and still transfer the stuff?
I think it depends on the school. Here is part of what the University of Alabama in Huntsville has to say about transferring undergraduate courses:
[quote=]
Transfer Credits from other Colleges / Universities
The eligibility of your transfer credits depends on the subject matter of each credit and the accreditation status of the institution that awarded each credit. Credits in academic subjects are usually eligible for transfer if they were awarded by an institution accredited by one of the regional agencies recognized by the American Council on Education.
Transfer coursework will appear on your UAH transcript, however, the academic department offering your major will determine if each course will apply toward your degree. If you are transferring from an accredited four-year institution, the number of hours you may transfer is unlimited. However, remedial, technical, vocational, and orientation credits are not considered.
[/quote]
I know that it is usual for there to be a time limit (5-10 years) on the age of graduate courses to be transferred or substituted, but it doesn’t appear to be as restrictive for undergraduate courses.
I’m sure others can shed more light on this; I didn’t do any kind of comprehensive search outside my own university.
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/8 "2010-02-20T05:40:44Z")
My husband graduated from GA Tech in 1987 and went back to school (for a history degree) in 2006. In his case, he took some extra history classes, then started grad school. But all of his classes transferred, excluding the specialized major stuff from Tech.
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### Author:  [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/9 "2010-02-20T17:36:50Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Any respectable, decent-paying professions (let’s say 60-90k) have masters-level novitiate programs?
Not master’s level, but there are some nursing schools out there that have second bachelor’s programs.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/10 "2010-02-20T19:06:52Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Any respectable, decent-paying professions (let’s say 60-90k) have masters-level novitiate programs?
[Physician’s Assistant](http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm#training)
Unlike a nurse, a PA can directly treat patients, interpret lab work, diagnose, and write prescriptions within the (relatively more limited than a nurse’s) field of their training.
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/11 "2010-02-20T19:17:26Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> Any respectable, decent-paying professions (let’s say 60-90k) have masters-level novitiate programs?
I dunno how respectable it is , but there are [MPA programs](http://www.spea.iupui.edu/graduate/mpa/)(master of Public Affairs) that accept anybody with a BA (and the desire to be a bureacrat. 🙂 )
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/12 "2010-02-20T19:41:43Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> [Physician’s Assistant](http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm#training)
>
> Unlike a nurse, a PA can directly treat patients, interpret lab work, diagnose, and write prescriptions within the (relatively more limited than a nurse’s) field of their training.
ugh. can’t really handle blood and pus - if i could i would’ve tried to go to doctor school years ago.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/13 "2010-02-20T19:49:54Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#):
>
> ugh. can’t really handle blood and pus - if i could i would’ve tried to go to doctor school years ago.
I thought you were considering Nursing per the OP?
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### Author:  [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/14 "2010-02-21T00:26:03Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> I thought you were considering Nursing per the OP?
I was just using that as an example of a profession that seems to have the most career entrances at the BA level.
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### Author:  [@dragoncat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragoncat)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2010, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/15 "2010-02-21T07:13:38Z")
FYI, compare the tuition prices when you are comparing between bachelors and masters level. Tuition for graduate courses can be a lot higher. True, you will earn more …
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### Author:  [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2010, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/16 "2010-02-21T09:40:38Z")
Many schools will not allow you to get a second B.A. You can get a second Bachelor’s degree, but it must be a different sort—for example, if you already have a B.A., then your second undergraduate degree would have to be a B.Sc. or a B.E. or some such. If you want to do another arts-based degree, then it would have to be an M.A. or Ph.D. If the subject area is sufficiently different from your undergraduate major, you might have to take undergraduate classes at your own expense to catch up.
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### Author:  [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/17 "2010-02-21T13:09:36Z")
I’m pretty sure you can get an MBA with a wide variety of undergraduate degrees.
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### Author:  [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)
#### Post date: [February 21, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-back-to-school-for-a-second-b-a-is-it-possible/529734/18 "2010-02-21T13:24:36Z")
Generally speaking, to get a second bachelor’s degree, you have to fulfill (1) all of the major requirements for your second degree, and (2) at least 30 additional hours–but this varies by institution (I’m at an institution that requres an additional 32).
So, say you’ve got a degree in History with a minor in Geography. You want a second degree in Geography, which requires 40 hours of major work (including supporting courses in geology, history, or whatever). Thanks to your first degree, you have 20 of these. At the discression of the department\* with the approval of the college\*\*, these will be “waived.” Since you entered as a post-bac student, your Gen Ed requirements will be waived. So you’ll need to take the remaining 20 hours of major work PLUS an additional 10 (12 at my school) of… well, anything.
Now, if you have a degree in English with a Theater minor and want a second degree in Physics, you’ll still be post-bac and exempt from the Gen Ed, but they might ask for 40 hours of physics coursework alone PLUS 12 hours of calculus (and “hidden” requirements for those in the form of prereqs–and you may only have algebra), 6 hours of chemistry, and so on. So, you’ll be 58+ hours away from your second Bachelor’s degree with no room (or need for) free electives.
\*Unless you’re looking for a second B.?. in a really snotty department who thinks that State’s Geography 101 is vastly inferior to their Geography 101, in which case you should really seriously consider a different program or university!
\*\*The college will rubber-stamp the department’s approval, unless the political atmosphere is fucked up; see advice above.
Now, professional Bachelor’s programs (e.g., Nursing) will have all sorts of additional requirements, like clinicals, but you should still be exempt from all the Gen Ed stuff.