What does MA stand for? On a résumé, a faculty page or a college catalog, MA stands for Master of Arts, a graduate degree earned after a bachelor's. On an envelope or a shipping form, MA is the USPS code for Massachusetts. Those two cover most of the times you will see the letters.
In a clinic or a health insurance letter, MA has its own meanings, most often medical assistant or Medicare Advantage. The words around the letters usually give the answer away, and the guide below sorts them by setting.
Quick facts
Stands for
Master of Arts (degree); Massachusetts (postal code)Other meanings
Medical assistant, Medicare Advantage, milliampere (mA)Type
Initialism and postal abbreviationHow to say it
M A, letter by letterDegree styles
MA or M.A.; some schools write A.M.Not to be confused with
MD (Maryland), ME (Maine), MS (Master of Science)
What does MA stand for? The main meanings ranked
- Master of Arts: a graduate degree, usually in the humanities, social sciences, languages or education.
- Massachusetts: the USPS code used on mail and forms. The Massachusetts abbreviation page covers it in detail, including the older form Mass.
- Medical assistant: a clinic worker who takes vital signs, preps patients and helps with office tasks.
- Medicare Advantage: a type of Medicare plan offered through private insurers.
- mA, milliampere: a small unit of electric current, written with a lowercase m.
A simple test helps. If the letters follow a person's name, think degree. If they follow a city, think state. If they appear on a health form or a clinic badge, think medical.
What does MA stand for in college?
In higher education, the MA is a master's degree in an arts or humanities field. Common subjects include English, history, psychology, communication, teaching and foreign languages. Programs often take one to two years of full time study and may end with a thesis, an exam or a final project.
| Degree | Stands for | Typical fields |
|---|---|---|
| BA | Bachelor of Arts | Undergraduate arts and humanities |
| MA | Master of Arts | Graduate humanities and social sciences |
| MS | Master of Science | Graduate science, math, engineering |
| MBA | Master of Business Administration | Business and management |
| PhD | Doctor of Philosophy | Research doctorate in most fields |
A few older schools reverse the letters and write A.M., from the Latin Artium Magister. It is the same degree.
What does MA stand for in medical terms?
Inside a doctor's office, MA usually names a person, not a degree. A medical assistant checks you in, records your weight and blood pressure and may give certain shots under supervision. Some medical assistants add a credential after their name, such as CMA, certified medical assistant.
On insurance paperwork, MA more often refers to Medicare Advantage, a way of getting Medicare benefits through a private plan instead of the original government program. A letter that says "your MA plan" is talking about that coverage.
The MA abbreviation on mail and forms
A shipping label: "Worcester, MA 01608." The letters sit between the city and the ZIP code, so they mean Massachusetts. They never stand for Maryland, which is MD, or Maine, which is ME.
Postal codes take two capitals and no period. In running text, many style guides prefer the full state name or the traditional short form Mass. Do not swap MA for MD either; after a name, MD marks a medical doctor.
How to write MA after a name
- Write it with or without periods: Jordan Lee, MA or Jordan Lee, M.A. Pick one style and stick to it.
- Put a comma between the name and the degree.
- Use "an MA," because spoken aloud the M comes out as "em."
- The plural is MAs: "Both teachers hold MAs in education."
- In a sentence, "master's degree" is often clearer than MA for general readers.
More degree letters, from AA to PhD, are grouped on the school acronyms hub.
Sample sentences with each meaning
- "She finished her MA in history and now teaches at a community college." (degree)
- "Ship the package to Salem, MA." (state)
- "The MA will take your vitals before the doctor comes in." (medical assistant)
- "His MA plan covers dental cleanings." (Medicare Advantage)
- "The sensor draws about 20 mA." (milliamperes)
Questions people ask
What is the MA abbreviation for a state?
MA is the official postal code for Massachusetts. Older style guides and many newspapers shorten the name to Mass. instead.
Is an MA better than an MS?
Neither is better in general. An MA usually covers arts, humanities or social science fields, while an MS centers on science and technical fields. The right one depends on the subject and career.
What does MA mean on a doctor's badge?
On a clinic badge, MA stands for medical assistant. This team member helps with patient intake, vital signs and office tasks.
Do you put periods in MA?
Both MA and M.A. are correct for the degree. The state code is always MA with no periods.
How do you pronounce MA?
Say the two letters separately, M A. It is not read as the word ma.