Write master’s degree for the credential; use masters (no apostrophe) only in names like “Masters in Teaching” or “Masters Division.”
You’ve seen it both ways: master’s degree and masters degree. Then you stare at your resume, a grad school form, or an email signature and think, “Which one makes me look sharp?” You might even type “degree master or masters?” into a search box.
Here’s the clean rule set writers use across academic and business writing. You’ll learn the apostrophe rule, the plural forms, and the places where “Masters” is a name, not a grammar mistake.
Degree Master Or Masters? One Rule You Can Trust
When you mean the academic credential, write master’s degree with an apostrophe and a lowercase m. The apostrophe signals that the degree is linked to a “master.”
When Masters is part of a proper name, skip the apostrophe and keep the capitalization the name uses. Think program names, tournament divisions, and branded degree tracks.
- Generic credential: master’s degree, master’s in education, master’s programs
- Plural: master’s degrees (apostrophe stays on master’s)
- Official degree title: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration
- Named label: Masters in Teaching, Masters Division, Masters Tournament
Why “Master’s” Gets The Apostrophe
In English, we often use a possessive form to label a type of thing: a children’s hospital, a teacher’s lounge, a bachelor’s degree. The apostrophe marks that kind of relationship.
That’s why most editors treat master’s degree like bachelor’s degree. Chicago-style editing keeps the possessive even in the plural: master’s degrees.
Master’s Degree Vs Master Of Science
These two phrases point at different things. Master’s degree is a general label for the level of study.
Master of Science is a full degree name. It works like a title, so it drops the apostrophe and uses capitals.
Plural Forms That Don’t Look Weird
Writers trip over plurals because the apostrophe feels like it “belongs” to multiple masters. In standard editing, the possessive stays singular.
Use master’s degrees, not masters’ degrees, for more than one credential. Use two master’s degree programs only when you truly mean two programs; otherwise, write two master’s programs.
| Situation | Write This | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about the credential level | master’s degree | Generic term; uses possessive form |
| Listing more than one credential | master’s degrees | Possessive stays singular in the plural |
| Referring to the field (informal) | a master’s in biology | Short form; apostrophe stays |
| Using a full degree name | Master of Arts (MA) | Official title; no apostrophe |
| Resume education line | Master of Science, Data Analytics | Formal credential name reads clean |
| Program name on a school site | Masters in Teaching | Proper name; spelling follows the brand |
| Sports or competition category | Masters Division | Name of a division; not a possessive |
| Award or event name | Masters Tournament | Title case name; apostrophe would be wrong |
| Adjective before a noun | master’s degree requirements | Uses the standard term as a modifier |
| Degree level in a sentence | She earned her master’s degree. | Plain sentence; apostrophe stays |
When “Masters” Is Right Without An Apostrophe
Sometimes Masters is not grammar. It’s a label that someone chose as a name. In that case, you copy the exact spelling the name uses.
A university style guide can spell this out in plain terms: use the apostrophe for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but not for degree titles like Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. See Western Michigan University’s Academic Degrees entry.
Program Names That Use “Masters”
Schools sometimes brand a pathway as “Masters in …” or “Masters of …” to fit a marketing name or a catalog label. If you are copying an official program name, match their capitalization and spelling.
If you’re writing your own sentence and you’re not quoting a name, use the standard form: master’s degree or a master’s in a field.
Competition And Award Names
Sports and events often use Masters as a division name. That includes “Masters Division,” “Masters Category,” and similar labels. Names are names, so the apostrophe rule is off the table.
If you are unsure, look for the organizer’s own spelling on its site or official materials.
Capitalization Rules For Resumes And Applications
Capital letters depend on whether you’re using a general term or an official title. When the phrase is generic, keep it lowercase: master’s degree.
When you write a full degree name, capitalize it like a title: Master of Science, Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts.
Resume Lines That Read Clean
In an education section, a full degree title often looks better than a generic label. It tells the reader the exact credential.
Try one of these patterns:
- Degree, field: Master of Science, Computer Science
- Degree abbreviation: MS, Computer Science
- Generic level: Master’s degree in computer science
Email Signatures And Professional Bios
If you list credentials in a signature, keep the format tight. Use initials if that’s your norm (MS, MA, MBA), then keep the rest consistent across documents.
In a bio sentence, the generic form often sounds natural: “She holds a master’s degree in public policy.”
How “Master’s” Works As A Short Form
You’ll see “a master’s in nursing” or “I’m finishing my master’s” in casual writing. That apostrophe still belongs there, because the word is standing in for “master’s degree.”
Use the plural the same way: “They earned two master’s degrees” or “They have two master’s in related fields.” The second option is casual and can sound clipped, so many writers stick with “degrees.”
Master’s Or Masters In LinkedIn Headlines
LinkedIn headlines and profile headings are short, so people drop words. If you mean the credential, write “master’s” or write the degree name.
If your school’s program name is “Masters in X,” you can use that exact label in a credential line, since you’re naming the program.
Can You Write “A Masters” By Itself?
You’ll hear “I have a masters” in casual speech. In edited writing, that wording usually gets changed to a master’s degree or a full title like a Master of Arts.
Why? The word masters is a plain plural noun. A single credential isn’t plural, so it reads off on the page, even if it sounds normal out loud.
Better Options For One Line
If you want a tight line with no extra words, use the degree initials: MA, MS, MBA, MEd, MPH. If the reader may not know the initials, spell it out once, then use initials later.
If you’re writing for a form that asks for “highest degree,” write master’s degree unless the form lists the full titles.
Masters Without A Noun After It
In some contexts, Masters works as a stand-alone name, like a tournament name or a division label. In that case, the missing noun is baked into the name.
In your own sentences about schooling, a stand-alone “Masters” can sound like you’re naming an event, not a credential. Adding degree or writing the full title clears it up.
Small Punctuation Details That Save You From Typos
You may see two apostrophes in print: a curly one (’), and a straight one (‘). Both are read as an apostrophe. Use one consistently, then let your editor or CMS handle typography if it auto-converts.
On a resume, consistency beats fancy punctuation. A clean apostrophe, a consistent dash style, and steady capitalization keep your education lines easy to scan.
Hyphenation With “Master’s”
When master’s acts like an adjective, you can write phrases like master’s-level courses or master’s-degree requirements. Some style sheets drop the hyphen, some keep it. Pick one pattern and keep it.
If you want to avoid hyphens, rewrite the line: “courses at the master’s level” or “requirements for a master’s degree.”
If you’re writing for an international audience, stick with the apostrophe form in general prose in emails. Many schools still label programs without it, so treat those as names and quote them as shown.
Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Most mix-ups come from one of two habits: copying a program name into a generic sentence, or treating “masters” like a plain plural noun.
Fixing them is mostly pattern work. Spot the context, then pick the form that matches it.
Dropping The Apostrophe In Generic Writing
“Masters degree” is common in quick typing, but editors treat it as an error when you are not using a proper name. If you see it in a sentence you wrote, add the apostrophe and you’re done.
Same idea for “bachelors degree.” If you’d write bachelor’s, mirror the pattern with master’s.
Mixing Two Styles In One Document
A resume can look messy when one line uses “Master of Science” and the next line uses “masters degree.” Choose one style and stick with it.
If you want clean and formal, use full titles. If you want short and friendly, use master’s degree and bachelor’s degree, written consistently.
Capitalizing Random Words
Random caps can read like a mistake: “He earned a Master’s degree.” If you’re using the generic phrase, keep it lowercase: master’s degree.
Save capitals for official titles and proper names.
Sentence Patterns You Can Copy
Use these as plug-in lines for resumes, essays, and application forms. Swap the field and the school details to fit your case.
These are written in standard U.S. academic style, but the apostrophe rule holds in most English editing.
| Use Case | Sample Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Generic credential | I earned a master’s degree in economics. | Lowercase; apostrophe stays |
| Full title | I earned a Master of Arts in economics. | Official title; no apostrophe |
| Resume education | Master of Science, Information Systems — 2024 | Title case for the degree name |
| Short resume line | MS, Information Systems — 2024 | Use the abbreviation your school uses |
| Program name quoted | Completed the Masters in Teaching program at City University. | Match the program’s spelling |
| Multiple credentials | She holds two master’s degrees in related fields. | Plural keeps master’s singular |
| Short form | He’s finishing his master’s this spring. | Casual line; “degree” is implied |
| Application checkbox label | Highest completed: master’s degree | Generic label; lowercase |
| Competition label | Entered the Masters Division for ages 40+. | Division name; no apostrophe |
Quick Checks Before You Submit
If you want a fast self-check, scan for two things: the apostrophe and the capitals. Those two signals fix most slips.
- If you mean the credential level, write master’s degree.
- If you wrote more than one, write master’s degrees.
- If you wrote the full name, write Master of … with capitals.
- If “Masters” is a name, copy the name as shown by the school or organizer.
- Keep one style across the whole document.
One last tip: if you are tempted to type “degree master or masters?” into a form field or a note to yourself, stop and write the phrase you actually mean. Your reader will thank you.