- The correct way to spell master’s degree is with an apostrophe, not masters degree.
- The apostrophe in master’s indicates a possessive (the degree of a master), not a plural.
- A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic qualification that typically follows the completion of a bachelor’s degree.
- If referring to a specific master’s degree, remove the possessive apostrophe-s and capitalize both master and the field of study, as in Master of Science.
- The same rules apply to bachelor’s degree (correct) versus bachelors degree (incorrect).
Even those with a master’s degree are sometimes confused about how to spell it correctly. Here, we’ll discuss how to write master’s degree, explain the rules behind it, and provide examples of using master’s degree and bachelor’s degree correctly.
Table of contents
Master’s degree vs. masters degree
Is it bachelor’s degree or bachelors degree?
Master’s degree and bachelor’s degree examples
Master’s degree vs. masters degree FAQs
What is a master’s degree?
A master’s degree is a postgraduate academic qualification that typically follows the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Depending on the program and whether it’s pursued part-time or full-time, it usually requires one to three years of study.
Master’s degree programs often combine coursework, research projects, and sometimes a thesis or capstone project. These degrees can enhance a person’s expertise in a specific field, improve career prospects, and may be required for certain professions or doctoral studies.
Common examples of master’s degrees include:
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Laws (LLM)
- Master of Education (MEd)
There are also many other specialized master’s degrees, such as Master of Research (MRes), Master of Public Health (MPH), and Master of Social Work (MSW).
Master’s degree vs. masters degree
The correct spelling is master’s degree, with an apostrophe, not masters degree.
Why does master’s degree have an apostrophe?
The term master’s degree is possessive; the degree belongs to a master. When someone is awarded a master’s degree, they are recognized as having sufficient knowledge in a field of study to be called a master of it. That’s why the correct way to spell master’s degree is with a possessive apostrophe—it’s the degree of a master.
Why is it important to spell master’s degree correctly?
Spelling master’s degree correctly demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. It reflects an understanding of academic terminology, which is crucial in educational and professional settings. Misspelling it as masters degree may undermine your credibility in formal communications, applications, or résumés.
Should master’s degree be capitalized?
When you write master’s degree without mentioning the specific field of study, it should always be lowercase unless Master’s is the first word of a sentence. When referring to a specific degree, leave out the apostrophe-s and capitalize both the word master and the field of study with the word of in between, as in Master of Science.
How do you abbreviate master’s degree?
Terms like Master of Arts and Master of Science are often abbreviated, and the rules on how to do it vary from one university and style guide to another. For example, Master of Arts can be abbreviated as MA or M.A. If a university uses Latin phrases, the degree may be abbreviated as AM or A.M., from the Latin Artium Magister.
You can use these abbreviations before the field of study with the word in in between, such as MA in History or M.S. in Mathematics.
What is the plural form of master’s degree?
The plural form of master’s degree is master’s degrees. Degree is the noun being made plural, while master’s serves as the descriptor to indicate the type of degree.
Remember, the apostrophe in master’s indicates possession of a degree by a master in a specific field. So, when making it plural, simply add an s to degree, resulting in master’s degrees.
If you’re referring to more than one scholar with a master’s degree, the plural is still master’s degrees.
Is it bachelor’s degree or bachelors degree?
Bachelor’s degree follows the same rules as master’s degree, so bachelors degree is incorrect. Bachelor’s is written as a possessive, not a plural.
If you’re referring to a bachelor’s degree in general, it doesn’t need to be capitalized unless the sentence begins with Bachelor’s.
When referring to a specific bachelor’s degree, drop the possessive and capitalize both the word bachelor and the field of study.
As with master’s degree, abbreviations for bachelor’s degree can be written in several ways depending on the university or style guide. For example, Bachelor of Science can be abbreviated as BS, B.S., or BSc, but also as SB, S.B., and Sc.B. for the Latin Scientiae Baccalaureus.
If you’re referring to more than one bachelor’s degree, the plural is still bachelor’s degrees.
Master’s degree and bachelor’s degree examples
Here are some more examples of correctly using master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in sentences.
Master’s degree vs. masters degree FAQs
Is master’s degree or masters degree correct?
The correct term is master’s degree with an apostrophe, indicating that it is a degree belonging to a master in a specific field. Masters degree without the apostrophe is incorrect.
How do you write more than one master’s degree?
To indicate more than one master’s degree, write master’s degrees.
Do you capitalize master’s degree?
You generally do not capitalize master’s degree unless it is part of a formal title or at the beginning of a sentence. For example, you would write, “She earned her master’s degree,” not “She earned her Master’s Degree.” When referring to a specific degree, leave out the possessive apostrophe-s and capitalize both the word master and the discipline or field with the word of in between, as in Master of Arts.
Can you say bachelor’s or master’s without the word degree?
Using bachelor’s or master’s as standalone terms is a colloquial way to refer to someone’s educational qualifications and is common in informal conversation. For example, when someone says, “I have a bachelor’s,” they’re indicating that they have completed an undergraduate program. Similarly, when someone says, “I have a master’s,” they’re indicating that they have completed a graduate program. In both cases, use the possessive apostrophe.
