Even the best writers sometimes aren’t sure when to capitalize the name of the degree they received from a college or university, whether they have a master’s, bachelor’s, or doctorate. So the Writer’s Relief proofreaders have simplified the capitalization rules for you.
Here’s the rule about how and when to capitalize the name of your degree.
For a GENERAL usage, don’t capitalize.
Example: He received his bachelor of arts in English.
In this case, “bachelor of arts” is lowercased because it’s being used as a general term of classification. “English” is capitalized because it’s a language.
Here’s another look at general usage and lowercase:
Example: She earned her master’s in creative writing.
The only times you SHOULD capitalize are when you’re abbreviating or when the name of the degree is part of that person’s official title.
Examples:
I can’t wait to get my MSW!
I have a job lined up at the university, so I’ll be working with Jane Parker, Doctor of Philosophy.
If you’re confused about when to capitalize the title of your degree from college, just remember: If you’re referring to the degree itself, don’t capitalize the name. If you’re abbreviating or referring to the degree as part of an official title, then capitalize the degree.
