Academic Degree Abbreviations Decoded

In the workplace, some people decorate their names and titles with multiple abbreviations to indicate earned academic degrees. Have you ever wondered how to spell them out in full words and phrases? In times past, only doctoral or graduate degrees were noted in the signature lines of emails. Currently, however, the trend is to list EVERY earned degree including bachelor’s and associate degrees.

To ensure that everyone is duly noted for his or her educational achievements, academic and non-academic professionals alike should take note of the proper degree names that correspond to all of those capital letters. Although not exhaustive, this list is quite helpful as a reference guide for everyday business and general office communications.

DOCTORAL DEGREES:

• Doctor of Arts (D.A.)
• Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
• Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.)
• Doctor of Divinity ( D.D.)
• Doctor of Literature or Doctor of Letters (D.Lit. or D. Litt.)
• Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)
• Doctor of Music (D. Mus.)
• Doctorate of Nursing Science (D.N.S.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (D. Phil.)
• Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
• Doctor of Engineering (Eng.D.)
• Doctor of Law or Juris Doctor (J.D.)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
• Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)

SPECIALIST DEGREES:

• Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
• Bachelor of Accountancy (B.Acc.)

MASTER’S DEGREES:

• Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.)
• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
• Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
• Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.)
• Master of Project Management (M.P.M.)
• Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.)
• Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.)
• Master of Science (M.S.)
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)

BACHELOR’S DEGREES:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
• Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.)
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
• Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.)
• Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

ASSOCIATE DEGREES:

• Associate of Arts (A.A.)
• Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)
• Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.)
• Associate of Baccalaureate Studies (A.B.S.)
• Associate of Engineering Science (A.E.S.)
• Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
• Associate in General Studies (A.G.S.)
• Associate of Science (A.S.)

GRAMMAR/ USAGE NOTES:

According to The Associated Press Stylebook, the word , as in associate degree, is not written in the possessive: associate’s. Therefore, associate’s degree is incorrect, but associate degree is the acceptable term. I would also like to add a distinction between doctorate and doctoral when referencing this particular degree. The word doctorate is a noun. For example, Sharese completed a doctorate in professional writing.

However, is an adjective that describes the type of degree being referenced. For example, Sharese completed a doctoral degree in professional writing. In this case, is an adjective that modifies the noun . So, instead of doctorate degree, the correct phrasing is doctoral degree.

Ashan R. Hampton has worked as an English instructor in higher education for over 20 years. She is a proud graduate of the Donaghey Scholars Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock under the direction of Dr. C. Earl Ramsey, Emeritus. She is also a published author of 14 nonfiction books on grammar, writing and inspiration for women. View samples of her work at: www.arhampton.com.

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.