You may have wondered if and when university degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, etc.) should be capitalized.
If you read our capitalization rules, you will notice that capitalization is sometimes a complex area. We don’t always have strict rules to rely on; some areas are subject to interpretation. This is evident in the field of capitalization of academic degrees, as you will see in the different approaches of two of the main reference works in American English:
LLM
The LLM is reserved for anyone who has studied. Right. If you have obtained a Master of Law, you will use LLM (which stands for “Master of Laws”). LLM is a Latin acronym for “Legum Magister”.
It is very common for lawyers to use this formal title. Again, this will come right after their name. It’s up to you if they want to include it in their name.
Should you get a master’s or a doctorate?
There are many aspects to consider when choosing between a Ph.D.
First, it’s worth considering the time required, the cost, and the pros and cons of each. It is also essential to explore your personal goals and why you want a degree.
If you need a doctorate, like being a university professor, you have your answer. If you want to start a business and benefit from networking while in school, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) might be a good idea. Think about what you want to do as a career and find out about the requirements first.
Doctorate
What is a doctorate? A doctorate is the highest level of university degrees (level 8). This is independent and original research on a specific field or topic, used to write a long dissertation worthy of publication.
How long will it last? Full-time doctorates usually take three to four years, while part-time courses probably take around six years.
What is a Master?
A master’s degree is awarded to those who have demonstrated mastery of the subject after completing an appropriate academic course of study. Normally, students can only study at this level after obtaining a bachelor’s degree, so depending on the subject, it takes at least five years of full-time study to obtain a master’s degree.
A mastery indicates that a person is recognized as having mastery of the chosen subject. “Laurea magistrale” therefore means the master’s degree, and therefore requires a possessive alp.