What is an A.B. degree?

An A.B. is an undergraduate degree awarded for the completion of a program in the liberal arts. A.B. is an abbreviation of the Latin term "artium baccalaureus," listed at most academic institutions as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.

A liberal arts program consists mainly of arts and humanities courses such as philosophy, history and languages. It also includes natural and social science courses such as astronomy and psychology.

The A.B. is sometimes confused with the S.B. (Bachelor of Science degree). Although both degree programs share similarities, the S.B. includes technical math and science courses that make it a more specialized degree.