Is Major Capitalized In College Major?
No, majors are typically not capitalized except when they contain proper nouns or are formal degree titles
Do you capitalize majors in AP style?
In AP style, capitalize formal degree titles like "Bachelor of Arts" or "Master of Political Science," but lowercase general majors unless they contain proper nouns
AP style insists on capitalizing the full names of degrees, period. You’d write "Bachelor of Arts in History" but "history major." That’s how newsrooms keep things consistent when precision matters most. (Always grab the latest AP Stylebook though—these rules shift over time.)
Do you capitalize career fields?
Generally, no—career fields and academic majors are not capitalized unless they include proper nouns
Think marketing, engineering, or computer science—these stay lowercase. Only when a field name comes from a proper noun do we capitalize it, like "English" (from England) or "Asian studies." On resumes or in job descriptions, keeping fields lowercase just makes things easier to read.
Is psychology major capitalized?
No, "psychology major" is not capitalized
Psychology, biology, business—these are all common nouns and stay lowercase. They only get capitalized when you’re talking about a specific program, like "the Psychology Department at Stanford University". Keeping general majors lowercase prevents your writing from feeling unnecessarily stiff.
Is biology major capitalized?
No, "biology major" is not capitalized
Biology isn’t a proper noun, so it stays lowercase. Only majors that include proper nouns—like "English" (from England) or "African American studies"—get capitalized. This rule keeps academic writing and resumes clean and professional.
Do you capitalize the name of a major?
Only capitalize a major name if it contains a proper noun or is a formal degree title like "Bachelor of Science"
Say "Computer Science" when you mean the formal degree title, but write "she is majoring in computer science" in everyday sentences. Course names like "Introduction to Psychology" get capitalized, but general references like "psychology" don’t. This keeps things clear in both academic and professional writing.
Should I capitalize bachelor’s degree?
No, do not capitalize "bachelor’s degree" unless it is part of a full formal title like "Bachelor of Arts"
In most cases, "bachelor’s degree" stays lowercase. Only when it’s part of a full formal title—like "Bachelor of Science in Biology"—does it get capitalized. The Chicago Manual of Style and APA agree on this, and it helps tell formal titles apart from general references.
What is the correct way to write Bachelor’s degree?
The correct spelling is “bachelor’s degree” — with a possessive apostrophe before the s
That apostrophe shows possession: the degree belongs to a bachelor. Never write "bachelors degree" (plural) or "Bachelor Degree" (missing apostrophe). On resumes, abbreviations like "B.A." or "B.S." are fine with periods, but always use the possessive form in sentences.
Does MA have periods?
Yes, "M.A." traditionally includes periods, though some modern style guides recommend omitting them
Abbreviations like "M.A." (Master of Arts), "Ph.D." (Doctor of Philosophy), and "B.A." (Bachelor of Arts) usually have periods. But the APA and some academic journals now skip them. Check your institution’s style guide—it’s the final word.
Do degrees have periods?
Two-letter degree abbreviations like "B.A." and "M.S." typically include periods, but "MBA" is often written without them
This isn’t set in stone. The Chicago Manual of Style likes periods for most abbreviations, but some academic contexts prefer no periods. Exceptions like "MBA" often drop them in business writing. Always follow your organization’s style guide to stay consistent.
Do you capitalize a field of study?
No, fields of study are not capitalized unless they contain proper nouns
Write "she studies chemistry" and "he majors in history," but capitalize "English literature" because "English" comes from a proper noun. This rule keeps resumes, academic papers, and emails professional and easy to read.
What is the rule for capitalization?
The core rule is to capitalize proper nouns, the first word of a sentence, and titles, while lowercasing articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions
For instance, capitalize "Einstein’s Theory of Relativity" but not "the theory of relativity." Some style guides, like the Chicago Manual, even suggest capitalizing prepositions longer than five letters in titles (e.g., "Between"). Always double-check the guide that fits your situation.
Do you capitalize your major in a resume?
No, majors are not capitalized in resumes unless they contain proper nouns
You’d write "Bachelor of Science in Computer Science" for the formal title, but "computer science" in sentence case. Languages like "English," "French," or "Japanese" are capitalized because they’re proper nouns. This keeps your resume polished and aligned with standard practices.
What does BS stand for in college?
BS stands for Bachelor of Science, a common undergraduate degree in technical and scientific fields
Math, psychology, and computer science often award the BS, while humanities and social sciences lean toward the BA (Bachelor of Arts). It’s more about curriculum focus than difficulty. Always verify your school’s exact degree designation when listing credentials.
Is Bachelor’s degree capitalized in psychology?
No, "bachelor’s degree" is not capitalized unless it is part of a formal title like "Bachelor of Science in Psychology"
General references to degrees stay lowercase. So write "She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology," but capitalize it as "Bachelor of Science in Psychology" when using the full formal title. This keeps your writing clear and academically appropriate.
Is it master’s or master degree?
The correct form is “master’s degree,” using the possessive apostrophe
The apostrophe shows possession—it’s the degree of a master, not a plural. Never write "masters degree." When naming a specific degree, capitalize it: "Master of Business Administration". The same rule applies to "bachelor’s degree." Always proofread to catch these little errors in academic and professional writing.
