# Term for holders of bachelor's degrees **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264 "2006-08-25T22:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/1 "2006-08-25T22:32:27Z")
Everyone knows that those with a Ph.D. (and a few other degrees) are known as Doctor LastName. Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister LastName. What’s the term of address for someone with a bachelor’s degree? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/2 "2006-08-25T22:38:21Z")
[QUOTE=Mathochist] Everyone knows that those with a Ph.D. (and a few other degrees) are known as Doctor LastName. Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister LastName. What’s the term of address for someone with a bachelor’s degree? [/QUOTE] “Cleanup on aisle three”? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/3 "2006-08-25T22:43:43Z")
Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss _X_. In English there is no special term of address for the holder of a bacherlor’s debgee, but degree abbreviations can be used as post-nominals (eg Jane Doe, BA) In Spanish speaking countries the holder of a “'licenciatura” can be address as \*Licenciado/Licenciada _X_ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/4 "2006-08-25T22:45:55Z")
I move that we adopt the honorific _Baccalaureate_ for this purpose. Mostly because it would be really cool to hear someone called “Baccalaureate Bob”. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/5 "2006-08-26T00:53:29Z")
[QUOTE=Mathochist] Everyone knows that those with a Ph.D. (and a few other degrees) are known as Doctor LastName. Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister LastName. What’s the term of address for someone with a bachelor’s degree? [/QUOTE] A B.S. degree is nothing in academic circles. A masters degree is just a small step up. I worked in an environment overloaded with holders of PhD’s. Some of the wive asked nay insisted that they be addressed as Mrs. Dr. PiledHigerandDeeper! They all put their pants on one leg at a time unless they are voluntee firemem. So maybe I’m a wee bit prejudiced/unimpressed. 😉 It’s performance that counts not the sheepskin. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/6 "2006-08-26T01:01:18Z")
[QUOTE=spingears… Some of the wive asked nay insisted that they be addressed as Mrs. Dr. PiledHigerandDeeper!..[/QUOTE] That used to be common in Germany. The wife of _Herr Doktor_ would be _Frau Doktor_, that same was not true for the husband of a real _Frau Doktor_. ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/7 "2006-08-26T01:10:04Z")
According to my Weekly World News that I picked up with the guac and beer tonight, a Caribbean college is rescinding all bachelor’s degrees granted to students who later become married. Best of all is this last sentence: “We will also not award any further master’s degrees to submissives.” ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/8 "2006-08-26T01:42:45Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] A B.S. degree is nothing in academic circles. A masters degree is just a small step up. I worked in an environment overloaded with holders of PhD’s. Some of the wive asked nay insisted that they be addressed as Mrs. Dr. PiledHigerandDeeper! They all put their pants on one leg at a time unless they are voluntee firemem. So maybe I’m a wee bit prejudiced/unimpressed. 😉 It’s performance that counts not the sheepskin. [/QUOTE] Well yes I understand that it’s nothing, and that it doesn’t matter to me (Dr. Mathochist). Still, I’m wondering about the analogous term and that’s part of fighting ignorance, innit? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/9 "2006-08-26T02:16:55Z")
Us technologists don’t get anything like that, even though we have a professional association and everything! No P.Tech. for us! Just because we only have three-year diplomas instead of four-year degrees… ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/10 "2006-08-26T11:31:02Z")
Mathochist writes: \> Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister \> LastName. Where have you ever heard anyone refer to a holder of a master’s degree as Magister Whatever? I’ve spent my entire adult life around holders of advanced degrees and I’ve never heard of such a thing. Even if you can find some bizarre book of etiquette that claims that the term “Magister” is used this way (and I’ve never seen such a book), where have you ever actually heard anyone use this term? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/11 "2006-08-26T11:42:00Z")
Heh. Wikipedia: "Magister may refer to: ``` * Master's degree, an academic degree * The Fouga Magister, a French training aircraft * The Miles Magister, a British training aircraft * A Magister equitum, or Master of the Horse * A Magister militum, a Master of the Soldiers * The Magister Armhook Squid * Croatian knowledge database (in Croatian wikipedia)" ``` “You THOUGHT I was saying you had a master’s, but to the contrary, this whole time I had believed you a squid…” ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/12 "2006-08-26T12:01:47Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Slant] Heh. Wikipedia: "Magister may refer to:… [/QUOTE] [Master's degree - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree) makes no use of the term in English, only in Latin and other languages. Google ‘magister degree’ or ‘magister of’, and you find lots of European universities. Mine’s definitely ‘Master’, because it says so on the certificate 😛 I’m with **Wendell Wagner** , that it’s a bizarre term which nobody ever uses in real life. And with **alphaboi867** , that it’s just ‘Mr/Mrs/Miss’. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/13 "2006-08-26T15:28:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mathochist] Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister LastName. [/QUOTE] I prefer to consider myself a Mistress of the Arts. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/14 "2006-08-26T16:20:56Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] Mathochist writes: \> Some know that those with a master’s degree are known as Magister \> LastName. Where have you ever heard anyone refer to a holder of a master’s degree as Magister Whatever? I’ve spent my entire adult life around holders of advanced degrees and I’ve never heard of such a thing. Even if you can find some bizarre book of etiquette that claims that the term “Magister” is used this way (and I’ve never seen such a book), where have you ever actually heard anyone use this term? [/QUOTE] When’s the last time you heard anyone refer to a young man (under 18) as “master” since he hasn’t yet become “mister”? Look, we talk about all sorts of random trivial things around here. It’s obsolete, yes, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Now kindly stow the attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/15 "2006-08-26T16:22:30Z")
[QUOTE=Eva Luna] I prefer to consider myself a Mistress of the Arts. 😉 [/QUOTE] You’re under 18? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/16 "2006-08-26T16:26:00Z")
It’s a foot in the door. I have a BA in Radio/TV broadcasting, and it got me in the door. You know the basics, you know which end of the camera is up, you know the terminology. After that, it’s what you learn on the job. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/17 "2006-08-26T17:45:19Z")
[QUOTE=Eva Luna] I prefer to consider myself a Mistress of the Arts. 😉 [/QUOTE] Didn’t some women’s colleges in the 19th century grant that as an actual degree? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/18 "2006-08-26T17:49:21Z")
Mathochist writes: \> When’s the last time you heard anyone refer to a young man (under 18) \> as “master” since he hasn’t yet become “mister”? That I’ve heard of, although it’s rather old-fashioned. It was mostly just in print though. You might address a letter formally to Master John Smith. Calling a young boy Master John Smith is even more old-fashioned. That has nothing to do with the claim that you’re making in the OP. \> Look, we talk about all sorts of random trivial things around here. It’s obsolete, \> yes, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Now kindly stow the attitude. The point is that I’ve never heard “Magister” used in English as a title for a holder of a master’s degree. Given that I’ve spent the past thirty-five or so years among people with graduate degrees, if this tradition existed, you’d think I would have heard of it. Give us a cite that such a tradition exists. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/19 "2006-08-26T17:50:27Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Didn’t some women’s colleges in the 19th century grant that as an actual degree? [/QUOTE] So it would appear: [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~maury/columcon.htm](http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~maury/columcon.htm) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264/20 "2006-08-26T17:58:07Z")
I don’t know if this is relavant, but, as with the doctors who would be a danger practicing medicine, append their names with PhD, so an under graduate may do the same with BA or BS, depending on the area of their bachelor’s degree. A person holding a bachelor’s in business would be a BBA, a nurse is Ms Nurse RN, BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-holders-of-bachelors-degrees/370264.md?page=2)