Understanding proper capitalization rules is crucial if you are updating your resume and want to make an impression on your future employer. You want to make sure that all of your job titles and job titles are properly capitalized since recruiters often spend less than 30 seconds scanning through a resume.
In this article, we will review the capitalization rules for various degrees.
Table of Contents
Is Associate’s Degree Capitalized?
The simple answer is no, you do not capitalize either of these two words if you are using them generically in a sentence, unless, of course, they are used at the beginning of a sentence when basic capitalization rules apply.
However, if you are referring to the specific degree that you earned or are earning, then you should capitalize it. Title capitalizationrules require that you capitalize each word when quoting the specific name of the associate’s degree such as Associate of Science.
These rules can be summarized as follows:
Correct: I enrolledin an associate’s degree in arts and science.
Correct: I’m studying for anAssociate of Science.
Incorrect: I enrolledin an Associate’s Degree program in arts and science.
Incorrect: I’m studying for an associate of arts and science.
The same rules also apply for a bachelor’s degree, a master’s program, and doctorate degree programs.
Why Don’t We Generally Capitalize ‘Associate’s Degree?’
Remember the basic rules of capitalization that you learned in middle school? Well, they will apply here. The rules of grammar require that we do not capitalize common nouns such as school, house, hospital etc. as they are general names. The term associate’s degree is also a common noun. There is no particular degree by the name of ‘associate’s degree.’ It is simply a generalization. However, when giving the degree a name, then it earns an identity. These are referred to as proper nouns and should, thus, be capitalized.
Is Bachelor’s Degree Capitalized?
The simple answer is no, you do not capitalize either of these two words if you are using them generically in a sentence, unless, of course, they are used at the beginning of a sentence when basic capitalization rules apply.
However, if you are referring to the specific degree that you earned or are earning, then you should capitalize it. Title capitalizationrules require that you capitalize each word when quoting the specific name of the bachelor’s degree such as Bachelor of Science.
These rules can be summarized as follows:
Correct: I enrolledin a bachelor’s degree in arts and science.
Correct: I’m studying for aBachelor of Science.
Incorrect: I enrolledin a Bachelor’s Degree program in arts and science.
Incorrect: I’m studying for a bachelor of arts and science.
The same rules also apply for a master’s program and doctorate degree programs.
Why Don’t We Generally Capitalize ‘Bachelor’s Degree?’
Remember the basic rules of capitalization that you learned in middle school? Well, they will apply here. The rules of grammar require that we do not capitalize common nouns such as school, house, hospital etc. as they are general names. The term bachelor’s degree is also a common noun. There is no particular degree by the name of ‘bachelor’s degree.’ It is simply a generalization. However, when giving the degree a name, then it earns an identity. These are referred to as proper nouns and should, thus, be capitalized.
Is Bachelor of Science Capitalized? is bachelor of arts capitalized?
When referring to the title of a degree, whether Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, you capitalize the word “bachelor” and “science” or “arts”. You should also capitalize the abbreviations BS and BA. For example,
- Last week, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford.
- His resume says he received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia.
Is Master’s Degree Capitalized?
The simple answer is no, you do not capitalize either of these two words if you are using them generically in a sentence, unless, of course, they are used at the beginning of a sentence when basic capitalization rules apply.
However, if you are referring to the specific degree that you earned or are earning, then you should capitalize it. Title capitalizationrules require that you capitalize each word when quoting the specific name of the master’s degree such as Master of Science.
These rules can be summarized as follows:
Correct: I enrolledin a master’s degree in arts and science.
Correct: I’m studying for aMaster of Science.
Incorrect: I enrolledin a Master’s Degree program in arts and science.
Incorrect: I’m studying for a master of arts and science.
The same rules also apply for an associate’s degree,bachelor’s program and doctorate degree programs.
Why Don’t We Generally Capitalize ‘Master’s Degree?’
Remember the basic rules of capitalization that you learned in middle school? Well, they will apply here. The rules of grammar require that we do not capitalize common nouns such as school, house, hospital etc. as they are general names. The term master’s degree is also a common noun. There is no particular degree by the name of ‘master’s degree.’ It is simply a generalization. However, when giving the degree a name, then it earns an identity. These are referred to as proper nouns and should, thus, be capitalized.
