Are Academic Degrees Capitalized? Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and More
Learn when academic degrees are capitalized, including bachelor's degree, master's degree, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, PhD, MBA, and degree titles.
Academic degree capitalization depends on whether you are using the formal name of a degree, a generic description, an abbreviation, or a field of study. That is why both Bachelor of Science and bachelor's degree can be correct.
The simplest rule is this: capitalize the complete formal name of a degree when you are using it as an official title, but lowercase generic references to degrees.
Formal Degree Names
Formal degree names are commonly capitalized.
Examples:
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Science
Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy
These phrases function as official degree names.
Example:
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
An institution's official program title can have its own capitalization, so use the wording published by the university when accuracy matters.
Generic Degree References
Generic references are usually lowercase.
Examples:
a bachelor's degree
a master's degree
a doctoral degree
an undergraduate degree
Sentence:
He completed a master's degree in education.
The phrase describes a type of qualification rather than giving the complete formal title.
Bachelor's Degree
Use lowercase in a generic sentence:
She has a bachelor's degree.
The apostrophe matters. “Bachelor's degree” means the degree of a bachelor.
When you write the formal degree:
Bachelor of Arts
capitalize the official title.
Master's Degree
Generic:
He earned a master's degree.
Formal:
He earned a Master of Science.
Again, the difference is between a description and an official degree name.
Doctoral Degree
Generic:
She completed a doctoral degree.
Formal degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
The abbreviation:
PhD
uses established capitalization.
Some institutions and styles prefer Ph.D. with periods, but many modern academic and professional contexts use PhD. Follow the required style.
Is PhD Capitalized?
Yes. PhD is an abbreviation of Doctor of Philosophy and uses capital letters according to its conventional form.
Other common degree abbreviations include:
BA
BS
MA
MS
MBA
JD
MD
EdD
The exact punctuation and letter style can vary by institution and style guide.
A case converter should preserve recognized degree abbreviations rather than turning PhD into Phd.
Fields of Study
Most academic subjects are lowercase when they are generic fields.
Examples:
biology
history
computer science
psychology
But languages and proper names are capitalized:
English
Spanish
French
Asian studies may capitalize a proper geographic or cultural term while keeping the generic subject word lowercase, depending on context.
Degree Name Plus Field
Formal:
Bachelor of Arts in English
Master of Science in Computer Science
The formal degree title is capitalized. The field is capitalized only when it contains a proper noun or when the institution officially treats the program name as a formal title.
A university may publish:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
as an official program title. When reproducing the official program name, follow the institution's capitalization.
Academic Departments
Official department names can be capitalized:
Department of English
Department of Computer Science
Generic references are often lowercase:
the computer science department
the history department
A department name and a degree name are related but not the same capitalization question.
Degrees After a Name
Credentials after a name retain their conventional form:
Aisha Khan, PhD
Daniel Lee, MBA
Maria Patel, MD
Whether to include periods, commas, or multiple credentials depends on the style and professional context.
Do not use a generic title case function on credentials.
Degrees in Resumes
Resume sections often use display capitalization.
Example:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
This is appropriate because the formal credential is being listed.
A resume can also include:
Master's degree in marketing
if the writer is describing a qualification generically, although using the official degree title is usually clearer when known.
Degrees in Job Postings
A job description may say:
Bachelor's degree required
because the requirement is generic.
It may also specify:
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
when the employer wants a particular formal qualification.
The capitalization follows the meaning.
Degrees in Academic Writing
If you are following APA, MLA, Chicago, or another style, check the manual's treatment of degrees and credentials.
General English principles still apply, but formal documents can add punctuation and abbreviation preferences.
Do not assume that title capitalization rules for article headings automatically control degree names in running prose.
Is “University” Capitalized?
“University” is capitalized when it forms part of the official institution name:
Stanford University
Generic:
the university offers several degrees
is lowercase.
The same distinction between proper name and generic description appears throughout capitalization.
Graduation and Degree Titles
Event programs often capitalize degree labels for visual consistency:
Bachelor of Arts
Master of Science
This is a display context and commonly uses formal titles.
Do not use the program's display capitalization as evidence that bachelor's degree must be capitalized in ordinary prose.
Academic Honors
Formal honors can have established capitalization:
Dean's List
Phi Beta Kappa
Generic descriptions may be lowercase.
Because institutions vary, use the official wording for named honors.
Common Mistakes
Capitalizing every generic degree
Wrong:
She has a Master's Degree in marketing.
Better:
She has a master's degree in marketing.
Lowercasing a formal degree title
Less appropriate when giving the official credential:
bachelor of science
Better:
Bachelor of Science
Changing PhD to Phd
Established abbreviations should keep their conventional capitals.
Capitalizing every field of study
Most subjects are lowercase unless they contain a proper noun or form part of an official program name.
A Quick Decision Rule
Ask:
- Am I writing the official degree name?
- Am I describing the degree generically?
- Am I using an established abbreviation?
- Is the field of study a proper noun?
- Am I reproducing an institution's official program title?
These questions resolve most cases.
Related Resources
- Use the Title Case Converter
- When Should Job Titles Be Capitalized?
- Are Seasons Capitalized? Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “bachelor's degree” capitalized?
Usually no when used generically. Write bachelor's degree.
Is “Bachelor of Science” capitalized?
Yes when it is the formal name of the degree.
Should “master's degree” be capitalized?
Usually not in generic prose. The formal title Master of Science or Master of Arts is capitalized.
Is PhD written with a capital H?
The widely used form is PhD. Some styles use Ph.D.. Follow the required convention.