how to write master's degree in education

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Properly Write Your Degree

The correct way to communicate your degree to employers and others is by using the following formats:

Degree - This is the academic degree you are receiving. Your major is in addition to the degree; it can be added to the phrase or written separately.  Include the full name of your degree, major(s), minor(s), emphases, and certificates on your resume.

Double Majors - You will not be receiving two bachelor's degrees if you double major. Your primary major determines the degree (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). If you're not fully sure which of your majors is primary, check CheckMarq or call the registrar's office.

Example: Primary Major: Psychology ; Secondary Major: Marketing

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Marketing

Primary Major: Marketing ; Secondary Major: Psychology

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing & Psychology

In a letter, you may shorten your degree by writing it this way:

• In May 20XX, I will graduate with my Bachelor's degree in International Affairs.
• In December 20XX, I will graduate with my Master's degree in Counseling Education.

Not sure which degree you are graduating with? Here is a list of Undergraduate Majors and corresponding degrees:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Business Administration
• College of Communication
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Nursing  

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Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree (Correct Format)

How do you write "master's degree" and "bachelor's degree".

More about "Master's Degree" and "Bachelor's Degree"

• John has a master's degree.
• Peter has completed his master's degree in Law.
• My bachelor's degree is in English Literature.

Why Is the Apostrophe before the s in "Master's Degree" and "Bachelor's Degree"?

Why Are "Master's Degree" and "Bachelor's Degree" Written in Lowercase?

Degrees as titles, don't capitalize a term because it's "important".

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Writing Style Guide

Academic degrees.

Academic degrees are capitalized only when the full name of the degree is used, such as Bachelor of Arts or Master of Social Work. General references, such as bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, are not capitalized. Do not capitalize graduate certificate.

Correct He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2008. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication in 2008. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 2008. She holds a doctoral degree (or doctorate) from Stanford University.

Abbreviations, such as B.A., M.S. and Ph.D., should be used in text only when there is a need to identify many people by academic degree and use of the full names would be cumbersome.

In most writing, use of the general terms bachelor’s or bachelor’s degree, master’s or master’s degree and doctorate or doctoral degree are sufficient to establish credentials and preferred to use of the full name of the degree (or the initials).

Use an apostrophe (possessive) with bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, but not in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Do not use an apostrophe (possessive) with associate degree or doctoral degree.

Never use both a courtesy title and degree

Preferred : Dr. Dana Brooks will... Acceptable : Dana Brooks, Ph.D., will... Do not use : Dr. Dana Brooks, Ph.D., will...

Identifying alumni by class year versus degrees earned

To identify someone as an alumnus or alumna of WMU, use the person's preferred class year. Immediately following the name, enter one space, an apostrophe and the two-numeral preferred class year. Both graduate and non-graduate alumni (attended but did not earn a degree) have a preferred class year, and each alumnus and alumna has only one preferred class year, regardless of how many degrees are held.

Example Mary W. Smith ’79 was elected president of the chapter.

To identify degrees earned at WMU, place a comma immediately after the name, and follow it with a space, the degree, an apostrophe, the two-numeral year the degree was awarded, and a comma (or period at the end of a sentence).

Examples Mary W. Smith, B.A.’79, was elected president. Thomas C. Clark, B.A.’65, M.A.’67, Ph.D.’79, attended the reunion.

If your intention is to show degrees earned at WMU, then list both the degrees and the years in which they were earned. If your intention is simply to indicate that the person is an alumnus or alumna, use only the preferred class year.

Correct Thomas C. Clark ’65 attended the reunion. Thomas C. Clark, B.A.’65, M.A.’67, Ph.D.’79, attended the reunion. Incorrect Thomas C. Clark ’65 ’67 ’79 attended the reunion.

Degrees earned at other institutions

Except to show multiple degrees earned at Western Michigan University, do not list more than one degree following a person's name. The following examples are a first reference to a speaker who earned her degrees at another university .

Incorrect : Rebecca McKenzie, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., will... Acceptable : Rebecca McKenzie, Ph.D., will... Preferred : Dr. Rebecca McKenzie will...

Do not mix degrees earned at WMU with degrees earned at other institutions. If Mary Smith earned a B.A. in 1995 from WMU and a Ph.D. in 2008 from the University of Illinois, list her as "Mary Smith, B.A.’95," or as "Mary Smith, Ph.D." Never include the two-numeral class year construction with degrees earned from other institutions.

AP Style Academic Degrees

Home » AP Style » AP Style Academic Degrees

Sometimes it is necessary to establish the credentials of a subject in your text. When you need to do this, the AP Stylebook prefers you to write out the title of a degree in a phrase and to avoid using an abbreviation. For example,

• Correct: John Smith, who has a doctorate in astronomy, showed us constellations in the night sky.
• Wrong: John Smith, who has a Ph.D. in astronomy, showed us constellations in the night sky.

Bachelor Degree or Bachelor’s Degree?

AP Style states that you should use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. For example,

• Correct: I have two bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree.
• Wrong: I have two bachelors degrees and one masters degree.
• Wrong: I have two bachelor degrees and one master degree.

An associate degree, however, does not use an apostrophe. For example,

• Correct: I received my associate degree before my bachelor’s.
• Wrong: I received my associate’s degree.

There is also no apostrophe in Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, etc.

• Correct: I have a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.
• Wrong: I have a Bachelor’s of Arts in Linguistics.

Abbreviation of AP Style Academic Degrees

Use such abbreviations as B.S., M.S., LL.D., J.D., and Ph.D. only when you need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference and doing so in the AP Style academic degrees preferred way would be cumbersome. You should use abbreviations like these only after full names, never after just a last name.

When an academic abbreviation is used after a full name, commas should set it off. For example,

• Charles Smith, Ph.D., will present tonight’s lecture.

You should never precede a name with a courtesy title for an academic degree and then also follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference. For example,

• Wrong: Dr. Smith, Ph.D., will present tonight’s lecture.
• Correct: Dr. Smith will present tonight’s lecture.
• Correct: Charles Smith, Ph.D., will present tonight’s lecture.

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Master’s Degree vs. Masters Degree: Rules of Writing

Table of contents

• 1 How to Write “Master’s Degree” vs. “Masters Degree”?
• 2 Writing Master’s Degree or Masters Degree: Examples of Writing
• 3 Should “Master’s Degree” Be Capitalized?
• 4 “Bachelor’s” vs. “Bachelors”?
• 5 Get Your Master’s Degree with the Help of PapersOwl Service

If you are considering higher education, then one look at the names of the degrees may have been enough to confuse you. Regardless of whether English is your first or second language , you have probably wondered more than once, is it “ is it masters or master’s “. Considering these two terms’ similarities, you can certainly be forgiven for such a mistake. Nevertheless, it is still important to identify which term is the right one. The article below can help with this.

How to Write “Master’s Degree” vs. “Masters Degree”?

To understand why there is so much confusion between “ masters vs. master’s” , you first have to realize the meaning behind the degree. This will make it easier for you to determine which form you should use when addressing the degree.

In short, this accreditation (master’s or masters) is awarded to a graduate who has become an expert at a particular subject. This means that they have been enrolled in an advanced program that lasted around two years. As such, they have mastered or become the master of a particular subject.

Thus, this is why the correct term is a master’s degree .

However, this isn’t the only issue that people have with the name of this degree. Another mistake people make when compiling their CV is deciding whether to write “masters degree or master degree”. So, if you have received a “ master’s degree in science” , you may not know how to put this down.

Now, when referring to a specific degree – for instance, a “Master of Science” or “Masters of Science”, focus on the rule mentioned above. Since the degree means you are a master of something, “Master of Science” would be the correct term here.

Writing Master’s Degree or Masters Degree: Examples of Writing

To highlight the correct use of “masters” or “master’s”, take a look at the examples below:

Michael was uncertain about whether he wanted to continue his education and complete a master ‘ s  degree. Students should be aware that a master ‘ s degree can be quite challenging for many. Sasha was proud to be awarded a master ‘s  in Education after all of her hard work. John now had to consider what job would allow him to make the most of his Master  of Arts degree.

Should “Master’s Degree” Be Capitalized?

Yes, “Master’s Degree” should be capitalized when it is used in a formal or official context, such as in a diploma, a transcript, an academic paper, or when it’s part of a specific degree title, like “Master’s Degree in Engineering.” In these cases, it’s a proper noun.

However, if you are referring to a master’s degree in a more general sense, it’s not necessary to capitalize it. For example, “I’m studying for my master’s degree.” In this sentence, it’s being used as a common noun.

So, the rule of thumb is to capitalize “Master’s Degree” when referring to a specific degree or in formal contexts, and to use lowercase when speaking about it in general terms.

“Bachelor’s” vs. “Bachelors”?

If you had concerns over the “ masters degree or master’s degree” matter, then it is quite likely that you have had a similar issue regarding bachelors vs. bachelor’s as well. Luckily, the same rule used for the term “master’s degree” can also be applied here.

You would write “Bachelor’s Degree” when referring to the degree in a possessive form. For specific types of bachelor’s degrees, you would use phrases like “Bachelor of Science” (B.Sc. or BS) or “Bachelor of Arts” (B.A. or BA). These titles indicate the specific field of study for the bachelor’s degree, similar to “Master of Science”.

Get Your Master’s Degree with the Help of PapersOwl Service

Once you have figured out whether it is a “ master’s degree or masters degree”, you still have one more obstacle to overcome – actually getting the degree. As you are well aware, this is certainly not easy for anyone to manage. So, if you do require some assistance, there are professional writers that can write your thesis . These experts can look through your paper, identify any mistakes, and correct them immediately.

If you feel like your advanced degree program is giving you too many issues, reaching out to a service that can assist you is important. Not only will this offer you peace of mind, but you can also ensure you get higher grades. All in all, a little bit of help can go a long way in making your tertiary education easier to handle.

Achieving a master’s degree is a significant accomplishment, but it can take a lot of time and energy. If you’re overwhelmed by the workload, an essay writer service can help you. Such services have an array of experienced writers who specialize in crafting outstanding masters-level essays so that you can focus on other tasks necessary for completing your degree.

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How should I style academic degrees?

Spell out or abbreviate academic degrees in your prose:

The requirements for the associate of arts degree have been updated on the department website. The speaker holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, a master’s degree in secondary education, and a doctorate in performance studies. All the applicants have MFAs in poetry or fiction.

In an entry for a work composed as part of a degree requirement, abbreviate the name of the degree:

Maragh, Shauna A. Glamour in Contemporary American Cinema . 2020. U of South Florida, Tampa, PhD dissertation. 

Academic degrees are abbreviated without periods after letters or spaces between letters (see MLA Handbook , appendix 1), and their abbreviations are made plural by the addition of the letter s (2.54). 

MLA Handbook . 9th ed., The Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

• Jan 5, 2021

“Master’s Degree” or “Masters Degree”: Which Is It?

So you’re putting the finishing touches on your CV or resume website , but you can’t remember how to write out the name of your graduate degree. Does it have an apostrophe? Should it all be capitalized?

Well, you actually have a few formatting options, but the most common and most correct way to spell it all out is “master’s degree”, including an apostrophe and not capitalized.

What is a master’s degree? And how to spell it right?

There is a simple reason for the apostrophe. A master’s degree (from Latin magister , “master” or “teacher”) is an advanced degree awarded by a university or other academic institution after one completes a curriculum and demonstrates expertise in a specific field or profession. This means a graduate possesses mastery in a subject.

Quick reminder: an apostrophe is a punctuation mark indicating (among other things) the possessive case of a noun. So, there you have it! If you have a master's degree, then you should make sure to include the apostrophe to show off your possession of all that knowledge—and that precious diploma.

Here are a few examples of how to use “master’s degree” in a sentence:

They got their master’s degree at a local university.

“Art Garfunkel once envisioned a simple life as a mathematics teacher. He earned a master’s degree and was well on his way to becoming a Ph.D. That plan was derailed when he and Paul Simon became famous as the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.”— AP News , 25 September 2017

“Eva Longoria is backing up her beauty with a whole lot of brain. The actress graduated with a master’s degree … in Chicano studies from Cal State Northridge, where she physically attended classes for three years, according to TMZ.”— Los Angeles Times , 23 May 2013

Two important points to bear in mind:

When you use it without mentioning the discipline, master’s degree should always be left lowercase.

If you’ve attained superhuman status and have more than one graduate degree, then you would pluralize like this: “They earned two master’s degrees over the years”.

Some other ways to name a master’s degree

The other way you can write out the name of a master’s degree is using its official title. In this case, you’ll want to be sure to capitalize it and drop the apostrophe. For example:

They were awarded a Master of Arts in English by the university.

They completed a Master of Science in Engineering three years ago.

The official name can also be abbreviated like this:

An M.A. in History or an M.S. in Mathematics.

An A.M. (from Latin, artium magister ) in History or an S.M. (from Latin, scientiae magister ) in Mathematics, if your university has a preference for Latin, like Harvard University, the University of Chicago or MIT.

Note that these abbreviations can work with or without periods, depending on the style guide your university follows and its country of origin. Here are some common abbreviations:

Master of Arts > MA / AM

Master of Science > MS / MSc / SM / ScM

Master of Business Administration > MBA

Master of Education > MEd / EdM

Master of Engineering > MEng. / ME

Master of Social Work > MSW

Master of Fine Arts > MFA

Master of Public Health > MPH

What about bachelor’s degrees?

The exact same rules apply to bachelor’s degrees. You can write out the name any of the following ways:

A bachelor’s degree in psychology

A Bachelor of Science in Psychology

A B.S. / B.Sc. / S.B. / Sc.B. in Psychology

In a nutshell

To sum it all up, someone with a master’s degree has achieved mastery in a particular field. Since mastery is something they possess, the title must be spelled with an apostrophe. Remember: when using the official title of the master’s degree, always capitalize it.

“Master’s degree” or “Masters degree”: Take a little quiz

Before you go, try to answer this question to see if you understood the rules:

Which of the following options are correct?

Masters in Political Science

Master’s degree in political science

Master of Arts in Political Science

Master’s of Political Science

Masters of arts degree in political science

Quiz answers: 2) and 3).

How did you do? This quiz doesn’t qualify you for a master’s degree, but at least now you’ll have one less typo on your resume .

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I have a Bachelor of Arts in History, an M.A. in Conflict Resolution & Mediation, and a second master’s degree in television consumption, which I awarded myself.

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How To Refer To And Punctuate Your Degree Properly

• Are Degrees Capitalized
• Abbreviate Degree Names?
• Degree Punctuation
• Styles For Degrees

For college students, the end of the school year is extra special if it means they finally get to hold their degree. The best part of graduation just might be that moment when a student officially receives the diploma that they worked so hard for. Now that all the hard work is done, they can proudly say that they earned a college degree. But how should they refer to that degree? There are lots of different degrees, and each one has different rules about how to correctly refer to them. Don’t worry, though, because we are offering an exclusive crash course in the correct ways to refer to all of those different college degrees.

⚡️ Commence with the high marks by taking our snappy quiz on the ways to punctuate and refer to degrees here !

Are degrees capitalized?

In general, major style guides agree that the names of specific degrees should be capitalized and the words referring to types of general degrees shouldn’t be capitalized. For example:

• My mother has a master’s degree .
• Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree . (A Bachelor of Science is a specific degree, whereas a bachelor’s degree is the more general name or category.)
• Professor Andrews has two doctorates: a Doctor of Fine Arts degree and a Doctor of Music degree . (Similarly, a Doctor of Fine Arts is a specific degree within the general category of doctoral degrees .)

Of course, many universities have their own rules and style guides about how they refer to the degrees that they offer. Because of this, a university may capitalize the names of their degrees differently than the style guide that you use.

Should we abbreviate names of degrees?

In general, the rules around abbreviating names of degrees will depend on the style guide you use. For example, The Associated Press’s style recommends not abbreviating degree names at all and only allows it in order to avoid long sentences that include multiple degrees and people. If you are using AP style, the following example would apply:

❌ Incorrect:  Dr. Smith, who has a Ph.D , taught the class. ✅ Correct:  Dr. Smith, who has a doctorate in philosophy , taught the class.

Other major style guides are typically less strict about using abbreviations. Generally, the important thing is to remain consistent if you decide to use abbreviations or not.

Graduating from a college or a university? Learn the difference between them.

How are degrees punctuated?

If we are using abbreviations, the punctuation will depend on the style guide that you use. According to AP style, degrees that have two-letter abbreviations use periods while longer abbreviations do not. For example, Bachelor of Science would be abbreviated as B.S. while Bachelor of Fine Arts would be abbreviated as  BFA . If you’re using The Chicago Manual of Style , no periods are used in abbreviations of any degree unless it is required or part of tradition. Again, a particular university may also have their own preferences regarding how they punctuate their degree names.

In AP style, abbreviations must follow a person’s full name. For example:

❌ Incorrect: Dr. Nguyen , DDS ✅ Correct: Dr. Angela Nguyen , DDS

Here’s how to style the most common types of degrees

With all of that out of the way, let’s look specifically at how we typically refer to the different types of degrees. In the American university degree system, there are typically four major types of degrees. While the specific names of degrees are usually consistent, the abbreviations will often vary depending on the style guide or university.

Associate degree

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree typically earned in two to three years of study. The name associate’s degree is also commonly used to refer to this degree, but some style guides may consider that incorrect. When written out, the names of associate degrees typically begin with Associate of .

There are many different types of associate degrees. Some common examples include:

• Associate of Science (AS or A.S.)
• Associate of Arts (AA or A.A.)
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS or A.A.S.)

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Bachelor’s degree

A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree that typically takes around four years of study to earn. The name bachelor degree  is also commonly used but may be considered incorrect by style guides. When written out, the names of bachelor’s degrees typically begin with Bachelor of . Unlike the general name, the specific names do not use the possessive bachelor’s .

There are many different bachelor’s degrees. Some examples include:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA/B.A. or AB/A.B.)
• Bachelor of Science (BS/B.S. or SB/S.B or BSc/B.Sc. or ScB/Sc.B.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
• Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch.)
• Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Bachelor of Criminal Justice (BJA)

Master’s degree

A master’s degree is a graduate degree that typically takes at least five years to earn. The name master degree  is also commonly used but style guides may consider this name to be incorrect. Typically, the specific names of master’s degrees begin with Master of . As with bachelor’s degrees, the possessive master’s is not used in specific degree names.

There are many different master’s degrees. Some examples include:

• Master of Arts (MA/M.A. or AM/A.M.)
• Master of Science (MS/M.S. or MSc/M.Sc. or SM/S.M. or ScM/Sc.M.)
• Master of Chemistry (MChem)
• Master of Psychology (MPsych/M.Psych. or PsyM/Psy.M.)
• Master of Engineering (ME/M.E. or MEng/M.Eng.)

A doctorate , also known as a doctoral degree , is typically the highest level degree offered by universities. The specific names of doctorates usually begin with Doctor of .

There are many different doctorates. Some common examples include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D./PhD)
• Doctor of Medicine (M.D./MD)
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD)
• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D./JD)

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What Is a Master of Education Degree?

If you’re searching for higher level education degrees, you may have seen the initials M.Ed.  This is the Master of Education  abbreviation. But what does  M.Ed. stand for  in a broader sense?

An M.Ed. is a flexible graduate-level program in education which offers a choice of specialty, concentration, and program length. Some M.Ed. programs can be completed in 12 months. Master of Education programs can focus on curriculum development, leadership, technology, adult and career education, and many other specialties. In general, M.Ed. programs provide students with the opportunity to study educational theory and pedagogy. They also serve as a stage for pursuing additional post-baccalaureate studies in education, including doctoral programs.

Who Should Consider a M.ED. Degree

If you want to pursue a career in education that involves curriculum design or higher level school administration, a Master’s in Education degree represents an ideal starting point. For many states in the US, a master’s degree is also a prerequisite for more specialized areas of education. For example, 36 states require a master’s degree for speech-language pathology teachers, along with additional qualifications for licensing and certification. 

Having an M.Ed. may also enhance your appeal to school districts as a classroom teacher. The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) reports that 88 percent of large school districts offer more pay for teachers with master’s degrees, including the largest districts in all 50 states.

The curriculum in Master of Education varies between programs, schools, and specialties, but there are some common types of coursework that all candidates will be asked to complete. Most M.Ed. programs include courses in educational theory, legal considerations, diversity, equity and inclusiveness. They may often cover classroom management and best practices in education for the 21st century classroom. 

A M.Ed. focusing on instructional design and technology will include theories of classroom and online learning as well as courses in universal design and accessible online lessons for students with physical or learning disabilities. A Master of Education with an educational leadership focus, on the other hand, will include courses in human resources, leadership skills, and planning and evaluation.

One difference between M.Ed. programs and Master of Arts in Teaching (M.AT.) degrees is program flexibility and increased opportunity to study theories and educational research. M.AT. degrees are two-year graduate programs which usually include three semesters of coursework in teacher education with classroom observation and a final semester of observed student teaching.

While some educators receive general Master of Education degrees, most people specialize in a subject area, educational level, organizational leadership or specialized focus, like ESL or special education. If your goal is to be a senior teacher supervising student teachers, you could benefit from an M.Ed. program. An  M.Ed.  degree can benefit aspiring school leaders and administrators, special education teachers, speech-language pathology teachers, and teachers interested in designing courses for other teachers. 

Adding to their versatility, online M.Ed. programs , in-person programs, and hybrid programs are all available. If you’re already teaching and would like to advance yourself in your career, an M.Ed. may help you achieve your goals.

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MS vs. MA in Education — What’s the Difference?

Topics: Education Programs

Published on: 11/24/22 8:57 AM

Teachers who hold a master’s degree are sought after in many school environments, and if you are considering giving yourself a competitive edge with a graduate education degree — you should know that there are different degrees to choose from. 

With different degrees come different abbreviations. Let’s break down the top two abbreviations you’ll encounter in your pursuit of a master's degree in education: 

MA = Master of Arts 

MS = Master of Science

There are differences between a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Education that are important to understand when planning your academic future. We’ve unpacked these differences so that you can make the best choice for your teaching goals. 

What does the MA stand for in an education program? 

A Master of Arts in Education will give you a deeper theoretical understanding of teaching and education. But it’s important to recognize that a Master of Arts in Education is specifically focused on the arts and humanities. 

An MA in Education is a valuable option to pursue if you’re interested in obtaining an advanced degree that is rooted in the humanities and if you think you may want to teach subjects related to the liberal arts. 

what is a master of science in education?

A Master of Science in Education will also give you a more technical understanding of the art of teaching. But a Master of Science in Education, compared to a Master of Arts in Education, is specifically focused on scientific and technical fields.

An MS in Education is an excellent choice for those interested in teaching subjects that are more technical in nature. And since this degree is rooted in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) ideology, many educators choose to obtain an MS in Education in order to jumpstart a teaching career that is specifically focused on STEM disciplines.

What is a STEM teacher?

The STEM fields are advancing more rapidly than ever, and for this reason, the need for competent and passionate STEM teachers has also increased at a rapid rate. Schools all over the country need data-minded educators who have specialized in one subject at the secondary level, such as biology or computer science.

With a Master of Science in Education , you can fill a significant talent gap by entering the classroom with the technical skills needed to teach the STEM disciplines that are so critical to the advancement of countless industries.

Your master's degree in education will equip you to work with the best in this impactful field and give you the tools to teach the next generation of STEM-focused professionals. 

Here's why you should consider obtaining more credits (even if you already have a master's degree in education).

Did you know that teachers who obtain additional credits (on top of holding a master's degree) are actually eligible for higher salaries?

Many teachers who have invested in a master's degree in education choose to continue their education by earning a certification or endorsement — giving them more graduate-level credits, which in turn, leads to a salary increase. So, even if you have a master's degree already, there is value in achieving more credits through a certification or endorsement program.

Neumann University offers a variety of Master of Science in Education programs, certifications, and endorsements for educators who wish to advance their skills and for teachers who want to obtain additional credits in order to facilitate a salary increase.

Neumann University: Your Next Step into the STEM education field.

At Neumann University, we know the value of getting ahead of the competition, so we developed several graduate education programs to choose from — depending on your specific area of interest. 

We offer a variety of Master of Science in Education programs (and certificates and endorsements) that are specifically designed for driven teachers looking to make a difference. The Master of Science in Education that you choose will sharpen your competitive edge and make you an excellent candidate for hire in diverse school environments. 

Want to know more about our programs? Request more information or read some stories about how education impacts the world . 

Ready to start your next steps into the graduate world? Apply now .

Explore our interactive education resource and take our quiz to find the master's program in education that's right for you.

WRITTEN BY: Bettsy McKlaine

About The Author: Bettsy McKlaine is the Executive Director of Enrollment Management, Degree Completion & Graduate Programs at Neumann University and a proud Alumna. The Neumann Community has become her second family and she loves to interact with students, both from the undergraduate and graduate population. Her favorite time of year is at the start of each semester as students begin classes!

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Unlock the Mystery of Master’s Abbreviations: Decoding masters degrees titles

Masters degrees are some of the most complex abbreviations and titles associated with these degrees can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the field of higher education.

Even though the general rules are:

To abbreviate a master’s degree, start with “M” for “Master,” then add key term initials, like “A” for “Arts” (MA) or “S” for “Science” (MS). In some cases, use multiple letters from a term or combine initials of multiple terms for clarity, e.g., MEng, MPA, or MSN.

Deciphering the various masters degrees can be an extensive task for a student or even parents who aid the child in selecting the courses.

My master’s degree is in chemistry and the abbreviation is MChem. The abbreviation helped me know what I was actually applying for, and I was able to contrast that and a typical Masters of Science (MSc).

This article will unlock the mystery of master’s abbreviations by decoding the different titles bestowed upon students.

Whether it’s an MSc, MA, or MPhil, understanding what each one means and what qualifications they bring can be an important factor in determining the right course for you or your child.

How do you abbreviate a “master’s degree” title?

The common abbreviation for master’s degree is “M.A.” or “M.S.”. Both abbreviations refer to a type of graduate degree that requires an individual to have completed a bachelor’s degree program. “M.A.” stands for “Master of Arts” and is typically used for degrees related to humanities, social sciences or communication disciplines.

There are a few general rules and patterns for creating abbreviations for master’s degree programs:

• Most abbreviations start with the letter “M,” which stands for “Master.”
• The subsequent letters typically represent words or phrases within the full degree name. For example, “A” for “Arts,” “S” for “Science,” “B” for “Business,” and “F” for “Fine.”
• In some cases, abbreviations use two or more letters from a single word to create a clearer distinction. For instance, “Eng” for “Engineering” (MEng) or “Stat” for “Statistics” (MStat).
• When a degree name has multiple key terms, the abbreviation often includes the first letter of each term. For example, “Master of Public Administration” is abbreviated as “MPA” and “Master of Science in Nursing” as “MSN.”
• In a few cases, the abbreviation uses a combination of the first letters of key terms and one or more additional letters from a term for better clarity. For instance, “Master of Science in Real Estate Development” is abbreviated as “MSRED.”

While these rules and patterns can be helpful in creating abbreviations for master’s degrees, it is essential to remember that not all abbreviations follow these exact guidelines. Always consult official sources or professional organizations to ensure the accuracy of abbreviations for specific degree programs.

Is the “M” in masters capitalised?

When referring to a master’s degree in a sentence, there is no need to capitalize the “m” in masters. This is because the word “master’s” is not a proper noun, but rather a common noun.

Proper nouns refer to specific names of people, places, or things, while common nouns refer to general categories or concepts.

Therefore, the word “master’s” falls into the latter category and should not be capitalized unless it appears at the beginning of a sentence.

However, when using the abbreviated form you should capitalize the “M” in master’s degree abbreviations.

Capitalizing the “M” in master’s degree abbreviations is necessary because abbreviations are typically written in uppercase letters to maintain consistency and clarity across academic and professional settings.

Uppercase letters in abbreviations help differentiate them from regular words and clearly signify that they represent a shortened form of a longer term or title.

Especially if you are using them at the end of your name in a professional setting.

Do you use a period when writing a degree abbreviation?

It is generally accepted to use a period when writing a degree abbreviation.

This convention ensures clarity and consistency in written communication, preventing any confusion or misinterpretation of the degree abbreviation.

For example, the abbreviation for Bachelor of Science is “B.S.” while the abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy is “Ph.D.”

The use of a period after each letter of the abbreviation helps to distinguish it from a word or acronym.

There are some exceptions to this rule, particularly regarding more specialized degrees or professional certifications.

It is always best to follow the specific formatting guidelines provided by the academic institution, university or organization.

Should You Include Your Master’s Abbreviation After Your Name? How to use the abbreviations. 

Including a Master’s degree abbreviation after your name is entirely up to personal preference and depends on the situation.

Personally, I do not like to include any of my qualifications after my name unless I am performing professional duties.

For example, I would include my MChem and PhD if:

• I was applying for a grant
• I was giving a talk and they needed a bio
• I was acting on behalf of my supervisor or department

I generally didn’t use them in emails or other everyday communications.

In academic and professional settings, it is encouraged to do so because it shows your level of education and expertise in a particular field.

It can also be useful for networking purposes or when applying for jobs that require advanced degrees.

Common masters abbreviations

Here are some common masters abbreviations that may help you if you are looking for specific examples.

Wrapping up

Understanding the abbreviations for various master’s degrees is essential for students and professionals alike.

These abbreviations provide clarity about the specific field of study and the level of expertise one has achieved.

As you navigate through the world of higher education, keep these general rules for abbreviating master’s degrees in mind, and remember that capitalizing the “M” in abbreviations is necessary for consistency and clarity across settings.

Key takeaways:

• Master’s degree abbreviations usually start with “M” for “Master” and use key term initials.
• Capitalize the “M” in master’s degree abbreviations.
• Abbreviations help differentiate between various degree programs and specializations.
• Always consult official sources to confirm the accuracy of abbreviations for specific degree programs.
• Including your master’s abbreviation after your name in professional settings showcases your level of expertise.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Undergraduate vs. Graduate: Educate Yourself On The Difference

• Undergraduate Meaning
• Undergraduate Student And Degree
• Graduate Meaning
• Graduate Degree And Student
• Graduate Origin
• Postgraduate Meaning

⚡ Quick summary

The main difference between undergraduate and graduate is that undergraduate is always used in the context of the first level of college or university education (the level where you can earn a bachelor’s degree ). In terms like graduate student and graduate degree , graduate refers to a level of advanced education beyond the undergraduate level, especially a master’s degree or doctorate . The noun graduate is more general, simply referring to a person who has completed a level of education (someone who has graduated ).

The difference between undergraduate and graduate is a difference of degrees (*throws graduation cap in the air to celebrate the pun*).

The level of education that each word involves varies depending on how the word is being used, and there are situations in which both words can be used in the same situation. For example, you can become a graduate student after graduating with an undergraduate degree.

The word graduate can mean very different things depending on whether it’s used as a noun (as in recent   high school graduates ), an adjective (as in graduate student and graduate degree ), or a verb (as in I plan to graduate next May ). The same goes for its shortened form, grad , which can be used as a noun (as in Congrats, grads! ) or an adjective (as in grad program ).

Undergraduate can also be used both as a noun (as in I’m an undergraduate at Stanford University ) or an adjective (as in I’m working toward my undergraduate degree ). It can be shortened to undergrad in both cases.

By the end of this article, you’ll have an advanced degree in all the different ways graduate, grad , undergraduate , and undergrad are used, and what they mean in each case.

What does undergraduate mean?

An undergraduate is “a student in a university or college who has not received a first, especially a bachelor’s, degree.” For example, a college student might say I’m an undergraduate at the University of Texas if they were pursuing a bachelor’s degree there.

Undergraduate is also commonly used as an adjective in this same context, in terms like undergraduate student , undergraduate degree , and undergraduate studies.

Undergraduate is often shortened to undergrad as both a noun and an adjective.

In undergraduate, the prefix under- is used to indicate a lower rank or status. The educational status of an undergraduate student is below that of a graduate student.

What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge ? Here’s a lesson on the two terms.

What is an undergraduate student ? And what is an undergraduate degree ?

An undergraduate student is a student who is pursuing a degree at the first level of higher education (meaning the level after high school) at a college or university. Undergraduate students are typically those working to earn a bachelor’s degree (or, less commonly, an associate’s degree ). These degrees are often referred to with the general term undergraduate degree.

Outside of the US, an undergraduate degree is sometimes called a first degree. There are also other types of undergraduate degrees outside of the US, such as a foundation degree (which, like an associate’s degree, is typically a two-year degree).

What does graduate mean?

As a noun, the word graduate  [  graj -oo-it ] refers to “a person who has received a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” In other words, a graduate is someone who has completed a particular level of schooling or an educational program—a child who just finished kindergarten and a doctor who just completed medical school are both graduates. It can even be used figuratively , as in She’s a graduate of the school of hard knocks.

As a verb, graduate [  graj -oo-eyt ] means “to receive a degree or diploma on completing a course of study.” The process of graduating—and the ceremony itself—is called graduation .

As an adjective, graduate [  graj -oo-it ] means something more specific. It’s used to indicate that a student, degree, or educational program is an advanced one, beyond the level of a bachelor’s degree. This sense of graduate is most commonly used in terms like graduate degree, graduate school , graduate program, and graduate student.

What is a graduate degree ? And what is a graduate student ?

Graduate degree typically refers to a degree beyond a bachelor’s, most commonly a master’s.

A graduate student is a student who’s pursuing an advanced degree after having earned their undergraduate degree (such as a bachelor’s degree) by graduating from an undergraduate program. Calling someone a graduate student most often means they are pursuing their master’s degree, but it may be another advanced degree, such as a PhD (You’d most commonly call such students PhD students. Or you might say they are working toward their doctorate or their doctoral degree.)

To earn a graduate degree, graduate students go to a division of a university known as graduate school , and such a program is often called a graduate program. In all of these terms, graduate is often shortened to grad : grad school , grad student , grad program . (A student doesn’t become a graduate student until they take graduate-level courses. For example, if a student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and then later pursues a different bachelor’s degree, they are still an undergraduate student .)

Some graduate studies are referred to in more specific ways: medical students go to medical school to earn their medical degree ; law students go to law school to earn their law degree.

Do you know the difference between these highly-esteemed graduate degrees and titles: PhD, MD, and Dr ?

Where does the word graduate come from?

Graduate comes from the Medieval Latin graduārī, meaning “to take a degree.” It ultimately derives from the Latin gradus, meaning “a step.” Each time you graduate, you take a step to the next level of education.

What does postgraduate mean?

The adjective postgraduate is sometimes used in the same way as the adjective sense of the word graduate, especially in the UK, as in postgraduate student or postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate should not be confused with postdoctoral , which refers to studies, research, or professional work above the level of a doctorate.

How to use undergraduate vs. graduate

The best way to sort out the different meanings of undergraduate and graduate is to determine whether each word is being used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb. Here’s an easy breakdown of the differences.

• undergraduate (noun): A college student pursuing a non-advanced degree, most commonly a bachelor’s degree. Can be shortened to undergrad.
• undergraduate (adjective): Used in the context of colleges and university programs ( undergraduate programs ) where students are pursuing a degree (generally referred to as an undergraduate degree ) that is not an advanced degree. Also sometimes shortened to undergrad.
• graduate (noun): A person who has completed a particular level of schooling or educational program. Can be shortened to grad.
• graduate (verb): To complete a level of schooling (and, typically, to receive a degree or diploma). You can graduate from kindergarten, high school, college, graduate school, medical school, etc.
• graduate (adjective): Used in the context of advanced schooling—a level beyond a bachelor’s degree, most commonly a master’s program. Used in terms like graduate student , graduate school , graduate degree , graduate program , graduate courses , etc. Often shortened to grad.

Examples of undergraduate, undergrad, graduate, and grad used in a sentence

Let’s look at some examples of these words in actual, real-life use to get the meanings straight.

• As an undergraduate, she had studied engineering; as a graduate student, she switched to architecture.
• I completed my undergraduate degree after five years and a lot of hard work.
• As a graduate student, you will be expected to complete a thesis.
• You should start thinking about graduate school applications before you graduate.
• Most of the applicants for this position are recent college graduates.
• I’m still an undergrad, but I’m hoping to start grad school next fall.
• I’m a UGA grad, but I almost went to Georgia Tech.

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