Standard style guides keep “master’s degree” lowercase in general use. Write “she earned a master’s degree in history.” The apostrophe stays, but there is no capital M.
Capitalize it only as part of a formal degree name. Write “Master of Arts in History” or “Master of Science in Nursing.” The same rule applies to bachelor’s degrees: “bachelor’s degree” in general, “Bachelor of Arts” as a formal title.
Job titles and generic references stay lowercase too. Write “the program requires a master’s degree” and “master’s programs in the region.” Do not capitalize the phrase just because it feels important.
This matches the guidance used by the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, the two references most academic and professional writing follows. When in doubt, lowercase it. Overcapitalizing looks unprofessional to editors and hiring managers.
The original version of this article gave different advice, including a rule about capitalizing before a person’s name. That rule is not part of standard style guidance, so it has been replaced here.
Good writing matters in graduate school applications. See why capitalizing “master’s degree” correctly matters in academic writing, and get tips for writing a master’s application essay. If you need support with longer projects, look into writing center services for graduate theses, and read about finding your writing voice as you develop as a writer.
