Is It Masters or Master’s? The Correct Way to Write It

If you are writing about graduate education, you may wonder, is it masters or master’s? In most general references to the academic degree, master’s is correct because the term is short for “master’s degree.” Therefore, you would write, “She earned a master’s degree in education.” However, when you use the official degree title, such as Master of Arts or Master of Science, you normally do not use the possessive form.

The small apostrophe creates plenty of confusion. After all, students regularly see phrases such as master’s degree, masters program, Master of Business Administration, and master’s student.

Fortunately, the basic rule is simple once you understand what the word means.

Is It Masters or Master’s? The Quick Rule

Use master’s with an apostrophe when you are referring generally to a master’s degree.

For example:

• She is working toward a master’s degree.
• He earned his master’s last year.
• I am applying to a master’s program.
• Her master’s thesis focuses on education policy.

For example:

• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master of Education
• Master of Business Administration

So, if someone asks, is it master’s or masters, the answer depends on the sentence. In ordinary references to the graduate degree, “master’s” is usually the correct choice.

Students who want more background on the qualification itself may also find What Is a Master’s Degree? helpful for understanding its academic level, purpose, and common requirements.

Why Does Master’s Have an Apostrophe?

The apostrophe in master’s degree shows possession.

In traditional usage, the phrase means a degree belonging to or associated with a master. Therefore, English uses the possessive form “master’s.”

The same pattern appears with another familiar academic qualification: a bachelor’s degree.

For instance:

• bachelor’s degree
• master’s degree

Because both terms use the possessive form, each normally takes an apostrophe before the s.

However, students sometimes remove the apostrophe because they assume “masters” is simply the plural of “master.” As a result, forms such as “masters degree” frequently appear in informal writing.

Still, standard edited English generally uses master’s degree.

Is It Masters Degree or Master’s Degree?

If your question is is it masters degree or master’s degree, use master’s degree in normal sentences.

For example:

Correct: I plan to earn a master’s degree in psychology.

Incorrect in standard usage: I plan to earn a masters degree in psychology.

Likewise, you could write:

Correct: A master’s degree may require one to three years of study, depending on the program, country, enrollment status, and field.

Here, “master’s” modifies “degree,” so the possessive form fits naturally.

However, capitalization also matters. When you refer to a degree generally, you normally write it in lowercase.

For example:

“She has a master’s degree in biology.”

By contrast, the formal degree name is capitalized:

“She earned a Master of Science in Biology.”

Therefore, punctuation and capitalization depend partly on whether you are using a general description or an official academic title.

Master’s Degree vs Master of Arts or Master of Science

Students often become confused because universities use both possessive and non-possessive forms.

The distinction becomes clearer when you separate a general degree description from an official degree name.

Usage	Example	Why
General degree	master’s degree	Uses the possessive form
Degree by itself	master’s	Apostrophe remains
Formal title	Master of Arts	Official degree name
Formal title	Master of Science	Official degree name
Formal title	Master of Education	Official degree name
Common program description	master’s program	Refers to a program at the master’s level

Therefore, “I have a master’s degree” and “I have a Master of Arts” can both be correct.

The grammar changes because the second example gives the formal title rather than using “master’s” as a general description.

There are also many graduate qualifications beyond an MA or MS. Exploring the types of masters degrees can help students understand how programs such as the MBA, MEd, MFA, MPH, and other specialized degrees differ.

Is It Master’s or Masters Degree on a Resume?

When listing education on a resume, accuracy and consistency matter.

If you use the complete official title, write the degree as the institution awards it. For example:

Master of Science in Computer Science
University Name, 2026

Alternatively, if you are describing your education in a sentence, you might write:

“I earned a master’s degree in computer science.”

Both versions communicate similar information, yet they use different grammatical structures.

Meanwhile, avoid casually changing the official degree title. If your university awarded a Master of Arts, for instance, do not rename it a Master of Science simply because you prefer the wording.

When you are unsure, check your diploma, transcript, or university records for the official title.

When Should You Use “Masters”?

Although “masters” without an apostrophe is usually wrong in the phrase “masters degree,” the word itself can still be correct in other contexts.

For example, masters can be the plural of master.

Consider this sentence:

Here, the writer is talking about several highly skilled people, so no apostrophe is required.

Similarly, some proper names and institutional terminology may use “Masters” according to their official styling. In those cases, preserve the official name.

Therefore, the rule is not that the letters “masters” can never appear together. Rather, the rule applies specifically when you mean the possessive academic term master’s.

How Master’s Degree Fits Into the Academic Path

A master’s degree usually comes after undergraduate study, although admission requirements vary by institution, program, and country.

For many students, the educational path looks something like this:

High school → undergraduate degree → master’s degree → doctorate or professional study

However, not every student follows that sequence.

Some programs combine undergraduate and graduate study, while others allow students from different academic backgrounds to enter a graduate program after completing prerequisite coursework.

At the undergraduate level, students may first compare the difference between ba and bs when deciding which bachelor’s pathway fits their interests. Later, that undergraduate choice may influence—but does not always determine—which graduate programs they pursue.

Graduate education is generally more specialized than undergraduate education. Consequently, students often focus on a narrower academic or professional area.

Common Examples of Master’s Degrees

Universities offer master’s degrees across academic, professional, technical, and creative fields.

Common examples include:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MS or MSc)
• Master of Education (MEd)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The exact abbreviation and punctuation style can vary among institutions and style guides. For instance, one university might write “M.S.” while another uses “MS.”

Therefore, when writing an official qualification, follow the institution’s preferred format whenever possible.

Students considering business school may also want to examine the benefits of mba programs before deciding whether that professional master’s degree matches their career plans.

Master’s Student, Master’s Program, and Master’s Thesis

The apostrophe is also normally retained when “master’s” describes something associated with the degree level.

For example:

• master’s student
• master’s program
• master’s thesis
• master’s research
• master’s course

You might write:

“Jordan is a master’s student studying environmental science.”

Likewise:

“She submitted her master’s thesis in May.”

In each case, the word refers to the master’s level of education.

Still, individual universities sometimes use their own institutional terminology. Therefore, when writing specifically about a named program, department, or qualification, check how that institution presents the term.

Common Mistakes Students Make

One common mistake is writing masters degree without an apostrophe.

Because the phrase appears frequently online, students may assume it is standard. However, the conventional general form is master’s degree.

Another mistake is writing Master’s of Science.

The formal title is Master of Science, not “Master’s of Science.”

Likewise, avoid mixing the two constructions:

Incorrect: Master’s of Arts
Correct: Master of Arts
Correct: master’s degree in the arts

Capitalization creates another common problem.

You usually do not need to capitalize a general reference:

“I am earning a master’s degree.”

However, you should capitalize a formal degree title:

“I am earning a Master of Education.”

These small details can make academic writing, applications, resumes, and professional profiles look more polished.

Is It Masters or Master’s in Academic Writing?

When writing an essay, research paper, personal statement, or university application, use master’s for a general reference to the degree.

For example:

“My long-term goal is to complete a master’s degree in counseling.”

However, use the official title when you name a specific qualification:

“I intend to apply for the Master of Education program.”

Your school or publisher may also require a particular style guide. Therefore, check its rules when preparing formal academic work.

Consistency matters as well. If you choose one approved abbreviation style for a degree, use it consistently throughout the document unless the context requires something different.

Master’s Degree or Masters Degree: An Easy Memory Trick

If you keep forgetting the apostrophe, connect master’s degree with bachelor’s degree.

Most students recognize that “bachelor’s degree” uses an apostrophe. Therefore, remembering the pair can make the master’s form easier:

bachelor’s degree → master’s degree

Meanwhile, formal titles follow another pattern:

Bachelor of Arts → Master of Arts

So, you can remember two simple pairs.

General descriptions use the possessive form, while formal degree titles use Bachelor of… or Master of… without an apostrophe.

That shortcut handles most everyday situations.

What Comes After a Master’s Degree?

Some students enter the workforce after completing graduate study. Others continue into doctoral or professional education.

For example, a student interested in research or university teaching may consider a PhD. Meanwhile, other fields offer professional doctorates designed around advanced practice.

Because graduate pathways vary considerably, learning about the types of doctorate degrees can help students see what academic options may follow a master’s program.

However, earning a doctorate is not automatically necessary after completing a master’s. Your career goals, field, financial situation, and professional requirements should guide that decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it master’s or masters?

Use master’s when referring generally to the graduate degree. For example, “She has a master’s in education.” Use “masters” without an apostrophe when you genuinely mean the plural of “master” or when it appears in an official proper name that uses that spelling.

Is it master’s or masters degree?

The standard form is master’s degree. Therefore, write, “He earned a master’s degree in engineering.”

Do you capitalize master’s degree?

Usually, no. When you refer to the degree generally, write “master’s degree” in lowercase. However, capitalize an official degree title such as “Master of Science.”

Is it Master’s of Science or Master of Science?

Master of Science is correct. “Master’s of Science” incorrectly combines the general possessive form with the formal degree-title construction.

Can I say I have a master’s?

Yes. When the context clearly refers to education, “I have a master’s” is a normal shortened form of “I have a master’s degree.”

Should I write MA or master’s degree?

Either can work depending on the context. However, use the official degree abbreviation when listing a specific credential. In ordinary explanatory writing, “master’s degree” may be clearer to readers.

Keep the Rule Simple

When you find yourself asking is it masters or master’s, remember one straightforward distinction: use master’s when talking generally about the graduate degree, but use Master without an apostrophe in formal titles such as Master of Arts, Master of Science, or Master of Business Administration.

Therefore, “She earned a master’s degree” is correct, while “She earned a Master of Science” is also correct.

Once you separate the general description from the formal title, the apostrophe becomes much easier to remember. For school assignments, resumes, applications, and professional writing, that simple rule will handle most situations you are likely to encounter.