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academic degrees

Academic degrees are abbreviated according to established conventions for each degree. Degrees that are abbreviated with two letters take a period after each letter, and both letters are capitalized. For degrees are abbreviated with three or more letters, conventions vary. In all instances, follow the list below, which gives examples of commonly encountered degrees and their abbreviations.

  • AAS Associate of Applied Science
  • A.B. Artium Baccalaureus (bachelor of arts)
  • A.M. Artium Magister (master of arts)
  • B.A. Bachelor of Arts
  • B.D. Bachelor of Divinity
  • BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • B.M. Bachelor of Music
  • B.Pharm. Bachelor of Pharmacy
  • B.S. Bachelor of Science
  • BSW Bachelor of Social Work
  • D.B. Divinitatis Baccalaureus (bachelor of divinity)
  • D.D. Divinitatis Doctor (doctor of divinity)
  • DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
  • D.Litt. or D.Lit. Doctor Litterarum (doctor of letters; doctor of literature)
  • DMD Dentariae Medicinae Doctor (doctor of dental medicine)
  • D.Min. Doctor of Ministry
  • D.O. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
  • DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Ed.D. Doctor of Education
  • Ed.M. Educationis Magister (master of education)
  • J.D. Juris Doctor (doctor of law)
  • LHD Litterarum Humaniorum Doctor (doctor of humanities)
  • Litt.D. Litterarum Doctor (doctor of letters)
  • LL.B. Legum Baccalaureus (bachelor of laws)
  • LL.D. Legum Doctor (doctor of laws)
  • LL.M. Legum Magister (master of laws)
  • M.A. Master of Arts
  • M.Arch. Master of Architecture
  • MBA Master of Business Administration
  • M.D. Medicinae Doctor (doctor of medicine)
  • M.Div. Master of Divinity
  • MFA Master of Fine Arts
  • M.S. Master of Science
  • MSN Master of Science in Nursing
  • MSW Master of Social Welfare or Master of Social Work
  • Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Ph.B. Philosophiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of philosophy)
  • Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy
  • Psy.D. Doctor of Psychology
  • S.B. Scientiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of science)
  • S.M. Scientiae Magister (master of science)
  • STB Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus (bachelor of sacred theology)

Per AP, the only time we use these abbreviations with someone’s name is when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. In general we should instead follow the guidelines given in the Dr. entry. When using these abbreviations, use them only after a full name — never after just a last name. Set these abbreviations off with commas when they follow a person’s name:

  • Correct: Ben Chapman, Ph.D., is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman, Ph.D. is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman Ph.D., is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.
  • Incorrect: Ben Chapman Ph.D. is the director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program.

The plural forms of the abbreviations do not use apostrophes:

  • Correct: Business students who get MBAs face better job prospects than those who don’t.
  • Incorrect: Business students who get MBA’s face better job prospects than those who don’t.

The general terms for academic degrees are as follows:

  • associate degree
  • bachelor’s degree
  • baccalaureate
  • master’s degree
  • doctoral degree
  • doctorate
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