Definition

Noun: 1. An academic degree: A master's degree awarded for graduate study in the humanities, arts, or social sciences, typically requiring one to two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. It is often abbreviated as M.A. or A.M.

Usage

• The term "Master of Arts" is used to refer to the degree itself or to a person who holds this degree.
• It is commonly used in formal contexts such as academic records, job titles, and professional signatures.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "M.A.": The standard abbreviation, often used after a person's name.
  • Dr. Jane Doe, Ph.D., M.A.
• "A.M.": An alternative Latin abbreviation (), used by some institutions like Harvard University.
  • He holds an A.M. in Linguistics.

Variants and Related Words

• Master's degree (n): The general category of postgraduate degrees that includes the Master of Arts.
• M.A. (n): The standard abbreviation.
• A.M. (n): The alternative abbreviation.
• Master of Science (M.S., M.Sc.): A master's degree typically focused on scientific, technical, or professional fields.

Synonyms

• Graduate degree: A broader term for any degree earned after a bachelor's.
• Postgraduate degree: Another general term, more common in British English.

Notes on Meaning

• The "arts" in "Master of Arts" refers broadly to the liberal arts and sciences, encompassing disciplines like literature, languages, history, philosophy, and social sciences, as opposed to professional, technical, or scientific fields which often grant a Master of Science (M.S.).

Noun

1. a master's degree in arts and sciences