Derick de Souza
Written By - Derick de Souza

Check MarkReviewed By OMC Staff

When referring to the possessive form of a master’s degree, “master’s” is the correct term. As an example:

  • Master’s degree program
  • Thesis for a Master’s Degree

So, if you’re talking about a master’s degree, you’d say “master’s” to indicate possession or association.

But to break this down to its proper format, this is what you need to know—when a person receives a master’s degree, it is acknowledged that they have sufficient knowledge in a subject of study to be regarded as a master of it. As a result, a master’s degree should be spelled with an apostrophe to highlight that it is a master’s degree (possessive – for someone who has it).

If one refers to a specialized field, such as a Master of Arts, one should drop the apostrophe and the ‘s.’ However, this rule is somewhat blurred in the age of email and text messaging, and increasingly, “master,” “masters,” and “master’s” have become correct and acceptable ways to spell and refer to a master’s degree. 

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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on-campus students and over 60,000 online students, making us one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Founded in 1932, we’ve been relentlessly reinventing higher education ever since and have gained national recognition for our dedication to helping students transform their lives and the lives of those around them.

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