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Academic Classes, Names, and Programs

academic degrees

While Miami offers an A.B. (the traditional Latin translation of artium baccalaureus), follow AP Style and use Bachelor of Arts.

Use: bachelor's, master's. Also: an associate degree (no possessive).

If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone's credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and instead use a phrase:

  • John Doe, who has a doctorate in psychology, spoke at commencement.
  • John Smith, who holds a master's in engineering, recently graduated.

Use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree, a master's degree, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science.

See AP Stylebook entry for "academic degrees" for additional information.

academic classes (first-year, sophomore, junior, senior)

In general context, lowercase all references: first-year class, sophomore class, junior class, senior class. Capitalize only when the class is part of a formal event, group, or committee.

  • The Senior Class Committee; First-year Composition

alumni

Follow AP Style. Do not use "alum" in any context.

Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man who has attended a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar references to a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women.

  • The Miami alumna recently created an international technology company.

When referring to the graduation year of Miami alumni, follow the format: John Smith '78. The same rule applies to expected future graduation years for currently enrolled students.

For exceptions, please see the Gender Neutral Terms section.

books, films, and other works

Use quotation marks around titles.

collegewide

One word, not two, and not hyphenated.

Similar examples: campuswide, citywide, statewide, nationwide, worldwide.

course titles

Follow the course listing in the Miami General Bulletin. On first reference, list the full course name and number: BUS 104 Computational Thinking. On subsequent references, the course number is acceptable: BUS 104. If a course is cross-listed in dual divisions at the undergraduate level, include both divisions.

  • IMS/MKT 419 Digital Branding

If a course is cross-listed at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, include both course numbers.

  • ART 432/532 Painting V

If a course is cross-listed in dual divisions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, there is no need to include both levels and divisions. Select the appropriate course that references a specific program.

  • ENG 411/511 Visual Rhetoric or IMS 411/511 Visual Rhetoric

coursework

One word, not two, and not hyphenated.

debt-free

If it's modifying a noun like degree or college, it's hyphenated. It doesn't get a hyphen if it's not acting as an adjective.

  • You can graduate from Miami debt free.
  • Does a debt-free degree sound too good to be true?

first-generation student

Hyphenated in all references.

first-year

Prefer first-year student to freshman.

grade point average

No periods. GPA, not G.P.A.

healthcare

One word, not two.

Similar example: childcare

Honors College

Use the official title: Honors College. Subsequent references can refer to it as Honors. Anytime Honors is used in a sentence to identify an Honors College aspect, capitalize it.

  • Honors housing, Honors courses, Honors paths

Defer to the Honors College for additional guidance on programs, titles, events, etc.

in-person

If it's modifying a noun, it's hyphenated. It doesn't get a hyphen if it's not acting as an adjective.

  • Classes are attended in person.
  • Miami offers both virtual and in-person class options.

lectures

Capitalize the name of a lecture series. The titles of individual lectures go in quotation marks. Follow AP style for composition titles.

  • "How Your Observations Can Lead to Amazing Discoveries"

majors and minors

Capitalize the names of both majors and minors.

  • She has a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Finance.

Miami's Tuition Promise

Use possessive, always capitalized.

name references

Always use a person’s first and last name the first time they are mentioned in a story.

In a news story, refer to a person by last name, but less formal pieces can use first name if desired (communicating with students, newsletter, social post). If it makes it easier to follow along in a story, use the first name if several people have the same last name.

Do not use titles such as Mr., Mrs., or Dr. unless they are part of a direct quotation.

When using quotations, use the (last name of person + said) rather than (said + last name of person). This gives the quote more power because it is tied immediately to the person. However, you can use (said + last name of person) if it’s followed by the person’s title (said John Doe, director of the program).

semesters

Lowercase in all references: spring semester and fall semester

spring break

Lowercase in all references.

study abroad

Lowercase in all references.

Summer Scholars Program

Capitalize in all references. Program participants are called Summer Scholars. The Summer Scholars Program is a two-week summer experience for high-achieving high school students who will be juniors or seniors the following fall.

Summer Term and Winter Term

Official names. Capitalize in all references.

Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) Program

Capitalize in all references. Program participants are called Undergraduate Summer Scholars. The Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program is a nine-week summer research program for current Miami undergraduates.