Bachelor of Applied Arts - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Bachelor of Applied Arts, often abbreviated as BAA or B.A.A. is an undergraduate degree

Undergraduate degree

An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...

. The term 'Applied' means that the degree is vocational

Vocational university

A vocational university is an institution of higher education and sometimes research, which provides both tertiary and sometimes quaternary education and grants academic degrees at all levels in a variety of subjects...

in nature, and not research

Research

Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...

-oriented.

Usage

The BAA is most often awarded in the Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

, especially in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

and New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. For example, the BAA is awarded by Mount Saint Vincent University

Mount Saint Vincent University

Mount Saint Vincent University is a university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was established in 1873 and is locally referred to as The Mount.-History:...

for child

Child

Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...

and youth

Youth

Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...

study, information technology

Information technology

Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...

and family

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

studies and gerontology

Gerontology

Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...

. Northland Polytechnic in New Zealand offers the BAA for the visual arts.

In Canada, the BAA is now being awarded by Ontario colleges (CAAT). Theses degrees started to be offered around 2002 by colleges in Toronto, with the highest quantity being offered by Humber College. How they compare to other regular degrees 4-year Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from a "University" is still to be scrutinized, especially in the liberal studies area.

On 20 February 2009 the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ronald Plasterk

Ronald Plasterk

Ronald Hans Anton Plasterk is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Education, Culture and Science from February 22, 2007 until February 23, 2010 in the Cabinet Balkenende IV. He has been a Member of the House of Representatives since June 17, 2010. He focuses on matters of...

, proposed to replace all the existing degrees offered by Dutch vocational universities, such as the BBA

BBA

BBA may refer to:*Bachelor of Business Administration, degree*Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO against child labour in India*Backyard Brawlers Association, a wrestling promotion based primarily out of Rockville Centre, NY*Balanced Budget Act, U.S...

, BEd

Bed

A bed is a large piece of furniture used as a place to sleep, relax, or engage in sexual relations.Most modern beds consist of a mattress on a bed frame, with the mattress resting either on a solid base, often wooden slats, or a sprung base...

and BEng

Beng

Beng may refer to:*Beng Spies, a voice actor*Kwek Leng Beng , Singaporean billionaire*Lim Eng Beng , former Philippine Basketball Association player*Ong Beng Hee , professional squash player...

, with the BAA and the BASc.

Usage

See also