Bachelor of Science vs. Bachelor’s Degree
The useful distinction is grammatical and editorial at once: the formal title uses Bachelor of Science without a possessive, while the generic phrase uses bachelor’s degree. University style guides also show why capitalization should be presented as a house-style boundary rather than an absolute rule for every document.
Use Bachelor of Science for the formal degree name. Use bachelor’s degree for the generic degree description; bachelor’s is possessive and takes an apostrophe. Do not write “Bachelor’s of Science.” Capitalization of degree names can follow an institution’s house style, so distinguish the grammatical form from local editorial policy.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Question | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Formal name of the credential? | Bachelor of Science | This is the established degree-name construction. |
| Generic description of the level? | bachelor’s degree | The generic phrase uses the possessive. |
| Writing “Bachelor’s of Science”? | revise to Bachelor of Science | The hybrid combines two different constructions. |
| Unsure about capitalization? | check the governing house style | Capitalization is editorially controlled even when the grammatical form is clear. |
Quick tests
Degree-name test
Are you naming the formal credential rather than referring generically to the degree level?
If yes: Use Bachelor of Science, subject to the document’s capitalization style.
If no: Use bachelor’s degree for a generic reference.
Caveat: Check the exact construction and meaning before applying the rule mechanically.
Examples
She earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.
The formal degree name uses Bachelor of Science.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology.
The generic degree phrase uses the possessive bachelor’s.
Further guidance
Formal Name
Write the formal degree title as Bachelor of Science; do not insert a possessive apostrophe into the title.
Generic
Write bachelor’s degree for a general reference; the possessive form takes an apostrophe.
Style Boundary
Institutional style guides commonly capitalize formal degree names and lowercase generic references, but local house style governs capitalization in institutional publishing.
Wrong Hybrid
Avoid “Bachelor’s of Science,” which mixes the generic possessive with the formal of-construction.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- University Style Guide (opens in a new tab)Virginia Tech · Formal Bachelor of Science wording and possessive bachelor’s degree usage.
- Editorial Style Guide (opens in a new tab)University of Hartford · Formal degree names versus generic possessive degree wording and capitalization policy.