Degrees and Programs
Capitalize when referring to departments as stand-alone words
e.g. Chemistry, French, Women’s Studies
However, departments are lower case when in a sentence.
Examples:
She works in the chemistry department.
He is a professor in the geology department.
Ashley is a philosophy student.
Use an apostrophe and spell out academic degrees.
Example:
She has a bachelor’s degree.
Please note there are no commas between multiple degrees or after the name:
Examples:
Mary Ann Daye BComm’85
Mary Ann Daye BComm’85 MBA’87
Other possibilities:
Multiple degrees from the same institution:
BA’98 BEd’99 MEd’00 (no comma’s between degrees or years)
BComm’62 DComm’11
Multiple degrees from different institutions:
BA’01 (SMU) LLD’05 (Dal)
This is where it can get complicated but for SMU the most common combinations tend to be:
Professional Designations like CMA, CPA, CA, post-nominals like KC, and Honorifics. While listings vary by institution, here is a good rule of thumb:
- Religious order
- Theological degrees
- Academic degrees
- Honorary degrees, honours, decorations (NOTE: if the degree is listed after the name, then they are not addressed as Doctor in prefix. However, in salutations, they can be addressed as Dr as in Dear Dr XXXX).
- Professional licenses, certifications & affiliations
- In the case of King's Counsel (KC), the KC stays with the name and then the degrees are listed.
These next points are applicable when referencing Judges
- Retired judges who are not currently conducting public inquiries are no longer active members of the Judiciary, and should not be referred to as "Justice" or "Judge So-and-so".
- First reference can be to "Retired/Former Justice/Judge John/Jane Doe" and then following references to "Mr./Mrs. Doe."
- As per "Outside the Court" textbox: "While in the courtroom and when writing to them; however, judges should never be addressed as "Sir" or "Madam, Mr. or Ms."
***This information is from Courts Nova Scotia.***
Senator Jane Smith KC BComm'64 LLD'07 and Dear Senator Smith (since he was a Senator, it is ok to still address him as such but do not include Honourable unless still sitting).
Most common examples of degree formats
Degree |
Abbreviation |
Degree & Year |
Bachelor of Arts |
BA |
BA’86 |
Bachelor of Commerce |
BComm |
BComm’86 |
Bachelor of Science |
BSc |
BSc'87 |
Bachelor of Education |
BEd |
BEd'87 |
Master of Business Administration |
MBA |
MBA'87 |
Executive Master of Business Administration |
EMBA |
EMBA'88 |
Master of Arts |
MA |
MA'89 |
Master of Science |
MSc |
MSc'89 |
Master of Education |
MEd |
MEd'98 |
Master of Finance |
MFin |
MFin'98 |
International Master's of Teaching English |
IMTE |
IMTE'22 |
Certificate in Human Resources |
CertHRM |
CertHRM'98 |
Diploma in Engineering |
DipENG |
DipENG'05 |
Doctor of Laws |
LLD |
LLD’98 |
Doctor of Commerce |
DComm |
DComm’98 |
Doctor of Letters |
DLitt |
DLitt’98 |
Doctor of Humane Letters |
LHD |
LHD’98 |
Doctor of Civil Laws |
DCL |
DCL'15 |
Doctor of Philosophy |
PhD or PHD |
PHD’98 |
- anyone who has graduated with a degree of certificate
- an Honorary degree recipient
- a graduate of the original high school that existed in the 60's and earlier
- an Associate Alumni as bestowed by the Alumni Association
Alum – abbreviation of alumnus or alumna
Alumna – female graduate of the university
Alumnae – plural form for female graduates of the university
Alumnus – a graduate of the university
Alumni – plural form for graduates of the university