For titles, use lowercase except when preceding a name or when used in a mailing address. President V. Lane Rawlins; V. Lane Rawlins, president of Washington State University; the president. Dean Candis Claiborn; Candis Claiborn, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture; the dean. Assistant Professor Carter Hay; Carter Hay, assistant professor of sociology; the assistant professor.
For unit names, capitalize full references and lowercase subsequent alternative references. College of Veterinary Medicine; the college. Department of Biology; the department, the biology department. Holland Library; the library. Bohler Gym; the gym. Exceptions to this title rule: Washington State University; the University.
When referring to the academic year, fall semester, spring semester, and summer session are lowercase, as are freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.
Academic degrees are lowercase when spelled out: baccalaureate degree, bachelor's degree, bachelor of arts; master's degree, master of science; doctoral degree, doctorate, doctor of philosophy, etc. Note the plural form: bachelor's degrees; master's degrees; doctoral degrees.
Academic degrees are abbreviated with periods and closed up: B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S., Ph.D., D.Ed., M.D., etc. Plural form: B.A.'s, B.S.'s, M.A.'s, M.S.'s, Ph.D.'s, D.Ed.'s.
Names of majors, minors, concentrations, and programs are lowercase within text.
Lowercase "fax" and "e-mail" in text. In listings, lowercase when the word follows the number; uppercase it when it precedes the number. Fax: 509-335-8568; 509-335-8568 is the fax number. E-mail: jonesm@wsu.edu; send e-mail to jonesm@wsu.edu.
Lowercase the compass directions north, south, east, and west (including northern, southern, eastern, and western) when not part of a proper name. Capitalize in reference to a proper name or region. The Northwest, but northwestern. The West Coast, but western Washington.
