A master's degree is a postgraduate academic qualification earned after completing a bachelor's degree, typically taking 1-3 years of study through coursework, research, and sometimes a thesis.

The correct spelling is "master's degree" with an apostrophe, not "masters degree." The apostrophe indicates possession - it's the degree of a master. This same rule applies to "bachelor's degree."

Common master's degree types include:

• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MS)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Education (MEd)

Key spelling rules:

• Use lowercase when writing "master's degree" generally
• Capitalize specific degrees without apostrophe (Master of Science)
• The plural form is "master's degrees"
• Abbreviations vary by institution (MA, M.A., MS, M.S.)

When referring to specific degrees:

• Remove the apostrophe-s
• Capitalize both "Master" and the field
• Example: Master of Arts in History

Bachelor's degree follows identical rules:

• Use apostrophe (bachelor's degree)
• Lowercase unless specific (Bachelor of Science)
• Plural form is "bachelor's degrees"
• Common abbreviations: BS, B.S., BA, B.A.

Professional tip: Using correct spelling demonstrates attention to detail and understanding of academic terminology, particularly important in formal communications and résumés.

Using standalone terms like "a master's" or "a bachelor's" (with apostrophes) is acceptable in casual conversation but maintain formal terminology in professional contexts.

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