Master of Arts Abbreviation: Proper Usage and Formatting Guide

By James AndersonLast Updated May 21, 2025

Understand master of arts abbreviations

The master of arts degree represent a significant academic achievement. When include this credential on your resume, business card, or academic publication, know the proper abbreviation is essential. This guide explains the standard abbreviations for master of arts degrees and how to use them aright in various contexts.

Standard abbreviations for master of arts

The nigh common and wide accept abbreviation for master of arts is

Ma

Or

M.a.

Both forms are correct, though the style you choose should remain consistent throughout a document. The version with periods (m.a. )is traditionally more formal and follow older academic convention, while the version without periods ( ( ) )flect modern style trends and is progressively common in contemporary publications.

Variations in master of arts abbreviations

While ma and m.a. are the standard abbreviations, you might encounter several variations depend on the institution, country, or style guide:

Ma

The clean, modern format without periods
M.a.

Traditional format with periods
M.a

Less common hybrid format (not recommend )
A.m.

Latin form

Atrium magister

, use by some older institutions
Am

Modern version of the Latin abbreviation

Harvard University and some other institutions with traditional roots occasionally use a.m. (aAtriummagister )alternatively of m.a., reflect the laLatinrigin of the degree title.

How to format master of arts abbreviations

Proper formatting of your master of arts abbreviation depend on where and how you’re use it. Here are the guidelines for different contexts:

After your name

When place your degree after your name, separate it with a comma:

Jane smith, ma

Or

Jane smith, m.a.

If you hold multiple degrees, list them in order of highest to lowest or chronologically:

Jane smith, PhD, ma, BA

Or

Jane smith, Ph.D., m.a., b.a.

In professional signatures

For email signatures and business correspondence, you can format your credentials as follows:

Jane smith, ma

Professor of English

University name

On business cards

On business cards, the degree typically appears on the same line as your name or straight beneath it:

Jane smith, ma

Or

Jane smith

Ma in English literature

On resumes and CVS

In your education section, you can format your degree in several acceptable ways:

Master of arts (ma )in enEnglishuniversity name, year

Ma in English, university name, year

Style guide recommendations

Different style guides offer vary recommendations for abbreviate academic degrees:

APA style

The American psychological association (aAPA)style guide recommend use periods in degree abbreviations:

M.a.

Instead than

Ma

Chicago manual of style

The Chicago manual of style (cCMOS)traditionally prefer use periods but forthwith acknowledge both forms. It rerecommendsonsistency within a document:

Either

M.a.

Or

Ma

Is acceptable, but be consistent

MLA style

The modern language association (mMLA)style guide broadly recommend use periods:

M.a.

Instead than

Ma

Ap style

The associated press (ap )stylebook recommend use periods in most academic abbreviations:

M.a.

Instead than

Ma

International variations in master of arts abbreviations

Different countries may use somewhat different conventions for abbreviate master of arts degrees:

United States and Canada

In North America, both ma and m.a. are common, with a slight preference for m.a. in formal academic contexts.

United Kingdom

The UK typically use ma without periods. Some UK institutions, peculiarly Oxford and Cambridge, have a unique system where graduates can receive a ma without additional study beyond their bachelor’s degree after a certain time period.

Australia and New Zealand

These countries loosely follow the UK convention, use ma without periods.

European countries

Many European institutions use country specific abbreviations or the English my form. For example:

Germany: m.a. or ma
France: m.a. or master
Italy: m.a. or dot. Mag. ((oDot toremagistrate)

Specialized master of arts abbreviations

When your master of arts is in a specific field, you might use a more detailed abbreviation:

Made

Or

M.a.ed.

Master of arts in education
Meet

Or

M.a.e.t.

Master of arts in educational technology
MALS

Or

M.a.l.s.

Master of arts in liberal studies
Mat

Or

M.a.t.

Master of arts in teaching
Mail

Or

M.a.t.l.

Master of arts in teaching and learning

For these specialized degrees, check with your institution for their preferred abbreviation format.

Common mistakes when abbreviate master of arts

Avoid these common errors when abbreviate your master of arts degree:

Inconsistent use of periods

Choose either ma or m.a. and stick with it throughout your document. Mix styles (like use m.aanin some places and ma in others) appear unprofessional.

Incorrect possessive form

Ne’er write

Master’s of arts

Or

Ma’s

. The correct term is

Master of arts

(ma or m.a. )

Lowercase abbreviations

Invariably capitalize both letters in ma or m.a. writing

Ma

Or

M.a.

Is incorrect.

Redundant phrasing

Avoid redundancies like

My degree

Or

Master of arts (ma )degree

. Merely use

Ma

Or

Master of arts (ma )

.

When to spell out” master of arts ” s. Use abbreviations

Know when to abbreviate and when to spell out your degree is important for maintain professionalism:

When to use the abbreviation

After your name in signatures, business cards, and credentials listings
In space constrain documents like resumes and CVS
In academic publications where credentials are list
When multiple degrees are being list unitedly

When to spell out” master of arts ”

In the main text of formal documents and papers
When commencement mention your degree in a document (you can include the abbreviation in parentheses )
In ceremonial context like graduation programs
When write for audiences unfamiliar with academic abbreviations

Digital contexts and master of arts abbreviations

In today’s digital world, how you format your master of arts abbreviation matters in various online contexts:

Social media profiles

On platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, either format (ma or m.a. )is acceptable. LiLinkedInend to be more formal, so m.a. might be preferable thither, while mamyork fountainhead for other platforms.

Email signatures

For professional email signatures, follow your organization’s style guide. If none exist, choose the style that match your industry’s conventions.

Digital CVS and online portfolios

In digital resumes and portfolios, consider your audience. Academic positions might warrant m.a., while creative industries oftentimes use ma.

Industry specific conventions

Different professional fields have developed their own conventions for display academic credentials:

Academia

Academic settings frequently prefer the more traditional m.a. format, particularly in humanities disciplines.

Business

In business contexts, the cleaner my format is progressively common, peculiarly in modern industries.

Creative fields

Design, art, and other creative professions tend to favor the simpler my format, which align with minimalist design principles.

Government and legal

These formal sectors oftentimes prefer the traditional m.a. format with periods.

Historical evolution of master of arts abbreviations

The way we abbreviate master of arts has evolved over time:

Historically, academic abbreviations e’er include periods (m.a. )to indicate that they were abbreviations. This practice date back centuries in academic tradition.

In the mid 20th century, as design trends shift toward cleaner, more minimalist styles, the practice of omitting periods (ma )begin to gain acceptance.

Today, both forms are wide to recognize, with a general trend toward the simplmy ma format in many contexts, though m.a. remain common in traditional academic settings.

Conclusion

Whether you choose ma or m.a. as your abbreviation for master of arts, consistency and adherence to context appropriate conventions are key. Consider your audience, industry, and the specific document when decide which format to use. When in doubt, check your institution’s style guide or the preferred format in your professional field.

Your master of arts degree represent significant academic achievement, and present it right ensure that your credentials are recognized and respect in any professional or academic context.