The apostrophe in master's degree indicates possession (the degree of a master), not plurality. It's always written as "master's degree," not "masters degree."

A master's degree is a postgraduate qualification earned after completing a bachelor's degree, typically taking 1-3 years of study through coursework, research, and sometimes a thesis.

Common master's degree types include:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MS)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Education (MEd)

Key spelling rules:

• Use lowercase for general references: "master's degree"
• Capitalize specific degrees: "Master of Science"
• Remove apostrophe-s in formal degree names: "Master of Arts"
• Plural form is "master's degrees"

The same rules apply to "bachelor's degree":

• Use apostrophe: "bachelor's degree" (correct)
• Without apostrophe: "bachelors degree" (incorrect)
• Capitalize specific degrees: "Bachelor of Science"
• Plural form is "bachelor's degrees"

Abbreviations vary by institution:

• Master of Arts: MA, M.A., or A.M.
• Master of Science: MS, M.S., or S.M.
• Use "in" between degree and field: "MA in History"

Professional tip: Correct spelling demonstrates attention to detail and understanding of academic terminology, particularly important in formal communications, applications, and résumés.

Remember: When writing about a specific degree, drop the apostrophe and capitalize both words (Master of Science). For general references, keep the apostrophe and use lowercase (master's degree).

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