Academic Degrees

Omit periods in degree abbreviations whenever possible. (Allowable in formal contexts or where tradition dictates.) Examples:

• The department does not offer a terminal MA degree; candidates are accepted directly into the PhD program.

Master’s is always a singular possessive. Example:

• To date, the university has awarded 43,351 master’s degrees.

Associate degree, not associate’s

Punctuation in use of degrees in running text: Use comma before and after degrees.

Degree after name need only be mentioned in the first instance. Subsequent mentions of name do not need recurring degree citations.

Example: Javier Reyes, PhD, is chancellor of UMass Amherst.