Academic Degrees and Honors

The use of periods within degree abbreviations should be consistent throughout your document or publication.

Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree and master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Note the capitalization.

Use abbreviations (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) only after a full name (never just the last name).

Use M.S. for Master of Science.

Ph.D.s may also be referred to as “doctorates” or “doctoral degrees.”

Some common examples:

• Sarah Jeffers worked at a local grocery story while earning her B.A. at Union.
• Trevor Jones earned his bachelor’s in chemistry from Union. He also holds a master’s degree from Cornell University.
• Nicole Morrissey holds a Bachelor of Arts from Union College and a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee.

Do not capitalize or use italics for honors:

• cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude